Whenever a major awards ceremony draws close, there’s always a clamor for introducing fresh award types to acknowledge unsung work and satisfy the passions of fans dedicated to specific genres.
A fellow writer previously argued supporting a scary games classification. It would be amazing. So would tabletop games, which is a passionate advocate's mission. However, I must insist if I try to elbow in front because like all blinkered fanatics, there's a strong justification supporting my request stands as crucial and important of all. The demand is this: We need an award type for logic-based games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Organizing artistic expressions defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and typically generate discussions and end in fuzzy definitions. This explains why movie academies avoid this approach. But it is an unavoidable compromise for the industry of video games, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute as a single art form.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, genre categories are essential.
Existing Game Classification System
Prominent interactive entertainment events currently feature award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these six categories successfully include numerous genres, making space possible for numerous titles.
Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. No appropriate category exists to accommodate them. Examine these examples from outstanding current releases, all very different: structural challenges in a particular game, the pulse-pounding block-matching from another release, thought-provoking social scenarios in another game. What category would fit them between these six categories? Nowhere, that’s where.
Acknowledgment Issues
Many instances occur outstanding logic titles launched regularly without proper recognition during gaming ceremonies, except when they manage to fit for categories like Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging Indie races.
- A renowned logic title got overlooked in any category that year
- Another imaginative release was excluded in 2019
- Well-received sorting experience was overlooked in 2021
- Just some logic titles managed to sneak into small studio or handheld classifications
Importance of Logic Titles
These are often small games, however the design of the puzzle game carries substantial weight. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as most engaged experiences in the world maintaining this status for an extended period.
The iconic tile-matching title rivals famous sandbox experiences for the title of highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Puzzle games are foundational for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation with almost every other genre.
Proposal and Rationale
Puzzle games wouldn’t have that issue. One could readily select five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles annually without trouble — or rather, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.
Restating the point, these are games lacking appropriate categories in important events. Puzzle game makers are working at the hard edge of video game design, developing some of most fundamental forms of gaming itself. Just like cinema stunt performers, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait decades.
