🔗 Share this article Tetris Wouldn't Succeed at The Game Awards — An Additional Classification Might Solve This As any major prize-giving event approaches, there’s always an outcry to include fresh award types to recognize underappreciated efforts and delight the passions of enthusiasts with niche passions. Another commentator previously argued supporting a scary games classification. That would be fantastic. Equally deserving are tabletop games, representing a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me for pushing forward since similar to single-minded supporters, I possess a compelling case supporting my request remains most pressing and significant. Here's the proposal: There should be a category for puzzle games. Categorizing Game Types Organizing artistic expressions isn't exact; it remains highly personal, and typically generate discussions and end in fuzzy definitions. It's understandable that cinema institutions don’t do it. But it is an unavoidable compromise within the realm of interactive entertainment, showing incredible range they barely qualify as a single art form. For the full spectrum of interactive entertainment excellence to gain proper attention, and to ensure all game types to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial. Present Award Structure The major gaming awards currently feature award types recognizing Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these award types successfully include numerous genres, and you can find room for most games within them. This doesn't apply to logic-based experiences. There’s simply nowhere for their placement. Examine these examples from this year’s best games, all very different: structural challenges from a specific release, the pulse-pounding block-matching in a different title, engaging interpersonal challenges from additional release. What category would fit them within current classifications? Nowhere, that’s where. The Representation Problem Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles launched regularly that have no home at major award shows, except when they manage to fit award groups including Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested Indie races. One classic puzzle game received no recognition for anything in 2014 Another creative title received no nominations during that ceremony A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment in 2021 Limited numbers of logic titles managed to sneak into independent or mobile categories Importance of Logic Titles Commonly they're compact experiences, yet the craft of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as the most-played games globally and have been for over a decade. The iconic tile-matching title competes with famous sandbox experiences competing to become most purchased experience; it additionally competes for best game of all time. Logic titles represent cornerstones within interactive entertainment, and they are in conversation with diverse game types. Proposal and Rationale Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter such difficulty. One could readily select multiple candidates interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — actually, with challenge, because you’d have to leave numerous deserving experiences. And to reiterate, these represent titles lacking appropriate categories in important events. Brain-teaser creators are working at the demanding boundary game development, producing among the purest expressions within interactive entertainment. Just like movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. Let’s not keep them waiting generations.