Each time a significant awards ceremony nears, one notices an outcry for introducing of new categories to recognize underappreciated efforts and satisfy the passions of fans dedicated to specific genres.
A fellow writer previously argued supporting a scary games classification. That would be fantastic. The same goes for strategy board titles, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me if I try to elbow in front just as with other dedicated enthusiasts, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal stands as crucial above others. The demand is this: It's essential to create a category for puzzle games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Categorizing art by genre defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and inevitably spark debates concluding with vague boundaries. There’s a reason film award organizations don’t do it. Yet it remains an unavoidable compromise within the realm of video games, which are so diverse it's challenging to consider them as a single art form.
For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to gain proper attention, and for games of all stripes to receive proper recognition, genre categories are essential.
Present Award Structure
Leading game ceremonies presently include genre categories for Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Between them, these classifications actually cover a lot of ground, making space possible for numerous titles.
Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears to put them. Examine these examples from recent excellent titles, each quite distinct: structural challenges from a specific release, the pulse-pounding block-matching of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. What category would fit them within current classifications? Nowhere, that’s where.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens of brilliant puzzle games launched regularly that have no home at major award shows, except when they manage to fit for categories like Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, or the extremely competitive independent game categories.
- An iconic brain-teaser got overlooked completely during that awards season
- A different innovative game was excluded in 2019
- Well-received sorting experience received no acknowledgment in 2021
- Only a few logic titles scraped into small studio or handheld classifications
Significance of Puzzle Games
Frequently they represent small games, however the design of the puzzle game carries substantial weight. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as the most-played games in the world maintaining this status for many years.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with well-known building titles competing to become highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational to the art of video games, while interacting with almost every other genre.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Logic titles wouldn't face this problem. One could readily select a field of five interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — actually, with challenge, since numerous excellent numerous deserving experiences.
Restating the point, these include experiences lacking appropriate categories in important events. Puzzle game makers are working at the hard edge of video game design, developing some of the purest expressions of gaming itself. Just like film action specialists, they warrant appreciation. Let’s not keep them waiting generations.
