The Iconic Puzzle Game Didn't Triumph at The Game Awards — An Additional Classification May Address This Issue

As any major awards ceremony draws close, you'll find an outcry to include fresh award types to recognize underappreciated efforts and satisfy the hearts of fans who have specialized interests.

A fellow writer has already made supporting a scary games classification. That would be fantastic. The same goes for tabletop games, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me when I prioritize just as with other dedicated enthusiasts, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal is the most urgent above others. Here's the proposal: We need an award type for logic-based games.

The Genre Classification Challenge

Categorizing art by genre defies precise measurement; it remains highly personal, and typically generate discussions and end in fuzzy definitions. This explains why film award organizations avoid this approach. But it is an unavoidable compromise for the industry of interactive entertainment, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify as a single art form.

For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to gain proper attention, and to ensure all game types to receive proper recognition, genre categories are essential.

Present Award Structure

Leading game ceremonies currently feature classifications covering Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Collectively, these classifications actually cover many game types, allowing placement accommodating various experiences.

Not so for brain-teasing titles. No suitable classification appears to accommodate them. Consider three of this year’s best games, showing diverse approaches: building puzzles from a specific release, fast-paced pattern recognition of another game, thought-provoking social scenarios from additional release. What category would fit them within current classifications? Nowhere, that’s where.

Acknowledgment Issues

Numerous examples exist of brilliant puzzle games released every year lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, except when they manage to fit award groups including Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging small studio competitions.

  • One classic puzzle game wasn’t nominated for anything that year
  • A different innovative game missed out in 2019
  • Well-received sorting experience got ignored recently
  • Just some puzzle games scraped into independent or mobile categories

Significance of Puzzle Games

Frequently they represent modest productions, however the design in brain-teasers holds tremendous importance. Famous handheld logic titles rank among most popular titles globally maintaining this status for many years.

The legendary block-stacking game rivals famous sandbox experiences competing to become most purchased experience; it’s also in the running for top gaming experience. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks to the art of video games, and engaging across multiple categories.

The Solution and Justification

Logic titles wouldn't face that issue. It would be easy to populate multiple candidates interesting, varied, worthy titles every year with ease — perhaps, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave numerous deserving experiences.

Restating the point, these are games without proper classification during prominent ceremonies. Puzzle game makers function at the hard edge of video game design, producing among essential manifestations within interactive entertainment. Comparable to movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. Let’s not keep them waiting decades.

Debra Vargas
Debra Vargas

A passionate space enthusiast and tech writer with a background in astrophysics, sharing discoveries and trends.