The Iconic Puzzle Game Wouldn't Win at The Game Awards — Another Award Type May Address This Issue

As any prominent honors show approaches, one notices a demand for introducing additional classifications to honor unsung work and fill the passions of fans dedicated to specific genres.

A fellow writer made the case supporting a scary games classification. That would rule. Equally deserving are strategy board titles, which is someone's personal cause. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward because like all dedicated enthusiasts, there's a strong justification for why my demand stands as crucial and important of all. The demand is this: We need a classification for brain-teasing titles.

Organizing Gaming Categories

Categorizing art by genre is not a science; opinions vary greatly, and it will always generate discussions and end in fuzzy definitions. There’s a reason film award organizations don’t do it. But it is a necessary evil for the industry of interactive entertainment, which are so diverse they hardly constitute as a single art form.

For the full spectrum of interactive entertainment excellence to receive acknowledgment, while allowing diverse titles to have a chance for representation, genre categories are essential.

Present Award Structure

Prominent interactive entertainment events presently include genre categories for Action, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Collectively, these six categories effectively encompass numerous genres, making space possible for numerous titles.

This doesn't apply to logic-based experiences. No appropriate category exists to accommodate them. Think about these this year’s best games, each quite distinct: the architectural riddles in a particular game, fast-paced pattern recognition in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. Where could they possibly go between these six categories? Unfortunately, nowhere.

The Representation Problem

Numerous examples exist of brilliant puzzle games launched regularly that have no home during gaming ceremonies, if they accidentally match classification types such as Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the intensely contested Indie races.

  • A renowned logic title got overlooked in any category in 2014
  • A different innovative game was excluded that year
  • A beloved organization game was overlooked in 2021
  • Just some logic titles barely qualified for small studio or handheld classifications

Significance of Puzzle Games

Commonly they're small games, however the design in brain-teasers is of massive significance. Iconic mobile puzzle games rank among most popular titles globally maintaining this status for an extended period.

The iconic tile-matching title challenges well-known building titles claiming status as highest-selling title ever; it also contends for top gaming experience. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks to the art of video games, and engaging across multiple categories.

Recommendation and Reasoning

Puzzle games wouldn’t have this problem. One could readily select five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — or rather, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.

Restating the point, these represent titles that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Logic title developers operate at the challenging frontier game development, producing among the purest expressions of gaming itself. Comparable to film action specialists, they deserve recognition. We shouldn't delay decades.

Michael Randall
Michael Randall

A passionate writer and lifestyle coach sharing insights on mindfulness and personal development.