Each time a prominent awards ceremony nears, one notices an outcry for the addition additional classifications to acknowledge overlooked contributions and fill the spirits of followers dedicated to specific genres.
My colleague previously argued for a horror game category. That would rule. The same goes for board games, representing a passionate advocate's mission. However, I must insist if I try to elbow in front since similar to blinkered fanatics, I possess a compelling case supporting my request is the most urgent and important of all. This is the request: We need a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Organizing artistic expressions defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and inevitably generate discussions and end in fuzzy definitions. It's understandable that film award organizations don’t do it. Yet it remains a necessary evil within the realm of video games, showing incredible range they barely qualify a single creative category.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of interactive entertainment excellence to be recognized, and for games of all stripes to have a chance for representation, classification by type becomes crucial.
Existing Game Classification System
The major gaming awards presently include award types recognizing Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Collectively, these six categories actually cover many game types, making space possible for most games within them.
Not so for logic-based experiences. No appropriate category exists to accommodate them. Think about these this year’s best games, all very different: structural challenges from a specific release, intense tile-matching from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges from additional release. Where could they possibly go within current classifications? Nowhere, that’s where.
The Representation Problem
Many instances occur outstanding logic titles launched regularly lacking appropriate categories in entertainment awards, except when they manage to fit award groups including Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging small studio competitions.
- A renowned logic title got overlooked in any category in 2014
- Another imaginative release missed out that year
- A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment that year
- Just some puzzle games managed to sneak into niche award types
Significance of Puzzle Games
Frequently they represent small games, however the design behind logic titles holds tremendous importance. Well-known matching games stand as most engaged experiences globally continuing this trend for an extended period.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals well-known building titles claiming status as most purchased experience; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks for gaming as medium, and engaging with diverse game types.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. One could readily select multiple candidates with fascinating, diverse, deserving games every year with ease — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent numerous deserving experiences.
To emphasize again, these are games lacking appropriate categories at major gaming awards. Logic title developers function at the demanding boundary interactive creation, developing some of most fundamental forms within interactive entertainment. Similar to film action specialists, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay 35 years.
