Whenever a major honors show approaches, one notices an outcry to include of new categories to recognize unsung work and satisfy the spirits of fans who have specialized interests.
A fellow writer has already made supporting a scary games classification. It would be amazing. The same goes for strategy board titles, representing someone's personal cause. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward since similar to dedicated enthusiasts, I have a cast-iron argument supporting my request remains most pressing and important of all. Here's the proposal: We need a classification for brain-teasing titles.
Categorizing Game Types
Classifying creative works defies precise measurement; it remains highly personal, and inevitably start arguments concluding with vague boundaries. There’s a reason cinema institutions steer clear of genre categories. But it is an unavoidable compromise for the industry of video games, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify a single creative category.
To recognize the complete range of gaming accomplishments to gain proper attention, and for games of all stripes to have a chance for representation, genre categories are essential.
Present Award Structure
Leading game ceremonies presently include classifications covering Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these six categories effectively encompass many game types, allowing placement for numerous titles.
Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears to accommodate them. Think about these recent excellent titles, showing diverse approaches: building puzzles in a particular game, fast-paced pattern recognition from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges from additional release. Where could they possibly go between these six categories? Nowhere, that’s where.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens outstanding logic titles published annually that have no home in entertainment awards, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging small studio competitions.
- An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition for anything during that awards season
- A different innovative game missed out in 2019
- A beloved organization game was overlooked in 2021
- Just some puzzle games barely qualified for niche award types
Importance of Logic Titles
Frequently they represent small games, but the art behind logic titles holds tremendous importance. Iconic mobile puzzle games stand as the most-played games globally and have been for an extended period.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals well-known building titles for the title of best-selling game of all time; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational to the art of video games, while interacting across multiple categories.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Logic titles wouldn't face this problem. You could fill a field of five interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — actually, with challenge, given the need to exclude many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these represent titles without proper classification at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators are working at the challenging frontier interactive creation, creating some of the purest expressions of the video game form. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they deserve recognition. Let’s not keep them waiting generations.
