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Tetris Didn't Succeed at The Game Awards — Another Award Type Could Fix That

Whenever a prominent prize-giving event approaches, one notices an outcry to include of new categories to recognize overlooked contributions and satisfy the passions of followers who have specialized interests.

My colleague made the case advocating for terror-themed awards. It would be amazing. Equally deserving are strategy board titles, which is someone's personal cause. Yet I need to apologize in advance when I prioritize just as with other single-minded supporters, there's a strong justification backing this proposal stands as crucial and important of all. The demand is this: There should be a category for puzzle games.

Organizing Gaming Categories

Categorizing art by genre isn't exact; it remains highly personal, and inevitably start arguments concluding with vague boundaries. This explains why cinema institutions don’t do it. Yet it remains an essential concession within the realm of interactive entertainment, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute one unified medium.

For comprehensive acknowledgment of gaming accomplishments to receive acknowledgment, and to ensure all game types to receive proper recognition, specific award classifications remain vital.

Existing Game Classification System

Leading game ceremonies currently feature genre categories for Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these classifications successfully include a lot of ground, and you can find room accommodating various experiences.

This doesn't apply to logic-based experiences. No appropriate category exists to accommodate them. Consider three of this year’s best games, all very different: the architectural riddles from a specific release, intense tile-matching in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios from additional release. What category would fit them between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.

Recognition Challenges

There are dozens of brilliant puzzle games published annually without proper recognition at major award shows, if they accidentally match award groups including Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive independent game categories.

  • One classic puzzle game got overlooked for anything that year
  • A different innovative game missed out in 2019
  • Well-received sorting experience received no acknowledgment in 2021
  • Limited numbers of logic titles barely qualified for small studio or handheld classifications

Importance of Logic Titles

Frequently they represent small games, however the design behind logic titles is of massive significance. Well-known matching games rank among most popular titles globally continuing this trend for over a decade.

The legendary block-stacking game rivals popular creative games competing to become most purchased experience; it additionally competes for top gaming experience. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.

Proposal and Rationale

Logic titles wouldn't face that issue. It would be easy to populate a field of five interesting, varied, worthy titles annually without trouble — perhaps, with difficulty, since numerous excellent so many good games out.

Restating the point, these represent titles that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Brain-teaser creators function at the challenging frontier of video game design, developing some of most fundamental forms within interactive entertainment. Similar to film action specialists, they deserve recognition. We shouldn't delay 35 years.

By

Claudia Boyer

Emma is a travel enthusiast and writer, exploring the hidden gems of the Netherlands.

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