Each time a major prize-giving event approaches, there’s always a clamor for the addition additional classifications to recognize underappreciated efforts and fill the hearts of fans dedicated to specific genres.
Another commentator previously argued supporting a scary games classification. That would rule. So would board games, which is someone's personal cause. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward because like all single-minded supporters, I have a cast-iron argument supporting my request is the most urgent and important of all. This is the request: It's essential to create an award type for logic-based games.
Categorizing Game Types
Classifying creative works is not a science; it remains highly personal, and inevitably spark debates resulting in unclear classifications. This explains why movie academies avoid this approach. But it is a necessary evil for the industry 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 compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.
Current Gaming Award Categories
The major gaming awards offer these classifications covering Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these classifications effectively encompass many game types, allowing placement for most games within them.
This doesn't apply to brain-teasing titles. No suitable classification appears to put them. Consider three of recent excellent titles, all very different: the architectural riddles in a particular game, the pulse-pounding block-matching from another release, thought-provoking social scenarios in another game. Which classification works among existing types? Simply put, no category fits.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens excellent brain-teasers published annually without proper recognition during gaming ceremonies, except when they manage to fit award groups including Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging small studio competitions.
- An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition completely in 2014
- Another creative title received no nominations that year
- A beloved organization game got ignored in 2021
- Limited numbers of brain-teasers barely qualified for niche award types
Importance of Logic Titles
Commonly they're compact experiences, but the art behind logic titles holds tremendous importance. Iconic mobile puzzle games rank among most popular titles worldwide and have been for an extended period.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals popular creative games competing to become highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational to the art of video games, and they are in conversation with almost every other genre.
The Solution and Justification
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter such difficulty. One could readily select five nominees with fascinating, diverse, deserving games annually without trouble — perhaps, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.
To emphasize again, these represent titles that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Puzzle game makers function at the demanding boundary of video game design, creating some of most fundamental forms of the video game form. Just like movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay decades.
