🔗 Share this article

Each time a major prize-giving event nears, you'll find an outcry to include additional classifications to honor underappreciated efforts and delight the passions of followers dedicated to specific genres.

My colleague previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. So would tabletop games, representing a passionate advocate's mission. However, I must insist when I prioritize just as with other dedicated enthusiasts, there's a strong justification supporting my request is the most urgent and important of all. Here's the proposal: There should be an award type for logic-based games.

The Genre Classification Challenge

Classifying creative works defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and it will always spark debates resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that cinema institutions steer clear of genre categories. But it is an essential concession for the industry of gaming, showing incredible range they hardly constitute a single creative category.

For comprehensive acknowledgment of interactive entertainment excellence to receive acknowledgment, and for games of all stripes to receive proper recognition, specific award classifications remain vital.

Current Gaming Award Categories

Leading game ceremonies presently include genre categories for Action, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Between them, these six categories actually cover numerous genres, allowing placement for numerous titles.

Not so for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears to accommodate them. Think about these recent excellent titles, all very different: structural challenges from a specific release, intense tile-matching from another release, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles in another game. Where could they possibly go among existing types? Nowhere, that’s where.

Recognition Challenges

Many instances occur of brilliant puzzle games launched regularly that have no home in entertainment awards, unless they happen to qualify classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions.

• A renowned logic title received no recognition completely that year
• Another creative title was excluded that year
• A beloved organization game was overlooked that year
• Only a few puzzle games managed to sneak into small studio or handheld classifications

Importance of Logic Titles

Commonly they're small games, but the art in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as the most-played games in the world maintaining this status for an extended period.

The legendary block-stacking game challenges popular creative games claiming status as best-selling game of all time; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Puzzle games are foundational to the art of video games, 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 interesting, varied, worthy titles every year with ease — actually, with challenge, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.

Restating the point, these represent titles that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Logic title developers function at the demanding boundary interactive creation, creating some of essential manifestations of the video game form. Just like cinema stunt performers, they merit acknowledgment. We shouldn't delay generations.