🔗 Share this article Tetris Couldn't Win at The Game Awards — A New Category Might Solve This Whenever a prominent prize-giving event nears, there’s always a demand for introducing of new categories to acknowledge overlooked contributions and delight the passions of followers who have specialized interests. Another commentator has already made supporting a scary games classification. That would be fantastic. So would tabletop games, representing a passionate advocate's mission. Yet I need to apologize in advance when I prioritize because like all blinkered fanatics, I have a cast-iron argument for why my demand is the most urgent above others. The demand is this: There should be a category for puzzle games. The Genre Classification Challenge Classifying creative works is not a science; it’s very subjective, and typically generate discussions concluding with vague boundaries. There’s a reason film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. But it is a necessary evil for the industry of video games, which are so diverse they barely qualify one unified medium. To recognize the complete range of gaming accomplishments to receive acknowledgment, while allowing diverse titles to compete fairly, specific award classifications remain vital. Current Gaming Award Categories Leading game ceremonies offer these genre categories for Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these classifications actually cover numerous genres, allowing placement for numerous titles. Not so for brain-teasing titles. No appropriate category exists to put them. Examine these examples from recent excellent titles, each quite distinct: building puzzles from a specific release, fast-paced pattern recognition in a different title, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. Which classification works between these six categories? Nowhere, that’s where. Recognition Challenges Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles published annually without proper recognition in entertainment awards, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging small studio competitions. A renowned logic title received no recognition for anything during that awards season Another creative title missed out during that ceremony A beloved organization game got ignored recently Only a few brain-teasers barely qualified for niche award types Significance of Puzzle Games Commonly they're compact experiences, however the design in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Iconic mobile puzzle games rank among most popular titles globally maintaining this status for over a decade. The legendary block-stacking game rivals famous sandbox experiences claiming status as highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational within interactive entertainment, and engaging with almost every other genre. Recommendation and Reasoning Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter that issue. One could readily select a field of five engaging, different, qualified experiences annually without trouble — actually, with challenge, given the need to exclude so many good games out. And to reiterate, these include experiences lacking appropriate categories during prominent ceremonies. Brain-teaser creators function at the hard edge interactive creation, developing some of the purest expressions of the video game form. Comparable to movie stunt professionals, they merit acknowledgment. Don't make them wait decades.