Whenever a significant awards ceremony draws close, there’s always a demand to include additional classifications to recognize unsung work and fill the spirits of enthusiasts dedicated to specific genres.
A fellow writer made the case supporting a scary games classification. It would be amazing. So would board games, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me for pushing forward because like all single-minded supporters, I possess a compelling case supporting my request stands as crucial and important of all. The demand is this: It's essential to create a category for puzzle games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Categorizing art by genre defies precise measurement; opinions vary greatly, and inevitably spark debates and end in fuzzy definitions. It's understandable that cinema institutions avoid this approach. However, it represents a necessary evil within the realm of interactive entertainment, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify as a single art form.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, and for games of all stripes to have a chance for representation, classification by type becomes crucial.
Present Award Structure
Leading game ceremonies offer these genre categories for Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these award types successfully include numerous genres, allowing placement for numerous titles.
Not so for puzzle games. There’s simply nowhere for their placement. Think about these outstanding current releases, all very different: the architectural riddles of one title, intense tile-matching in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios in another game. What category would fit them between these six categories? Unfortunately, nowhere.
Recognition Challenges
There are dozens of brilliant puzzle games launched regularly lacking appropriate categories in entertainment awards, if they accidentally match classification types such as Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the intensely contested Indie races.
- A renowned logic title got overlooked in any category in 2014
- Another creative title was excluded that year
- A beloved organization game was overlooked that year
- Limited numbers of brain-teasers scraped into small studio or handheld classifications
Significance of Puzzle Games
Commonly they're modest productions, yet the craft in brain-teasers holds tremendous importance. Famous handheld logic titles rank among most popular titles globally maintaining this status for an extended period.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with popular creative games for the title of most purchased experience; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks within interactive entertainment, and engaging across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Logic titles wouldn't face such difficulty. You could fill five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles every year with ease — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent so many good games out.
To emphasize again, these are games that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Puzzle game makers function at the challenging frontier game development, developing some of the purest expressions of gaming itself. Comparable to cinema stunt performers, they deserve recognition. We shouldn't delay decades.
