The Iconic Puzzle Game Didn't Win at This Gaming Ceremony — A New Category Might Solve This

Each time a significant honors show approaches, one notices a clamor to include of new categories to acknowledge underappreciated efforts and satisfy the spirits of followers who have specialized interests.

Another commentator made the case for a horror game category. That would rule. So would board games, which is a dedicated supporter's campaign. However, I must insist if I try to elbow in front just as with other dedicated enthusiasts, I have a cast-iron argument for why my demand remains most pressing and important of all. The demand is this: It's essential to create a category for puzzle games.

Categorizing Game Types

Categorizing art by genre isn't exact; it’s very subjective, and inevitably spark debates resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason movie academies avoid this approach. But it is an unavoidable compromise in the world of gaming, that demonstrate such variety it's challenging to consider them one unified medium.

For the full spectrum of achievement in video games to receive acknowledgment, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.

Existing Game Classification System

Prominent interactive entertainment events currently feature classifications covering Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these classifications actually cover a lot of ground, and you can find room for numerous titles.

This doesn't apply to puzzle games. There’s simply nowhere to put them. Think about these recent excellent titles, all very different: structural challenges of one title, the pulse-pounding block-matching from another release, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles of a third title. Which classification works among existing types? Nowhere, that’s where.

Acknowledgment Issues

Many instances occur excellent brain-teasers launched regularly that have no home in entertainment awards, except when they manage to fit award groups including Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested Indie races.

• An iconic brain-teaser wasn’t nominated completely during that awards season
• Another imaginative release received no nominations that year
• Well-received sorting experience received no acknowledgment that year
• Only a few logic titles scraped into independent or mobile categories

Importance of Logic Titles

Frequently they represent small games, but the art in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games count as most engaged experiences globally and have been for many years.

The legendary block-stacking game rivals famous sandbox experiences competing to become highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running for top gaming experience. Puzzle games are foundational for gaming as medium, and engaging with diverse game types.

The Solution and Justification

Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. One could readily select multiple candidates with fascinating, diverse, deserving games every year with ease — actually, with challenge, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.

And to reiterate, these represent titles without proper classification at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators function at the hard edge interactive creation, developing some of essential manifestations of the video game form. Similar to movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait decades.