Whenever a significant prize-giving event approaches, one notices a demand for the addition of new categories to recognize unsung work and fill the spirits of enthusiasts dedicated to specific genres.
A fellow writer previously argued for a horror game category. It would be amazing. So would tabletop games, representing a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me if I try to elbow in front because like all dedicated enthusiasts, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal remains most pressing above others. Here's the proposal: There should be a category for puzzle games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Organizing artistic expressions isn't exact; opinions vary greatly, and it will always generate discussions and end in fuzzy definitions. This explains why film award organizations avoid this approach. Yet it remains an essential concession in the world of gaming, showing incredible range they hardly constitute one unified medium.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of achievement in video games to receive acknowledgment, 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, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these six categories successfully include many game types, allowing placement for most games within them.
This doesn't apply to brain-teasing titles. No suitable classification appears to accommodate them. Think about these this year’s best games, showing diverse approaches: building puzzles in a particular game, fast-paced pattern recognition from another release, thought-provoking social scenarios from additional release. What category would fit them within current classifications? Nowhere, that’s where.
Recognition Challenges
There are dozens excellent brain-teasers released every year without proper recognition during gaming ceremonies, unless they happen to qualify award groups including Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested small studio competitions.
- A renowned logic title got overlooked in any category in 2014
- A different innovative game missed out that year
- Popular arranging title received no acknowledgment in 2021
- Limited numbers of logic titles barely qualified for small studio or handheld classifications
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often small games, yet the craft in brain-teasers is of massive significance. Well-known matching games stand as most popular titles globally continuing this trend for an extended period.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals popular creative games claiming status as highest-selling title ever; it additionally competes as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, and engaging across multiple categories.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Logic titles wouldn't face such difficulty. It would be easy to populate five nominees with fascinating, diverse, deserving games every year with ease — or rather, with difficulty, given the need to exclude many worthy titles.
To emphasize again, these represent titles without proper classification in important events. Puzzle game makers operate at the hard edge game development, creating some of most fundamental forms of the video game form. Just like cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. Don't make them wait 35 years.
