Each time a prominent prize-giving event nears, there’s always a demand for introducing of new categories to recognize unsung work and fill the spirits of followers dedicated to specific genres.
A fellow writer made the case supporting a scary games classification. That would be fantastic. So would board games, which is a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me when I prioritize since similar to single-minded supporters, I have a cast-iron argument backing this proposal remains most pressing and important of all. This is the request: There should be a classification for brain-teasing titles.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Classifying creative works is not a science; opinions vary greatly, and typically spark debates resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason movie academies steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents a necessary evil within the realm of gaming, which are so diverse they barely qualify as a single art form.
To recognize the complete range of gaming accomplishments to receive acknowledgment, and for games of all stripes to have a chance for representation, classification by type becomes crucial.
Present Award Structure
Leading game ceremonies offer these classifications covering Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these six categories successfully include a lot of ground, making space possible for most games within them.
Not so for logic-based experiences. There’s simply nowhere for their placement. Consider three of recent excellent titles, all very different: structural challenges of one title, fast-paced pattern recognition in a different title, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. Where could they possibly go among existing types? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
Numerous examples exist excellent brain-teasers published annually lacking appropriate categories in entertainment awards, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive Indie races.
- An iconic brain-teaser got overlooked completely in 2014
- Another creative title missed out during that ceremony
- Well-received sorting experience was overlooked in 2021
- Just some brain-teasers scraped into independent or mobile categories
Importance of Logic Titles
These are often small games, but the art in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games stand as the most-played games worldwide and have been for over a decade.
The iconic tile-matching title challenges well-known building titles claiming status as best-selling game of all time; it also contends as greatest title ever. Puzzle games are foundational to the art of video games, and engaging across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Puzzle games wouldn’t have such difficulty. It would be easy to populate five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles every year with ease — or rather, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave numerous deserving experiences.
And to reiterate, these represent titles that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators function at the challenging frontier interactive creation, creating some of most fundamental forms within interactive entertainment. Comparable to film action specialists, they warrant appreciation. Don't make them wait generations.
