Each time a major prize-giving event approaches, there’s always a demand to include additional classifications to recognize unsung work and fill the hearts of followers who have specialized interests.
Another commentator previously argued for a horror game category. That would rule. The same goes for tabletop games, which is someone's personal cause. Yet I need to apologize in advance if I try to elbow in front since similar to blinkered fanatics, there's a strong justification for why my demand remains most pressing and important of all. The demand is this: It's essential to create a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Categorizing art by genre defies precise measurement; opinions vary greatly, and inevitably spark debates resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that film award organizations avoid this approach. However, it represents an unavoidable compromise within the realm of video games, which are so diverse they barely qualify one unified medium.
To recognize the complete range of gaming accomplishments to gain proper attention, and for games of all stripes to have a chance for representation, specific award classifications remain vital.
Present Award Structure
Prominent interactive entertainment events offer these award types recognizing Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Between them, these classifications actually cover many game types, allowing placement accommodating various experiences.
This doesn't apply to puzzle games. No suitable classification appears to accommodate them. Consider three of this year’s best games, showing diverse approaches: building puzzles in a particular game, fast-paced pattern recognition of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. What category would fit them within current classifications? Nowhere, that’s where.
The Representation Problem
Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles published annually lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, if they accidentally match award groups including Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions.
- One classic puzzle game received no recognition for anything in 2014
- A different innovative game missed out that year
- Well-received sorting experience received no acknowledgment that year
- Just some puzzle games scraped into independent or mobile categories
Significance of Puzzle Games
Frequently they represent small games, however the design of the puzzle game carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games stand as most popular titles globally maintaining this status for many years.
The legendary block-stacking game challenges well-known building titles claiming status as best-selling game of all time; it additionally competes for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational to the art of video games, while interacting with diverse game types.
Proposal and Rationale
Puzzle games wouldn’t have that issue. You could fill multiple candidates with fascinating, diverse, deserving games annually without trouble — or rather, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave numerous deserving experiences.
And to reiterate, these represent titles that otherwise have no home in important events. Brain-teaser creators operate at the hard edge interactive creation, developing some of most fundamental forms of gaming itself. Similar to film action specialists, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay decades.
