🔗 Share this article Tetris Didn't Succeed at The Game Awards — An Additional Classification Might Solve This As any significant awards ceremony draws close, you'll find a clamor to include additional classifications to recognize overlooked contributions and satisfy the spirits of fans with niche passions. A fellow writer made the case advocating for terror-themed awards. That would be fantastic. The same goes for board games, representing 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 supporting my request is the most urgent and important of all. The demand is this: There should be a category for puzzle games. The Genre Classification Challenge Categorizing art by genre defies precise measurement; it remains highly personal, and it will always spark debates resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. But it is a necessary evil within the realm of interactive entertainment, showing incredible range they barely qualify a single creative category. To recognize the complete range of interactive entertainment excellence to gain proper attention, and to ensure all game types to receive proper recognition, classification by type becomes crucial. Present Award Structure Prominent interactive entertainment events presently include genre categories for Action, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Collectively, these award types actually cover numerous genres, allowing placement accommodating various experiences. Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears to accommodate them. Think about these this year’s best games, all very different: the architectural riddles of one title, the pulse-pounding block-matching from another release, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles of a third title. Which classification works between these six categories? Nowhere, that’s where. Acknowledgment Issues Many instances occur outstanding logic titles published annually without proper recognition during gaming ceremonies, if they accidentally match classification types such as Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions. One classic puzzle game got overlooked in any category in 2014 A different innovative game received no nominations during that ceremony A beloved organization game was overlooked in 2021 Just some brain-teasers managed to sneak into independent or mobile categories Value of Brain-Teasers These are often modest productions, however the design in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Famous handheld logic titles stand as the most-played games in the world maintaining this status for over a decade. The legendary block-stacking game competes with famous sandbox experiences competing to become highest-selling title ever; it also contends for top gaming experience. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks within interactive entertainment, and they are in conversation with diverse game types. Proposal and Rationale Logic titles wouldn't face such difficulty. One could readily select multiple candidates with fascinating, diverse, deserving games each ceremony simply — actually, with challenge, because you’d have to leave numerous deserving experiences. And to reiterate, these include experiences without proper classification in important events. Puzzle game makers are working at the challenging frontier game development, creating some of most fundamental forms within interactive entertainment. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they merit acknowledgment. We shouldn't delay decades.