Whenever a major prize-giving event nears, one notices an outcry for introducing fresh award types to recognize underappreciated efforts and fill the passions of fans with niche passions.
Another commentator previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. It would be amazing. The same goes for tabletop games, representing a dedicated supporter's campaign. However, I must insist for pushing forward because like all single-minded supporters, I possess a compelling case for why my demand remains most pressing and significant. This is the request: We need a classification for brain-teasing titles.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Organizing artistic expressions is not a science; opinions vary greatly, and inevitably start arguments resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason film award organizations don’t do it. Yet it remains an essential concession for the industry of gaming, which are so diverse it's challenging to consider them as a single art form.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of interactive entertainment excellence to be recognized, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, genre categories are essential.
Current Gaming Award Categories
Leading game ceremonies presently include award types recognizing Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these six categories actually cover many game types, allowing placement for numerous titles.
This doesn't apply to brain-teasing titles. No suitable classification appears to put them. Consider three of recent excellent titles, showing diverse approaches: structural challenges from a specific release, intense tile-matching in a different title, engaging interpersonal challenges from additional release. Where could they possibly go between these six categories? Nowhere, that’s where.
Recognition Challenges
There are dozens of brilliant puzzle games released every year without proper recognition at major award shows, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging small studio competitions.
- A renowned logic title received no recognition in any category during that awards season
- A different innovative game was excluded in 2019
- A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment recently
- Only a few logic titles managed to sneak into small studio or handheld classifications
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often modest productions, however the design of the puzzle game carries substantial weight. Famous handheld logic titles count as most popular titles in the world maintaining this status for many years.
The famous puzzle experience competes with well-known building titles competing to become most purchased experience; it additionally competes for top gaming experience. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks within interactive entertainment, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.
Proposal and Rationale
Logic titles wouldn't face this problem. You could fill a field of five engaging, different, qualified experiences every year with ease — actually, with challenge, since numerous excellent numerous deserving experiences.
And to reiterate, these are games lacking appropriate categories at major gaming awards. Puzzle game makers function at the challenging frontier interactive creation, creating some of most fundamental forms within interactive entertainment. Just like movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. Don't make them wait 35 years.
