The Iconic Puzzle Game Didn't Succeed at This Gaming Ceremony — A New Category May Address This Issue

Whenever a significant awards ceremony draws close, there’s always an outcry to include of new categories to acknowledge overlooked contributions and delight the spirits of enthusiasts who have specialized interests.

A fellow writer has already made advocating for terror-themed awards. It would be amazing. The same goes for strategy board titles, representing a passionate advocate's mission. But they will have to forgive me if I try to elbow in front since similar to blinkered fanatics, I have a cast-iron argument supporting my request remains most pressing above others. This is the request: We need an award type for logic-based games.

Categorizing Game Types

Classifying creative works defies precise measurement; it remains highly personal, and inevitably start arguments resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. But it is a necessary evil for the industry of interactive entertainment, which are so diverse they hardly constitute as a single art form.

To recognize the complete range of achievement in video games to be recognized, and for games of all stripes to have a chance for representation, classification by type becomes crucial.

Existing Game Classification System

Prominent interactive entertainment events presently include genre categories for Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Collectively, these award types successfully include many game types, and you can find room for numerous titles.

Not so for brain-teasing titles. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Examine these examples from outstanding current releases, showing diverse approaches: the architectural riddles in a particular game, intense tile-matching in a different title, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. Which classification works within current classifications? Simply put, no category fits.

The Representation Problem

There are dozens excellent brain-teasers released every year lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, if they accidentally match award groups including Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested independent game categories.

  • An iconic brain-teaser got overlooked for anything that year
  • A different innovative game missed out in 2019
  • A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment recently
  • Only a few brain-teasers scraped into niche award types

Significance of Puzzle Games

Commonly they're modest productions, but the art of the puzzle game carries substantial weight. Iconic mobile puzzle games rank among most engaged experiences worldwide and have been for many years.

The famous puzzle experience challenges popular creative games competing to become highest-selling title ever; it also contends as greatest title ever. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks to the art of video games, while interacting with diverse game types.

Proposal and Rationale

Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter that issue. One could readily select multiple candidates with fascinating, diverse, deserving games each ceremony simply — perhaps, with difficulty, since numerous excellent numerous deserving experiences.

To emphasize again, these are games lacking appropriate categories at major gaming awards. Puzzle game makers operate at the hard edge interactive creation, developing some of most fundamental forms of gaming itself. Comparable to movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait decades.

Amanda Pearson
Amanda Pearson

Aria Vance is a cultural critic and art historian specializing in modern visual arts and digital media trends.