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

As any prominent prize-giving event approaches, there’s always a demand to include of new categories to honor unsung work and delight the hearts of fans who have specialized interests.

My colleague made the case for a horror game category. That would rule. So would board games, which is a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me for pushing forward just as with other blinkered fanatics, I have a cast-iron argument for why my demand is the most urgent above others. The demand is this: It's essential to create a category for puzzle games.

Categorizing Game Types

Categorizing art by genre isn't exact; it’s very subjective, and it will always generate discussions concluding with vague boundaries. It's understandable that movie academies avoid this approach. But it is a necessary evil in the world of interactive entertainment, that demonstrate such variety it's challenging to consider them as a single art form.

To recognize the complete range of gaming accomplishments to receive acknowledgment, and for games of all stripes to receive proper recognition, genre categories are essential.

Existing Game Classification System

The major gaming awards currently feature genre categories for Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Between them, these classifications actually cover many game types, allowing placement for most games within them.

Different situation exists for puzzle games. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Consider three of outstanding current releases, each quite distinct: structural challenges of one title, intense tile-matching from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. Where could they possibly go among existing types? Unfortunately, nowhere.

Recognition Challenges

There are dozens outstanding logic titles released every year that have no home in entertainment awards, except when they manage to fit award groups including Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging Indie races.

  • An iconic brain-teaser got overlooked in any category that year
  • Another imaginative release was excluded during that ceremony
  • Well-received sorting experience received no acknowledgment that year
  • Limited numbers of puzzle games scraped into independent or mobile categories

Importance of Logic Titles

These are often compact experiences, yet the craft of the puzzle game is of massive significance. Well-known matching games rank among most engaged experiences in the world maintaining this status for an extended period.

The famous puzzle experience competes with well-known building titles competing to become best-selling game of all time; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks to the art of video games, and they are in conversation with diverse game types.

Proposal and Rationale

Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. You could fill five nominees with fascinating, diverse, deserving games every year with ease — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent many worthy titles.

And to reiterate, these are games that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Puzzle game makers are working at the challenging frontier interactive creation, developing some of essential manifestations of the video game form. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay decades.

Michael Berry
Michael Berry

A seasoned gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in online casino reviews and player advocacy.