Whenever a major prize-giving event approaches, there’s always a demand for introducing of new categories to recognize unsung work and fill the spirits of enthusiasts with niche passions.
Another commentator has already made for a horror game category. That would rule. So would strategy board titles, which is a dedicated supporter's campaign. However, I must insist when I prioritize just as with other dedicated enthusiasts, I have a cast-iron argument supporting my request stands as crucial and important of all. This is the request: There should be an award type for logic-based games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Classifying creative works is not a science; it’s very subjective, and typically spark debates and end in fuzzy definitions. There’s a reason film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. Yet it remains a necessary evil within the realm of video games, which are so diverse they barely qualify one unified medium.
For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to gain proper attention, and for games of all stripes to have a chance for representation, genre categories are essential.
Current Gaming Award Categories
The major gaming awards presently include classifications covering Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these classifications effectively encompass many game types, making space possible for numerous titles.
This doesn't apply to logic-based experiences. No appropriate category exists to put them. Consider three of this year’s best games, each quite distinct: building puzzles in a particular game, the pulse-pounding block-matching in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios in another game. Which classification works among existing types? Unfortunately, nowhere.
Recognition Challenges
There are dozens excellent brain-teasers released every year without proper recognition at major award shows, if they accidentally match award groups including Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested independent game categories.
- An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition in any category that year
- Another creative title was excluded that year
- Well-received sorting experience got ignored in 2021
- Only a few logic titles barely qualified for niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often small games, yet the craft in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as most popular titles worldwide continuing this trend for an extended period.
The famous puzzle experience rivals popular creative games for the title of most purchased experience; it additionally competes for best game of all time. Logic titles represent cornerstones to the art of video games, and engaging across multiple categories.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter that issue. It would be easy to populate five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent many worthy titles.
To emphasize again, these include experiences without proper classification during prominent ceremonies. Brain-teaser creators are working at the hard edge game development, creating some of essential manifestations of gaming itself. Just like film action specialists, they merit acknowledgment. Let’s not keep them waiting decades.
