Tetris Couldn't Triumph at The Game Awards — Another Award Type Could Fix That

As any prominent honors show approaches, there’s always a clamor for introducing of new categories to honor unsung work and fill the spirits of enthusiasts dedicated to specific genres.

A fellow writer has already made advocating for terror-themed awards. That would be fantastic. Equally deserving are tabletop games, this being someone's personal cause. However, I must insist if I try to elbow in front since similar to dedicated enthusiasts, I possess a compelling case supporting my request stands as crucial and significant. The demand is this: We need a classification for brain-teasing titles.

The Genre Classification Challenge

Organizing artistic expressions is not a science; it’s very subjective, and it will always spark debates concluding with vague boundaries. This explains why film award organizations don’t do it. But it is an unavoidable compromise in the world of interactive entertainment, showing incredible range they barely qualify one unified medium.

To recognize the complete range of achievement in video games to receive acknowledgment, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, genre categories are essential.

Existing Game Classification System

Leading game ceremonies offer these genre categories for Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these six categories actually cover many game types, making space possible for numerous titles.

Not so for puzzle games. No appropriate category exists for their placement. Think about these recent excellent titles, all very different: structural challenges from a specific release, fast-paced pattern recognition of another game, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles from additional release. Where could they possibly go among existing types? Simply put, no category fits.

The Representation Problem

Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles released every year without proper recognition at major award shows, except when they manage to fit award groups including Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions.

  • An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition in any category that year
  • Another creative title missed out in 2019
  • Popular arranging title received no acknowledgment recently
  • Limited numbers of puzzle games scraped into small studio or handheld classifications

Value of Brain-Teasers

Commonly they're modest productions, however the design behind logic titles holds tremendous importance. Iconic mobile puzzle games stand as most popular titles in the world and have been for many years.

The legendary block-stacking game challenges well-known building titles claiming status as best-selling game of all time; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks within interactive entertainment, while interacting across multiple categories.

The Solution and Justification

Puzzle games wouldn’t have that issue. It would be easy to populate multiple candidates interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — actually, with challenge, given the need to exclude numerous deserving experiences.

And to reiterate, these represent titles lacking appropriate categories in important events. Logic title developers function at the challenging frontier game development, developing some of most fundamental forms within interactive entertainment. Comparable to cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. Don't make them wait 35 years.

Nancy Barnes
Nancy Barnes

A professional gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in casino strategy and sports betting, specializing in data-driven approaches.