Each time a significant prize-giving event nears, there’s always a demand for introducing of new categories to acknowledge overlooked contributions and delight the hearts of fans who have specialized interests.
My colleague previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. So would strategy board titles, which is a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me for pushing forward since similar to dedicated enthusiasts, I possess a compelling case supporting my request is the most urgent above others. The demand is this: There should be a category for puzzle games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Classifying creative works is not a science; opinions vary greatly, and inevitably generate discussions and end in fuzzy definitions. It's understandable that film award organizations avoid this approach. Yet it remains an essential concession in the world of video games, which are so diverse they hardly constitute one unified medium.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of achievement in video games to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to receive proper recognition, specific award classifications remain vital.
Present Award Structure
The major gaming awards presently include classifications covering Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Collectively, these award types successfully include numerous genres, and you can find room accommodating various experiences.
This doesn't apply to puzzle games. No suitable classification appears to accommodate them. Consider three of recent excellent titles, all very different: building puzzles in a particular game, fast-paced pattern recognition in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios in another game. What category would fit them among existing types? Unfortunately, nowhere.
Recognition Challenges
Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles released every year that have no home at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions.
- One classic puzzle game got overlooked completely during that awards season
- Another imaginative release was excluded during that ceremony
- Well-received sorting experience was overlooked recently
- Limited numbers of puzzle games managed to sneak into small studio or handheld classifications
Importance of Logic Titles
These are often small games, however the design behind logic titles holds tremendous importance. Famous handheld logic titles stand as most engaged experiences worldwide and have been for over a decade.
The iconic tile-matching title rivals popular creative games competing to become best-selling game of all time; it additionally competes as greatest title ever. Puzzle games are foundational within interactive entertainment, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Logic titles wouldn't face that issue. It would be easy to populate a field of five engaging, different, qualified experiences every year with ease — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent many worthy titles.
Restating the point, these are games without proper classification at major gaming awards. Puzzle game makers are working at the challenging frontier game development, creating some of the purest expressions of gaming itself. Comparable to movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay 35 years.
