Each time a major prize-giving event nears, you'll find an outcry to include of new categories to recognize underappreciated efforts and fill the passions of followers dedicated to specific genres.
A fellow writer has already made for a horror game category. That would rule. The same goes for tabletop games, which is a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward since similar to single-minded supporters, I have a cast-iron argument for why my demand is the most urgent above others. The demand is this: There should be a classification for brain-teasing titles.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Categorizing art by genre is not a science; it’s very subjective, and inevitably generate discussions concluding with vague boundaries. There’s a reason cinema institutions avoid this approach. However, it represents a necessary evil 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 receive acknowledgment, while allowing diverse titles to compete fairly, specific award classifications remain vital.
Present Award Structure
Prominent interactive entertainment events presently include classifications covering Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these classifications actually cover a lot of ground, making space possible for numerous titles.
Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. No appropriate category exists for their placement. Examine these examples from outstanding current releases, all very different: the architectural riddles in a particular game, intense tile-matching from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. What category would fit them between these six categories? Nowhere, that’s where.
Recognition Challenges
There are dozens outstanding logic titles released every year that have no home in entertainment awards, unless they happen to qualify award groups including Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging independent game categories.
- An iconic brain-teaser wasn’t nominated in any category during that awards season
- Another imaginative release received no nominations that year
- Well-received sorting experience was overlooked in 2021
- Limited numbers of logic titles managed to sneak into niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often compact experiences, but the art of the puzzle game is of massive significance. Well-known matching games rank among the most-played games worldwide and have been for over a decade.
The iconic tile-matching title competes with well-known building titles competing to become most purchased experience; it additionally competes for top gaming experience. Puzzle games are foundational within interactive entertainment, and they are in conversation with diverse game types.
The Solution and Justification
Logic titles wouldn't face this problem. One could readily select five nominees engaging, different, qualified experiences each ceremony simply — perhaps, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.
To emphasize again, these include experiences lacking appropriate categories in important events. Brain-teaser creators are working at the demanding boundary interactive creation, creating some of essential manifestations of the video game form. Just like film action specialists, they merit acknowledgment. Don't make them wait decades.
