Each time a major prize-giving event nears, there’s always a demand to include fresh award types to honor underappreciated efforts and delight the hearts of followers with niche passions.
Another commentator made the case advocating for terror-themed awards. That would be fantastic. The same goes for board games, representing a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me if I try to elbow in front because like all dedicated enthusiasts, there's a strong justification backing this proposal remains most pressing above others. Here's the proposal: There should be an award type for logic-based games.
Categorizing Game Types
Categorizing art by genre is not a science; opinions vary greatly, and it will always generate discussions concluding with vague boundaries. It's understandable that film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. But it is an essential concession in the world of gaming, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute as a single art form.
For the full spectrum of interactive entertainment excellence to be recognized, and to ensure all game types to receive proper recognition, genre categories are essential.
Present Award Structure
The major gaming awards offer these classifications covering Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these classifications actually cover a lot of ground, and you can find room for most games within them.
This doesn't apply to puzzle games. No suitable classification appears to put them. Consider three of this year’s best games, each quite distinct: the architectural riddles from a specific release, fast-paced pattern recognition from another release, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles in another game. What category would fit them among existing types? Simply put, no category fits.
Acknowledgment Issues
Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles launched regularly without proper recognition at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify classification types such as Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive Indie races.
- One classic puzzle game got overlooked in any category in 2014
- A different innovative game missed out in 2019
- Well-received sorting experience received no acknowledgment in 2021
- Limited numbers of puzzle games barely qualified for niche award types
Importance of Logic Titles
These are often modest productions, however the design of the puzzle game is of massive significance. Iconic mobile puzzle games rank among the most-played games globally continuing this trend for many years.
The legendary block-stacking game challenges well-known building titles competing to become best-selling game of all time; it additionally competes for top gaming experience. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks for gaming as medium, and engaging with diverse game types.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Puzzle games wouldn’t have such difficulty. One could readily select a field of five engaging, different, qualified experiences annually without trouble — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent numerous deserving experiences.
Restating the point, these represent titles that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Logic title developers are working at the challenging frontier of video game design, producing among essential manifestations of gaming itself. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they merit acknowledgment. Don't make them wait generations.
