Whenever a prominent awards ceremony nears, one notices a clamor to include additional classifications to honor underappreciated efforts and delight the passions of enthusiasts who have specialized interests.
A fellow writer made the case supporting a scary games classification. It would be amazing. So would tabletop games, representing a passionate advocate's mission. But they will have to forgive me if I try to elbow in front because like all dedicated enthusiasts, I have a cast-iron argument for why my demand remains most pressing above others. This is the request: We need a category for puzzle games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Organizing artistic expressions defies precise measurement; it remains highly personal, and it will always start arguments resulting in unclear classifications. This explains why film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. But it is an essential concession for the industry of gaming, showing incredible range they barely qualify a single creative category.
For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to have a chance for representation, specific award classifications remain vital.
Current Gaming Award Categories
The major gaming awards presently include classifications covering Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these classifications successfully include a lot of ground, and you can find room accommodating various experiences.
This doesn't apply to puzzle games. There’s simply nowhere to accommodate them. Examine these examples from outstanding current releases, showing diverse approaches: building puzzles from a specific release, fast-paced pattern recognition of another game, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. Where could they possibly go within current classifications? Simply put, no category fits.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens of brilliant puzzle games published annually lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, if they accidentally match for categories like Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions.
- One classic puzzle game wasn’t nominated for anything that year
- Another creative title was excluded in 2019
- Popular arranging title was overlooked recently
- Limited numbers of brain-teasers barely qualified for independent or mobile categories
Significance of Puzzle Games
Commonly they're small games, yet the craft in brain-teasers holds tremendous importance. Iconic mobile puzzle games stand as most engaged experiences globally maintaining this status for over a decade.
The famous puzzle experience challenges famous sandbox experiences claiming status as highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks within interactive entertainment, and engaging across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter that issue. You could fill a field of five with fascinating, diverse, deserving games each ceremony simply — perhaps, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these are games that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Puzzle game makers function at the hard edge interactive creation, producing among the purest expressions within interactive entertainment. Comparable to cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay generations.
