Tetris Couldn't Triumph at This Gaming Ceremony — A New Category Could Fix That

Each time a major honors show nears, there’s always an outcry for the addition of new categories to honor underappreciated efforts and fill the spirits of fans who have specialized interests.

A fellow writer made the case supporting a scary games classification. That would rule. The same goes for tabletop games, representing a dedicated supporter's campaign. However, I must insist if I try to elbow in front because like all dedicated enthusiasts, there's a strong justification for why my demand remains most pressing above others. The demand is this: It's essential to create an award type for logic-based games.

Categorizing Game Types

Classifying creative works isn't exact; it’s very subjective, and typically generate discussions concluding with vague boundaries. There’s a reason movie academies don’t do it. However, it represents a necessary evil in the world of interactive entertainment, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute one unified medium.

For comprehensive acknowledgment of interactive entertainment excellence to receive acknowledgment, while allowing diverse titles to receive proper recognition, genre categories are essential.

Existing Game Classification System

The major gaming awards currently feature genre categories for Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these award types actually cover a lot of ground, allowing placement accommodating various experiences.

Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. No appropriate category exists to accommodate them. Consider three of this year’s best games, all very different: the architectural riddles from a specific release, the pulse-pounding block-matching from another release, thought-provoking social scenarios in another game. Where could they possibly go within current classifications? Unfortunately, nowhere.

The Representation Problem

Many instances occur of brilliant puzzle games launched regularly that have no home in entertainment awards, unless they happen to qualify award groups including Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, or the intensely contested small studio competitions.

• A renowned logic title wasn’t nominated in any category in 2014
• Another creative title received no nominations in 2019
• A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment that year
• Limited numbers of logic titles scraped into independent or mobile categories

Significance of Puzzle Games

Commonly they're compact experiences, yet the craft of the puzzle game carries substantial weight. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as most popular titles worldwide and have been for many years.

The iconic tile-matching title rivals popular creative games claiming status as best-selling game of all time; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational for gaming as medium, while interacting with diverse game types.

Recommendation and Reasoning

Puzzle games wouldn’t have this problem. You could fill five nominees with fascinating, diverse, deserving games annually without trouble — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent numerous deserving experiences.

And to reiterate, these represent titles lacking appropriate categories in important events. Brain-teaser creators operate at the demanding boundary of video game design, creating some of the purest expressions of gaming itself. Comparable to movie stunt professionals, they merit acknowledgment. Don't make them wait generations.