Each time a major prize-giving event nears, you'll find an outcry to include of new categories to honor overlooked contributions and fill the passions of enthusiasts with niche passions.
A fellow writer previously argued supporting a scary games classification. That would rule. The same goes for strategy board titles, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me when I prioritize since similar to single-minded supporters, I possess a compelling case for why my demand remains most pressing and important of all. Here's the proposal: We need an award type for logic-based games.
Categorizing Game Types
Classifying creative works isn't exact; it remains highly personal, and inevitably spark debates resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason cinema institutions avoid this approach. But it is an essential concession in the world of interactive entertainment, which are so diverse it's challenging to consider them one unified medium.
To recognize the complete range of interactive entertainment excellence to receive acknowledgment, while allowing diverse titles to receive proper recognition, classification by type becomes crucial.
Existing Game Classification System
Prominent interactive entertainment events offer these genre categories for Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Collectively, these classifications actually cover a lot of ground, and you can find room accommodating various experiences.
Different situation exists for puzzle games. No suitable classification appears to put them. Examine these examples from this year’s best games, all very different: the architectural riddles of one title, intense tile-matching in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios in another game. Where could they possibly go between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.
Recognition Challenges
Numerous examples exist excellent brain-teasers launched regularly that have no home during gaming ceremonies, if they accidentally match classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive independent game categories.
- One classic puzzle game received no recognition in any category that year
- Another creative title missed out during that ceremony
- Well-received sorting experience received no acknowledgment in 2021
- Limited numbers of brain-teasers scraped into independent or mobile categories
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often small games, yet the craft behind logic titles holds tremendous importance. Famous handheld logic titles rank among most popular titles globally continuing this trend for many years.
The iconic tile-matching title competes with famous sandbox experiences for the title of best-selling game of all time; it’s also in the running for top gaming experience. Logic titles represent cornerstones within interactive entertainment, and engaging across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Puzzle games wouldn’t have such difficulty. One could readily select five nominees engaging, different, qualified experiences each ceremony simply — actually, with challenge, given the need to exclude many worthy titles.
Restating the point, these include experiences without proper classification during prominent ceremonies. Logic title developers operate at the hard edge of video game design, creating some of essential manifestations of gaming itself. Just like film action specialists, they warrant appreciation. Let’s not keep them waiting decades.
