As any prominent awards ceremony nears, you'll find an outcry for introducing additional classifications to honor overlooked contributions and fill the hearts of enthusiasts who have specialized interests.
My colleague previously argued supporting a scary games classification. It would be amazing. So would strategy board titles, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance if I try to elbow in front just as with other dedicated enthusiasts, I have a cast-iron argument for why my demand is the most urgent above others. This is the request: There should be an award type for logic-based games.
Categorizing Game Types
Classifying creative works is not a science; opinions vary greatly, and typically generate discussions concluding with vague boundaries. There’s a reason movie academies steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents a necessary evil in the world of video games, showing incredible range it's challenging to consider them a single creative category.
To recognize the complete range of interactive entertainment excellence to gain proper attention, and to ensure all game types to compete fairly, genre categories are essential.
Present Award Structure
Leading game ceremonies currently feature genre categories for Action, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Between them, these classifications actually cover many game types, allowing placement for most games within them.
Not so for logic-based experiences. There’s simply nowhere for their placement. Think about these this year’s best games, all very different: structural challenges from a specific release, fast-paced pattern recognition from another release, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. Where could they possibly go within current classifications? Simply put, no category fits.
Recognition Challenges
Numerous examples exist excellent brain-teasers published annually lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested Indie races.
- An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition for anything during that awards season
- Another imaginative release was excluded that year
- Well-received sorting experience received no acknowledgment in 2021
- Limited numbers of logic titles managed to sneak into independent or mobile categories
Significance of Puzzle Games
Frequently they represent compact experiences, but the art behind logic titles carries substantial weight. Iconic mobile puzzle games stand as most engaged experiences globally continuing this trend for an extended period.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with well-known building titles competing to become most purchased experience; it’s also in the running for top gaming experience. Puzzle games are foundational to the art of video games, and engaging across multiple categories.
Proposal and Rationale
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter that issue. One could readily select a field of five interesting, varied, worthy titles every year with ease — actually, with challenge, since numerous excellent so many good games out.
To emphasize again, these include experiences lacking appropriate categories during prominent ceremonies. Logic title developers are working at the hard edge game development, creating some of the purest expressions of gaming itself. Just like cinema stunt performers, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait 35 years.
