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Each time a prominent awards ceremony approaches, one notices a clamor for the addition of new categories to recognize unsung work and fill the hearts of followers dedicated to specific genres.

A fellow writer made the case advocating for terror-themed awards. It would be amazing. Equally deserving are tabletop games, which is a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance if I try to elbow in front just as with other blinkered fanatics, there's a strong justification backing this proposal remains most pressing and significant. Here's the proposal: There should be an award type for logic-based games.

The Genre Classification Challenge

Organizing artistic expressions is not a science; it’s very subjective, and inevitably start arguments resulting in unclear classifications. This explains why movie academies steer clear of genre categories. Yet it remains a necessary evil for the industry of gaming, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute one unified medium.

To recognize the complete range of achievement in video games to be recognized, and to ensure all game types to have a chance for representation, classification by type becomes crucial.

Present Award Structure

Prominent interactive entertainment events presently include genre categories for Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Between them, these award types actually cover a lot of ground, allowing placement for most games within them.

Not so for puzzle games. No suitable classification appears to put them. Examine these examples from recent excellent titles, each quite distinct: building puzzles of one title, intense tile-matching from another release, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. Which classification works within current classifications? Simply put, no category fits.

The Representation Problem

Many instances occur outstanding logic titles published annually lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging small studio competitions.

• One classic puzzle game got overlooked completely during that awards season
• A different innovative game missed out that year
• A beloved organization game was overlooked in 2021
• Only a few brain-teasers scraped into independent or mobile categories

Significance of Puzzle Games

These are often small games, however the design in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games rank among most popular titles worldwide and have been for over a decade.

The iconic tile-matching title rivals well-known building titles for the title of 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 engaging with diverse game types.

The Solution and Justification

Puzzle games wouldn’t have such difficulty. It would be easy to populate multiple candidates engaging, different, qualified experiences every year with ease — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent many worthy titles.

Restating the point, these include experiences lacking appropriate categories in important events. Logic title developers function at the hard edge interactive creation, creating some of the purest expressions within interactive entertainment. Similar to movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. Let’s not keep them waiting decades.