🔗 Share this article

As any major prize-giving event approaches, there’s always a clamor to include fresh award types to recognize underappreciated efforts and delight the hearts of enthusiasts dedicated to specific genres.

My colleague previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. That would be fantastic. So would tabletop games, which is someone's personal cause. However, I must insist for pushing forward because like all dedicated enthusiasts, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal remains most pressing above others. Here's the proposal: There should be an award type for logic-based games.

Organizing Gaming Categories

Categorizing art by genre is not a science; it remains highly personal, and it will always spark debates resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason cinema institutions don’t do it. But it is a necessary evil within the realm of interactive entertainment, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute as a single art form.

To recognize the complete range of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.

Existing Game Classification System

Prominent interactive entertainment events currently feature award types recognizing Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Between them, these classifications actually cover many game types, allowing placement for numerous titles.

Not so for brain-teasing titles. There’s simply nowhere for their placement. Think about these outstanding current releases, all very different: building puzzles in a particular game, the pulse-pounding block-matching from another release, thought-provoking social scenarios from additional release. Which classification works within current classifications? Nowhere, that’s where.

The Representation Problem

There are dozens outstanding logic titles launched regularly lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify award groups including Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions.

• One classic puzzle game wasn’t nominated in any category in 2014
• Another creative title received no nominations that year
• Well-received sorting experience got ignored in 2021
• Just some brain-teasers managed to sneak into niche award types

Importance of Logic Titles

Commonly they're modest productions, but the art of the puzzle game carries substantial weight. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as the most-played games globally and have been for over a decade.

The legendary block-stacking game rivals famous sandbox experiences claiming status as most purchased experience; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks for gaming as medium, and engaging with diverse game types.

Proposal and Rationale

Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter that issue. You could fill multiple candidates interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — perhaps, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave many worthy titles.

And to reiterate, these are games that otherwise have no home in important events. Brain-teaser creators operate at the challenging frontier game development, developing some of essential manifestations within interactive entertainment. Comparable to cinema stunt performers, they merit acknowledgment. Let’s not keep them waiting decades.