Tetris Couldn't Succeed at The Game Awards — Another Award Type Might Solve This

Whenever a prominent awards ceremony draws close, there’s always a clamor for the addition of new categories to honor unsung work and satisfy the passions of enthusiasts dedicated to specific genres.

My colleague made the case supporting a scary games classification. It would be amazing. Equally deserving are strategy board titles, which is a passionate advocate's mission. Yet I need to apologize in advance if I try to elbow in front just as with other blinkered fanatics, I have a cast-iron argument supporting my request is the most urgent above others. The demand is this: There should be a classification for brain-teasing titles.

The Genre Classification Challenge

Categorizing art by genre is not a science; it’s very subjective, and it will always generate discussions and end in fuzzy definitions. There’s a reason cinema institutions don’t do it. Yet it remains an essential concession in the world of gaming, which are so diverse they barely qualify one unified medium.

For the full spectrum of interactive entertainment excellence 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 award types recognizing Action, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these six categories successfully include many game types, making space possible accommodating various experiences.

Different situation exists for puzzle games. There’s simply nowhere to accommodate them. Examine these examples from outstanding current releases, showing diverse approaches: building puzzles of one title, the pulse-pounding block-matching in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. Where could they possibly go between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.

Acknowledgment Issues

Many instances occur outstanding logic titles published annually that have no home during gaming ceremonies, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive Indie races.

  • A renowned logic title received no recognition for anything in 2014
  • Another creative title was excluded that year
  • Popular arranging title was overlooked in 2021
  • Only a few puzzle games scraped into niche award types

Value of Brain-Teasers

Commonly they're compact experiences, but the art of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Iconic mobile puzzle games rank among most popular titles in the world continuing this trend for over a decade.

The legendary block-stacking game challenges famous sandbox experiences competing to become best-selling game of all time; it also contends as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones to the art of video games, while interacting with diverse game types.

The Solution and Justification

Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter that issue. One could readily select multiple candidates engaging, different, qualified experiences annually without trouble — perhaps, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave many worthy titles.

And to reiterate, these are games lacking appropriate categories at major gaming awards. Puzzle game makers are working at the demanding boundary game development, developing some of most fundamental forms within interactive entertainment. Similar to movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait decades.

Jose Hart
Jose Hart

A seasoned gaming journalist with a decade of experience covering UK online casinos and responsible gambling practices.