Each time a prominent honors show nears, there’s always a clamor for introducing fresh award types to acknowledge overlooked contributions and delight the spirits of enthusiasts who have specialized interests.
Another commentator previously argued for a horror game category. That would be fantastic. Equally deserving are board games, this being someone's personal cause. Yet I need to apologize in advance if I try to elbow in front just as with other single-minded supporters, there's a strong justification backing this proposal remains most pressing and important of all. The demand is this: There should be an award type for logic-based games.
Categorizing Game Types
Classifying creative works isn't exact; it’s very subjective, and typically start arguments resulting in unclear classifications. This explains why cinema institutions avoid this approach. However, it represents a necessary evil in the world of video games, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify as a single art form.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of gaming accomplishments to gain proper attention, while allowing diverse titles to receive proper recognition, genre categories are essential.
Present Award Structure
The major gaming awards presently include classifications covering Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these award types effectively encompass numerous genres, making space possible for numerous titles.
Not so for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears to put them. Consider three of recent excellent titles, each quite distinct: building puzzles from a specific release, intense tile-matching in a different title, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. Where could they possibly go between these six categories? Unfortunately, nowhere.
Recognition Challenges
Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles published annually lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested independent game categories.
- One classic puzzle game wasn’t nominated in any category in 2014
- A different innovative game was excluded in 2019
- A beloved organization game got ignored in 2021
- Limited numbers of logic titles barely qualified for niche award types
Importance of Logic Titles
Commonly they're compact experiences, but the art of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Iconic mobile puzzle games rank among most engaged experiences worldwide maintaining this status for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with popular creative games claiming status as highest-selling title ever; it also contends as greatest title ever. Puzzle games are foundational within interactive entertainment, and they are in conversation with almost every other genre.
Proposal and Rationale
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter such difficulty. It would be easy to populate five nominees engaging, different, qualified experiences each ceremony simply — actually, with challenge, since numerous excellent many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these are games that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Puzzle game makers function at the hard edge game development, creating some of essential manifestations of the video game form. Similar to film action specialists, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait decades.
