As any prominent honors show draws close, one notices an outcry for the addition additional classifications to recognize overlooked contributions and delight the spirits of followers who have specialized interests.
My colleague made the case for a horror game category. It would be amazing. So would tabletop games, representing someone's personal cause. But they will have to forgive me for pushing forward because like all dedicated enthusiasts, I possess a compelling case for why my demand remains most pressing and important of all. Here's the proposal: We need a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Organizing artistic expressions is not a science; it’s very subjective, and typically spark debates concluding with vague boundaries. There’s a reason film award organizations avoid this approach. However, it represents an unavoidable compromise for the industry of video games, which are so diverse it's challenging to consider them as a single art form.
For the full spectrum of interactive entertainment excellence to receive acknowledgment, and for games of all stripes to receive proper recognition, specific award classifications remain vital.
Existing Game Classification System
Prominent interactive entertainment events offer these genre categories for Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Collectively, these six categories successfully include a lot of ground, allowing placement for most games within them.
Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears to put them. Think about these this year’s best games, each quite distinct: structural challenges from a specific release, intense tile-matching of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges from additional release. Where could they possibly go within current classifications? Nowhere, that’s where.
The Representation Problem
Numerous examples exist of brilliant puzzle games released every year lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested independent game categories.
- An iconic brain-teaser got overlooked in any category in 2014
- Another creative title missed out in 2019
- Well-received sorting experience got ignored in 2021
- Limited numbers of logic titles managed to sneak into independent or mobile categories
Importance of Logic Titles
These are often small games, however the design in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games rank among most popular titles globally and have been for many years.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals famous sandbox experiences 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 within interactive entertainment, and engaging with almost every other genre.
The Solution and Justification
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. It would be easy to populate five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent numerous deserving experiences.
To emphasize again, these are games without proper classification in important events. Puzzle game makers are working at the challenging frontier game development, creating some of the purest expressions within interactive entertainment. Comparable to movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. We shouldn't delay 35 years.
