Tetris Wouldn't Win at The Game Awards — An Additional Classification Could Fix That

Each time a major honors show nears, you'll find an outcry for introducing additional classifications to honor underappreciated efforts and delight the hearts of fans who have specialized interests.

A fellow writer previously argued for a horror game category. That would rule. The same goes for board games, this being a passionate advocate's mission. But they will have to forgive me if I try to elbow in front because like all single-minded supporters, there's a strong justification supporting my request remains most pressing above others. Here's the proposal: We need a category for puzzle games.

Categorizing Game Types

Categorizing art by genre isn't exact; it’s very subjective, and inevitably generate discussions and end in fuzzy definitions. There’s a reason cinema institutions don’t do it. But it is an essential concession for the industry of interactive entertainment, showing incredible range it's challenging to consider them as a single art form.

To recognize the complete range of gaming accomplishments to receive acknowledgment, and to ensure all game types to receive proper recognition, specific award classifications remain vital.

Present Award Structure

The major gaming awards presently include genre categories for Action, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Between them, these classifications effectively encompass many game types, making space possible for numerous titles.

Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. There’s simply nowhere for their placement. Examine these examples from this year’s best games, all very different: building puzzles of one title, fast-paced pattern recognition of another game, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles from additional release. What category would fit them between these six categories? Unfortunately, nowhere.

Acknowledgment Issues

Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles released every year that have no home in entertainment awards, if they accidentally match classification types such as Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging Indie races.

  • A renowned logic title got overlooked in any category that year
  • Another creative title received no nominations in 2019
  • A beloved organization game got ignored recently
  • Only a few logic titles managed to sneak into independent or mobile categories

Importance of Logic Titles

Commonly they're small games, but the art of the puzzle game is of massive significance. Well-known matching games count as most engaged experiences globally and have been for many years.

The famous puzzle experience challenges well-known building titles claiming status as best-selling game of all time; it additionally competes for top gaming experience. Puzzle games are foundational for gaming as medium, and engaging across multiple categories.

Recommendation and Reasoning

Logic titles wouldn't face that issue. You could fill five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — actually, with challenge, given the need to exclude many worthy titles.

And to reiterate, these include experiences lacking appropriate categories during prominent ceremonies. Logic title developers function at the challenging frontier game development, developing some of essential manifestations of gaming itself. Comparable to cinema stunt performers, they deserve recognition. We shouldn't delay generations.

Taylor Hernandez
Taylor Hernandez

Elara is a seasoned political analyst with over a decade of experience covering UK governance and media dynamics.