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Whenever a major prize-giving event nears, you'll find an outcry to include of new categories to acknowledge overlooked contributions and satisfy the passions of enthusiasts dedicated to specific genres.

My colleague previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. It would be amazing. So would strategy board titles, which is a passionate advocate's mission. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward since similar to blinkered fanatics, I have a cast-iron argument for why my demand remains most pressing above others. This is the request: There should be a category for puzzle games.

The Genre Classification Challenge

Categorizing art by genre isn't exact; opinions vary greatly, and inevitably generate discussions resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that movie academies don’t do it. But it is an unavoidable compromise within the realm of gaming, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify as a single art form.

For the full spectrum of achievement in video games to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to receive proper recognition, classification by type becomes crucial.

Existing Game Classification System

Leading game ceremonies presently include genre categories for Action, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these six categories effectively encompass a lot of ground, making space possible for most games within them.

Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Consider three of recent excellent titles, all very different: structural challenges in a particular game, intense tile-matching from another release, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. Where could they possibly go within current classifications? Nowhere, that’s where.

Recognition Challenges

There are dozens outstanding logic titles published annually without proper recognition in entertainment awards, if they accidentally match award groups including Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the intensely contested small studio competitions.

• An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition for anything during that awards season
• A different innovative game missed out during that ceremony
• Well-received sorting experience got ignored recently
• Only a few brain-teasers barely qualified for small studio or handheld classifications

Importance of Logic Titles

Frequently they represent compact experiences, but the art of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Iconic mobile puzzle games stand as most engaged experiences in the world and have been for many years.

The iconic tile-matching title challenges famous sandbox experiences claiming status as best-selling game of all time; it’s also in the running for top gaming experience. Logic titles represent cornerstones within interactive entertainment, while interacting across multiple categories.

The Solution and Justification

Puzzle games wouldn’t have this problem. You could fill multiple candidates engaging, different, qualified experiences each ceremony simply — perhaps, with difficulty, since numerous excellent so many good games out.

And to reiterate, these include experiences without proper classification at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators function at the hard edge of video game design, producing among most fundamental forms of gaming itself. Just like movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. Don't make them wait 35 years.