The Iconic Puzzle Game Didn't Win at This Gaming Ceremony — An Additional Classification Might Solve This

Whenever a significant prize-giving event approaches, one notices a demand for introducing additional classifications to recognize unsung work and satisfy the spirits of fans with niche passions.

My colleague previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. It would be amazing. Equally deserving are tabletop games, which is a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance if I try to elbow in front since similar to single-minded supporters, there's a strong justification supporting my request remains most pressing and significant. The demand is this: There should be an award type for logic-based games.

The Genre Classification Challenge

Classifying creative works is not a science; opinions vary greatly, and it will always start arguments and end in fuzzy definitions. There’s a reason film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents an unavoidable compromise for the industry of video games, which are so diverse they barely qualify as a single art form.

For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to receive acknowledgment, while allowing diverse titles 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 six categories effectively encompass numerous genres, making space possible for numerous titles.

Different situation exists for puzzle games. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Think about these recent excellent titles, showing diverse approaches: structural challenges of one title, the pulse-pounding block-matching in a different title, engaging interpersonal challenges from additional release. What category would fit them among existing types? Nowhere, that’s where.

Recognition Challenges

Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles published annually without proper recognition in entertainment awards, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, or the extremely competitive independent game categories.

  • An iconic brain-teaser got overlooked in any category that year
  • Another creative title received no nominations that year
  • Popular arranging title received no acknowledgment recently
  • Limited numbers of puzzle games barely qualified for small studio or handheld classifications

Significance of Puzzle Games

Commonly they're compact experiences, however the design behind logic titles is of massive significance. Well-known matching games stand as the most-played games worldwide continuing this trend for over a decade.

The famous puzzle experience challenges popular creative games for the title of highest-selling title ever; it also contends for top gaming experience. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks for gaming as medium, while interacting across multiple categories.

Proposal and Rationale

Puzzle games wouldn’t have this problem. It would be easy to populate a field of five interesting, varied, worthy titles every year with ease — perhaps, with difficulty, since numerous excellent so many good games out.

And to reiterate, these include experiences without proper classification at major gaming awards. Puzzle game makers operate at the challenging frontier game development, developing some of most fundamental forms of the video game form. Comparable to film action specialists, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay decades.

Eric Chandler
Eric Chandler

A digital artist and design consultant with over a decade of experience in vector graphics and creative branding.