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Tetris Couldn't Succeed at The Game Awards — A New Category Might Solve This

Each time a major prize-giving event approaches, one notices a clamor for the addition of new categories to recognize overlooked contributions and fill the spirits of fans who have specialized interests.

Another commentator previously argued for a horror game category. That would rule. Equally deserving are tabletop games, which is a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me if I try to elbow in front because like all blinkered fanatics, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal stands as crucial above others. The demand is this: It's essential to create a classification for brain-teasing titles.

Categorizing Game Types

Classifying creative works defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and inevitably spark debates resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that movie academies avoid this approach. Yet it remains an essential concession for the industry of interactive entertainment, showing incredible range they hardly constitute one unified medium.

For the full spectrum of achievement in video games to gain proper attention, and for games of all stripes to receive proper recognition, genre categories are essential.

Present Award Structure

Prominent interactive entertainment events offer these award types recognizing Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these award types actually cover a lot of ground, making space possible for numerous titles.

Not so for brain-teasing titles. There’s simply nowhere to put them. Examine these examples from outstanding current releases, each quite distinct: building puzzles of one title, fast-paced pattern recognition from another release, thought-provoking social scenarios from additional release. Where could they possibly go within current classifications? Unfortunately, nowhere.

Acknowledgment Issues

Many instances occur excellent brain-teasers published annually without proper recognition in entertainment awards, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested independent game categories.

  • A renowned logic title got overlooked in any category that year
  • A different innovative game missed out that year
  • A beloved organization game got ignored that year
  • Just some puzzle games scraped into independent or mobile categories

Importance of Logic Titles

Frequently they represent small games, but the art in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Famous handheld logic titles count as most popular titles worldwide maintaining this status for an extended period.

The iconic tile-matching title rivals well-known building titles competing to become best-selling game of all time; it additionally competes as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation with diverse game types.

Recommendation and Reasoning

Puzzle games wouldn’t have that issue. It would be easy to populate a field of five interesting, varied, worthy titles annually without trouble — or rather, with difficulty, given the need to exclude many worthy titles.

And to reiterate, these include experiences that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Puzzle game makers are working at the demanding boundary game development, producing among essential manifestations within interactive entertainment. Similar to film action specialists, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait 35 years.

Written by

Faith Ross

Maya Chen is a digital strategist and tech enthusiast with over a decade of experience in web analytics and content creation.

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