The Iconic Puzzle Game Didn't Triumph at The Game Awards — A New Category Could Fix That

Whenever a prominent honors show approaches, there’s always a demand for introducing fresh award types to honor unsung work and delight the spirits of enthusiasts with niche passions.

Another commentator has already made supporting a scary games classification. That would rule. The same goes for strategy board titles, which is someone's personal cause. But they will have to forgive me if I try to elbow in front because like all single-minded supporters, I possess a compelling case supporting my request stands as crucial and important of all. The demand is this: We need a classification for brain-teasing titles.

Categorizing Game Types

Categorizing art by genre isn't exact; opinions vary greatly, and typically start arguments resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents an unavoidable compromise within the realm of video games, which are so diverse they barely qualify as a single art form.

For comprehensive acknowledgment of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, and for games of all stripes to receive proper recognition, genre categories are essential.

Current Gaming Award Categories

The major gaming awards currently feature genre categories for Action, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Fighting, 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 logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Consider three of this year’s best games, showing diverse approaches: the architectural riddles from a specific release, intense tile-matching in a different title, engaging interpersonal challenges from additional release. What category would fit them within current classifications? Simply put, no category fits.

The Representation Problem

There are dozens of brilliant puzzle games launched regularly that have no home in entertainment awards, if they accidentally match classification types such as Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging small studio competitions.

  • An iconic brain-teaser got overlooked completely during that awards season
  • Another imaginative release missed out in 2019
  • Popular arranging title got ignored that year
  • Limited numbers of brain-teasers managed to sneak into independent or mobile categories

Importance of Logic Titles

These are often small games, but the art in brain-teasers holds tremendous importance. Famous handheld logic titles count as most popular titles globally continuing this trend for over a decade.

The famous puzzle experience competes with popular creative games competing to become best-selling game of all time; it additionally competes for top gaming experience. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.

The Solution and Justification

Puzzle games wouldn’t have that issue. It would be easy to populate multiple candidates interesting, varied, worthy titles every year with ease — actually, with challenge, since numerous excellent numerous deserving experiences.

Restating the point, these are games without proper classification during prominent ceremonies. Puzzle game makers are working at the hard edge interactive creation, developing some of most fundamental forms within interactive entertainment. Comparable to cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. Let’s not keep them waiting 35 years.

Julia Cherry MD
Julia Cherry MD

Lena is a passionate content curator and community manager with over a decade of experience in online forums and collaborative knowledge platforms.