The Iconic Puzzle Game Wouldn't Win at The Game Awards — Another Award Type Might Solve This

Whenever a major honors show nears, one notices a demand for introducing of new categories to recognize underappreciated efforts and delight the passions of fans with niche passions.

Another commentator previously argued for a horror game category. That would rule. Equally deserving are tabletop games, representing a passionate advocate's mission. However, I must insist if I try to elbow in front because like all dedicated enthusiasts, there's a strong justification for why my demand remains most pressing and important of all. The demand is this: We need an award type for logic-based games.

The Genre Classification Challenge

Classifying creative works is not a science; it’s very subjective, and inevitably start arguments and end in fuzzy definitions. It's understandable that movie academies steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents an essential concession within the realm of gaming, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute a single creative category.

For comprehensive acknowledgment of achievement in video games to be recognized, and to ensure all game types to receive proper recognition, classification by type becomes crucial.

Existing Game Classification System

Leading game ceremonies currently feature classifications covering Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these award types successfully include a lot of ground, allowing placement for numerous titles.

Not so for brain-teasing titles. No suitable classification appears to accommodate them. Consider three of recent excellent titles, each quite distinct: the architectural riddles in a particular game, the pulse-pounding block-matching of another game, thought-provoking social scenarios in another game. Which classification works among existing types? Unfortunately, nowhere.

The Representation Problem

There are dozens of brilliant puzzle games published annually lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, or the intensely contested Indie races.

  • One classic puzzle game received no recognition for anything during that awards season
  • Another creative title missed out in 2019
  • Popular arranging title received no acknowledgment that year
  • Limited numbers of logic titles barely qualified for small studio or handheld classifications

Importance of Logic Titles

Frequently they represent modest productions, however the design of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Iconic mobile puzzle games stand as most engaged experiences in the world continuing this trend for many years.

The iconic tile-matching title challenges well-known building titles competing to become highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks to the art of video games, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.

Recommendation and Reasoning

Logic titles wouldn't face that issue. It would be easy to populate a field of five engaging, different, qualified experiences every year with ease — perhaps, with difficulty, given the need to exclude so many good games out.

Restating the point, these are games without proper classification in important events. Logic title developers operate at the demanding boundary of video game design, developing some of the purest expressions of the video game form. Comparable to movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. Let’s not keep them waiting decades.

Scott Brown
Scott Brown

Elara is a passionate cultural journalist with a background in musicology, dedicated to uncovering hidden gems in the Swiss arts scene.