As any significant honors show nears, there’s always a demand for the addition additional classifications to acknowledge underappreciated efforts and delight the passions of enthusiasts who have specialized interests.
Another commentator previously argued for a horror game category. It would be amazing. So would board games, this being someone's personal cause. Yet I need to apologize in advance if I try to elbow in front since similar to single-minded supporters, I possess a compelling case supporting my request stands as crucial above others. Here's the proposal: We need a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Categorizing art by genre isn't exact; it’s very subjective, and it will always generate discussions and end in fuzzy definitions. This explains why cinema institutions avoid this approach. Yet it remains an unavoidable compromise for the industry of video games, that demonstrate such variety it's challenging to consider them one unified medium.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of achievement in video games to gain proper attention, and to ensure all game types to have a chance for representation, specific award classifications remain vital.
Current Gaming Award Categories
The major gaming awards currently feature award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these classifications actually cover a lot of ground, and you can find room for most games within them.
Not so for logic-based experiences. No appropriate category exists for their placement. Think about these outstanding current releases, each quite distinct: the architectural riddles in a particular game, the pulse-pounding block-matching in a different title, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles of a third title. Where could they possibly go between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.
Recognition Challenges
Numerous examples exist excellent brain-teasers launched regularly without proper recognition at major award shows, if they accidentally match award groups including Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the extremely competitive independent game categories.
- One classic puzzle game wasn’t nominated completely in 2014
- Another imaginative release received no nominations during that ceremony
- Popular arranging title was overlooked that year
- Only a few puzzle games managed to sneak into small studio or handheld classifications
Significance of Puzzle Games
These are often small games, but the art of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Well-known matching games count as most engaged experiences worldwide and have been for many years.
The iconic tile-matching title challenges well-known building titles competing to become highest-selling title ever; it also contends for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational within interactive entertainment, and engaging with almost every other genre.
The Solution and Justification
Puzzle games wouldn’t have this problem. It would be easy to populate five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — perhaps, with difficulty, given the need to exclude many worthy titles.
To emphasize again, these include experiences that otherwise have no home in important events. Brain-teaser creators operate at the challenging frontier of video game design, producing among essential manifestations within interactive entertainment. Similar to movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay generations.
