Whenever a significant awards ceremony draws close, there’s always an outcry for introducing additional classifications to recognize underappreciated efforts and fill the passions of followers with niche passions.
Another commentator made the case advocating for terror-themed awards. It would be amazing. So would strategy board titles, representing someone's personal cause. But they will have to forgive me for pushing forward because like all single-minded supporters, I have a cast-iron argument for why my demand remains most pressing and significant. The demand is this: There should be a category for puzzle games.
Organizing artistic expressions defies precise measurement; it remains highly personal, and typically generate discussions and end in fuzzy definitions. It's understandable that cinema institutions steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents an essential concession within the realm of video games, that demonstrate such variety it's challenging to consider them a single creative category.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of gaming accomplishments to gain proper attention, and for games of all stripes to receive proper recognition, genre categories are essential.
Leading game ceremonies presently include award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these classifications effectively encompass numerous genres, and you can find room for numerous titles.
Not so for brain-teasing titles. There’s simply nowhere to put them. Examine these examples from outstanding current releases, all very different: building puzzles in a particular game, fast-paced pattern recognition in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. Which classification works within current classifications? Unfortunately, nowhere.
Numerous examples exist excellent brain-teasers released every year without proper recognition during gaming ceremonies, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive Indie races.
Frequently they represent small games, yet the craft of the puzzle game is of massive significance. Famous handheld logic titles stand as the most-played games globally continuing this trend for over a decade.
The famous puzzle experience competes with well-known building titles for the title of most purchased experience; it also contends as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, and engaging across multiple categories.
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter such difficulty. It would be easy to populate five nominees engaging, different, qualified experiences every year with ease — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent many worthy titles.
Restating the point, these are games without proper classification at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators operate at the demanding boundary interactive creation, creating some of the purest expressions within interactive entertainment. Comparable to film action specialists, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay generations.
A seasoned gaming journalist with over a decade of experience covering UK casino trends and strategies.