Each time a major awards ceremony draws close, there’s always an outcry for the addition fresh award types to recognize overlooked contributions and delight the passions of followers with niche passions.
Another commentator previously argued for a horror game category. It would be amazing. The same goes for strategy board titles, this being a passionate advocate's mission. However, I must insist if I try to elbow in front since similar to dedicated enthusiasts, I have a cast-iron argument backing this proposal stands as crucial above others. This is the request: There should be a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Organizing artistic expressions defies precise measurement; opinions vary greatly, and it will always spark debates resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that film award organizations avoid this approach. Yet it remains a necessary evil in the world of gaming, showing incredible range it's challenging to consider them a single creative category.
For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to gain proper attention, while allowing diverse titles to receive proper recognition, specific award classifications remain vital.
Current Gaming Award Categories
Leading game ceremonies presently include award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these award types actually cover many game types, making space possible for most games within them.
Different situation exists for puzzle games. No appropriate category exists to accommodate them. Consider three of this year’s best games, all very different: the architectural riddles from a specific release, intense tile-matching of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. Which classification works among existing types? Nowhere, that’s where.
Recognition Challenges
Many instances occur of brilliant puzzle games published annually without proper recognition at major award shows, except when they manage to fit for categories like Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions.
- An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition for anything in 2014
- Another creative title received no nominations that year
- Well-received sorting experience got ignored recently
- Just some logic titles managed to sneak into independent or mobile categories
Significance of Puzzle Games
These are often modest productions, however the design in brain-teasers is of massive significance. Famous handheld logic titles rank among most popular titles worldwide and have been for many years.
The iconic tile-matching title challenges popular creative games claiming status as most purchased experience; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation with almost every other genre.
The Solution and Justification
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. You could fill five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles annually without trouble — actually, with challenge, because you’d have to leave many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these are games that otherwise have no home in important events. Puzzle game makers operate at the demanding boundary game development, producing among most fundamental forms of gaming itself. Just like movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. We shouldn't delay generations.
