As any prominent prize-giving event draws close, one notices a demand for the addition of new categories to acknowledge overlooked contributions and fill the passions of fans with niche passions.
Another commentator previously argued supporting a scary games classification. That would be fantastic. The same goes for tabletop games, this being a passionate advocate's mission. Yet I need to apologize in advance when I prioritize since similar to blinkered fanatics, I possess a compelling case for why my demand stands as crucial and important of all. Here's the proposal: There should be a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Classifying creative works is not a science; opinions vary greatly, and typically start arguments resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that cinema institutions steer clear of genre categories. But it is a necessary evil for the industry of gaming, showing incredible range they hardly constitute a single creative category.
To recognize the complete range of interactive entertainment excellence to be recognized, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.
Present Award Structure
Leading game ceremonies offer these award types recognizing Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Collectively, these classifications actually cover numerous genres, allowing placement for numerous titles.
Not so for puzzle games. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Consider three of outstanding current releases, showing diverse approaches: the architectural riddles from a specific release, intense tile-matching in a different title, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles of a third title. Which classification works within current classifications? Simply put, no category fits.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens of brilliant puzzle games released every year without proper recognition at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify award groups including Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested small studio competitions.
- A renowned logic title wasn’t nominated for anything during that awards season
- Another imaginative release received no nominations in 2019
- Well-received sorting experience received no acknowledgment that year
- Limited numbers of logic titles managed to sneak into niche award types
Significance of Puzzle Games
These are often modest productions, yet the craft behind logic titles is of massive significance. Famous handheld logic titles stand as most popular titles worldwide maintaining this status for many years.
The iconic tile-matching title challenges famous sandbox experiences competing to become best-selling game of all time; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones to the art of video games, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Puzzle games wouldn’t have such difficulty. You could fill a field of five with fascinating, diverse, deserving games each ceremony simply — perhaps, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave many worthy titles.
Restating the point, these include experiences without proper classification in important events. Logic title developers function at the demanding boundary interactive creation, developing some of the purest expressions of gaming itself. Comparable to movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. We shouldn't delay generations.
