Each time a major honors show nears, you'll find a demand for the addition additional classifications to acknowledge underappreciated efforts and delight the passions of followers dedicated to specific genres.
Another commentator made the case advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. Equally deserving are board games, which is a passionate advocate's mission. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward just as with other single-minded supporters, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal is the most urgent and important of all. Here's the proposal: We need an award type for logic-based games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Organizing artistic expressions isn't exact; it’s very subjective, and it will always spark debates concluding with vague boundaries. This explains why film award organizations avoid this approach. But it is an unavoidable compromise in the world of video games, which are so diverse it's challenging to consider them a single creative category.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of interactive entertainment excellence to gain proper attention, and for games of all stripes to receive proper recognition, genre categories are essential.
Present Award Structure
The major gaming awards currently feature genre categories for Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Between them, these award types effectively encompass many game types, allowing placement for numerous titles.
This doesn't apply to puzzle games. There’s simply nowhere for their placement. Examine these examples from recent excellent titles, all very different: building puzzles of one title, intense tile-matching in a different title, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. What category would fit them within current classifications? Unfortunately, nowhere.
Acknowledgment Issues
Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles published annually that have no home at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify award groups including Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions.
- One classic puzzle game got overlooked for anything in 2014
- Another creative title missed out that year
- A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment in 2021
- Limited numbers of logic titles barely qualified for niche award types
Significance of Puzzle Games
Commonly they're compact experiences, however the design behind logic titles is of massive significance. Famous handheld logic titles stand as the most-played games worldwide and have been for many years.
The iconic tile-matching title competes with well-known building titles competing to become highest-selling title ever; it additionally competes for top gaming experience. Logic titles represent cornerstones to the art of video games, while interacting with almost every other genre.
Proposal and Rationale
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. One could readily select five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — actually, with challenge, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.
Restating the point, these include experiences without proper classification at major gaming awards. Puzzle game makers operate at the hard edge of video game design, developing some of essential manifestations of the video game form. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait decades.
