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The Iconic Puzzle Game Didn't Win at The Game Awards — A New Category Might Solve This

Each time a major honors show approaches, you'll find an outcry for introducing of new categories to recognize unsung work and satisfy the passions of followers dedicated to specific genres.

Another commentator made the case advocating for terror-themed awards. It would be amazing. Equally deserving are tabletop games, this being a passionate advocate's mission. But they will have to forgive me when I prioritize because like all blinkered fanatics, I have a cast-iron argument backing this proposal remains most pressing above others. This is the request: There should be an award type for logic-based games.

The Genre Classification Challenge

Classifying creative works is not a science; it remains highly personal, and it will always generate discussions and end in fuzzy definitions. This explains why cinema institutions don’t do it. However, it represents an unavoidable compromise within the realm of video games, that demonstrate such variety it's challenging to consider them one unified medium.

For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to receive acknowledgment, while allowing diverse titles to receive proper recognition, classification by type becomes crucial.

Current Gaming Award Categories

Leading game ceremonies presently include award types recognizing Action, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these classifications actually cover numerous genres, and you can find room accommodating various experiences.

This doesn't apply to logic-based experiences. No appropriate category exists to accommodate them. Consider three of this year’s best games, showing diverse approaches: structural challenges of one title, fast-paced pattern recognition from another release, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles from additional release. Where could they possibly go within current classifications? Simply put, no category fits.

The Representation Problem

Many instances occur of brilliant puzzle games launched regularly lacking appropriate categories in entertainment awards, if they accidentally match award groups including Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging independent game categories.

  • An iconic brain-teaser got overlooked completely that year
  • Another creative title received no nominations that year
  • Popular arranging title got ignored that year
  • Just some puzzle games scraped into small studio or handheld classifications

Value of Brain-Teasers

Commonly they're small games, but the art in brain-teasers is of massive significance. Famous handheld logic titles rank among most popular titles globally continuing this trend for many years.

The legendary block-stacking game rivals famous sandbox experiences competing to become most purchased experience; it also contends as greatest title ever. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation with almost every other genre.

The Solution and Justification

Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter such difficulty. It would be easy to populate multiple candidates engaging, different, qualified experiences annually without trouble — perhaps, with difficulty, since numerous excellent numerous deserving experiences.

And to reiterate, these include experiences that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators operate at the hard edge game development, producing among most fundamental forms of the video game form. Just like film action specialists, they warrant appreciation. Don't make them wait generations.

The writer

Nicholas Foster MD

A tech enthusiast and writer with a passion for exploring emerging technologies and sharing actionable insights.

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