As any prominent prize-giving event draws close, there’s always a clamor for introducing additional classifications to acknowledge unsung work and delight the hearts of followers with niche passions.
Another commentator has already made supporting a scary games classification. It would be amazing. So would tabletop games, which is someone's personal cause. Yet I need to apologize in advance if I try to elbow in front since similar to single-minded supporters, I have a cast-iron argument supporting my request remains most pressing and important of all. This is the request: There should be a classification for brain-teasing titles.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Categorizing art by genre is not a science; it’s very subjective, and typically start arguments resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason movie academies steer clear of genre categories. Yet it remains a necessary evil in the world of gaming, that demonstrate such variety it's challenging to consider them a single creative category.
For the full spectrum of interactive entertainment excellence to be recognized, and for games of all stripes to receive proper recognition, specific award classifications remain vital.
Existing Game Classification System
The major gaming awards offer these genre categories for Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these award types successfully include many game types, and you can find room for numerous titles.
This doesn't apply to puzzle games. No appropriate category exists to put them. Think about these this year’s best games, each quite distinct: building puzzles in a particular game, the pulse-pounding block-matching of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. Where could they possibly go within current classifications? Simply put, no category fits.
The Representation Problem
Many instances occur of brilliant puzzle games published annually without proper recognition in entertainment awards, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive independent game categories.
- An iconic brain-teaser got overlooked completely in 2014
- A different innovative game received no nominations in 2019
- Well-received sorting experience got ignored that year
- Only a few puzzle games managed to sneak into niche award types
Importance of Logic Titles
These are often small games, but the art in brain-teasers holds tremendous importance. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as the most-played games worldwide and have been for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game challenges famous sandbox experiences claiming status as highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Puzzle games are foundational within interactive entertainment, and they are in conversation with almost every other genre.
Proposal and Rationale
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter such difficulty. It would be easy to populate five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these include experiences lacking appropriate categories at major gaming awards. Puzzle game makers function at the hard edge interactive creation, developing some of essential manifestations of the video game form. Just like cinema stunt performers, they deserve recognition. Let’s not keep them waiting decades.
