Tetris Couldn't Triumph at The Game Awards — A New Category Might Solve This

Each time a prominent prize-giving event draws close, you'll find a demand for introducing of new categories to acknowledge unsung work and satisfy the spirits of followers dedicated to specific genres.

My colleague previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. It would be amazing. Equally deserving are strategy board titles, which is a dedicated supporter's campaign. However, I must insist if I try to elbow in front since similar to blinkered fanatics, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal remains most pressing and important of all. This is the request: There should be a category for puzzle games.

The Genre Classification Challenge

Classifying creative works is not a science; opinions vary greatly, and typically spark debates and end in fuzzy definitions. It's understandable that cinema institutions don’t do it. Yet it remains a necessary evil within the realm of video games, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify a single creative category.

For the full spectrum of achievement in video games to receive acknowledgment, and to ensure all game types to compete fairly, genre categories are essential.

Current Gaming Award Categories

Prominent interactive entertainment events currently feature classifications covering Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these six categories actually cover a lot of ground, and you can find room accommodating various experiences.

Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears to put them. Examine these examples from outstanding current releases, all very different: the architectural riddles of one title, the pulse-pounding block-matching in a different title, engaging interpersonal challenges from additional release. Where could they possibly go among existing types? Simply put, no category fits.

Acknowledgment Issues

Many instances occur excellent brain-teasers published annually without proper recognition in entertainment awards, except when they manage to fit for categories like Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested independent game categories.

  • An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition completely that year
  • Another imaginative release was excluded during that ceremony
  • A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment in 2021
  • Limited numbers of logic titles managed to sneak into small studio or handheld classifications

Value of Brain-Teasers

Commonly they're compact experiences, yet the craft of the puzzle game carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games stand as most engaged experiences in the world maintaining this status for many years.

The legendary block-stacking game competes with famous sandbox experiences for the title of most purchased experience; it also contends as greatest title ever. Puzzle games are foundational for gaming as medium, while interacting across multiple categories.

The Solution and Justification

Puzzle games wouldn’t have this problem. One could readily select a field of five engaging, different, qualified experiences every year with ease — actually, with challenge, since numerous excellent numerous deserving experiences.

To emphasize again, these represent titles lacking appropriate categories in important events. Logic title developers function at the hard edge game development, producing among the purest expressions of gaming itself. Just like cinema stunt performers, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait decades.

Jodi Brown
Jodi Brown

A tech journalist with over a decade of experience covering UK tech innovations and digital trends.