Whenever a prominent honors show nears, there’s always a demand for the addition of new categories to honor underappreciated efforts and satisfy the passions of enthusiasts dedicated to specific genres.
Another commentator has already made advocating for terror-themed awards. It would be amazing. So would tabletop games, representing a passionate advocate's mission. Yet I need to apologize in advance if I try to elbow in front because like all blinkered fanatics, I have a cast-iron argument supporting my request stands as crucial above others. The demand is this: There should be a classification for brain-teasing titles.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Categorizing art by genre isn't exact; opinions vary greatly, and inevitably spark debates resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason film award organizations avoid this approach. But it is an unavoidable compromise for the industry of gaming, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute one unified medium.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of interactive entertainment excellence to receive acknowledgment, and for games of all stripes to receive proper recognition, genre categories are essential.
Existing Game Classification System
The major gaming awards offer these classifications covering Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these award types successfully include numerous genres, making space possible accommodating various experiences.
Different situation exists for puzzle games. No suitable classification appears to accommodate them. Consider three of recent excellent titles, each quite distinct: structural challenges of one title, fast-paced pattern recognition of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges from additional release. Which classification works among existing types? Unfortunately, nowhere.
Acknowledgment Issues
There are dozens excellent brain-teasers published annually without proper recognition at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested independent game categories.
- An iconic brain-teaser wasn’t nominated in any category in 2014
- A different innovative game was excluded that year
- Popular arranging title received no acknowledgment in 2021
- Just some brain-teasers barely qualified for independent or mobile categories
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often small games, however the design in brain-teasers holds tremendous importance. Iconic mobile puzzle games stand as most engaged experiences in the world and have been for over a decade.
The famous puzzle experience rivals famous sandbox experiences for the title of most purchased experience; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational to the art of video games, and engaging with almost every other genre.
The Solution and Justification
Puzzle games wouldn’t have that issue. One could readily select five nominees engaging, different, qualified experiences annually without trouble — perhaps, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave many worthy titles.
To emphasize again, these include experiences that otherwise have no home in important events. Brain-teaser creators are working at the hard edge interactive creation, developing some of the purest expressions within interactive entertainment. Just like movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. We shouldn't delay decades.
