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Tetris Couldn't Win at The Game Awards — An Additional Classification Could Fix That

As any major awards ceremony draws close, you'll find a clamor for the addition fresh award types to honor underappreciated efforts and delight the spirits of enthusiasts who have specialized interests.

My colleague previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. That would be fantastic. The same goes for tabletop games, which is someone's personal cause. Yet I need to apologize in advance if I try to elbow in front because like all dedicated enthusiasts, I possess a compelling case for why my demand is the most urgent and important of all. Here's the proposal: We need a category for puzzle games.

Categorizing Game Types

Categorizing art by genre isn't exact; it’s very subjective, and typically start arguments resulting in unclear classifications. This explains why cinema institutions avoid this approach. However, it represents an essential concession in the world of gaming, showing incredible range they hardly constitute one unified medium.

For the full spectrum of interactive entertainment excellence to receive acknowledgment, and to ensure all game types to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.

Existing Game Classification System

Leading game ceremonies currently feature classifications covering Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these six categories effectively encompass numerous genres, and you can find room accommodating various experiences.

This doesn't apply to logic-based experiences. There’s simply nowhere for their placement. Consider three of outstanding current releases, each quite distinct: the architectural riddles in a particular game, the pulse-pounding block-matching from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. Where could they possibly go within current classifications? Nowhere, that’s where.

Acknowledgment Issues

Many instances occur of brilliant puzzle games published annually without proper recognition in entertainment awards, except when they manage to fit for categories like Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, or the intensely contested Indie races.

  • A renowned logic title wasn’t nominated completely in 2014
  • Another creative title was excluded that year
  • Well-received sorting experience got ignored that year
  • Limited numbers of puzzle games managed to sneak into independent or mobile categories

Value of Brain-Teasers

Commonly they're small games, yet the craft of the puzzle game carries substantial weight. Famous handheld logic titles count as most popular titles worldwide and have been for an extended period.

The famous puzzle experience challenges well-known building titles competing to become best-selling game of all time; it also contends for top gaming experience. Puzzle games are foundational to the art of video games, and engaging across multiple categories.

The Solution and Justification

Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. One could readily select multiple candidates engaging, different, qualified experiences every year with ease — actually, with challenge, given the need to exclude numerous deserving experiences.

And to reiterate, these include experiences that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Brain-teaser creators function at the demanding boundary game development, producing among the purest expressions of the video game form. Just like movie stunt professionals, they merit acknowledgment. We shouldn't delay 35 years.

The writer

Wendy Moss

A tech journalist with over a decade of experience covering emerging technologies and digital culture.

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