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Tetris Didn't Triumph at The Game Awards — An Additional Classification Might Solve This

Each time a significant honors show draws close, one notices an outcry to include of new categories to recognize unsung work and satisfy the passions of fans dedicated to specific genres.

Another commentator has already made supporting a scary games classification. That would rule. The same goes for tabletop games, this being a passionate advocate's mission. However, I must insist if I try to elbow in front just as with other single-minded supporters, I have a cast-iron argument backing this proposal is the most urgent and important of all. The demand is this: We need an award type for logic-based games.

Organizing Gaming Categories

Classifying creative works defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and it will always spark debates resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason movie academies steer clear of genre categories. Yet it remains an unavoidable compromise within the realm of video games, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute one unified medium.

To recognize the complete range of interactive entertainment excellence to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to receive proper recognition, specific award classifications remain vital.

Existing Game Classification System

Leading game ceremonies offer these classifications covering Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these six categories effectively encompass many game types, and you can find room for most games within them.

Not so for puzzle games. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Think about these this year’s best games, showing diverse approaches: structural challenges from a specific release, the pulse-pounding block-matching of another game, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles in another game. What category would fit them between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.

Recognition Challenges

Many instances occur outstanding logic titles launched regularly that have no home during gaming ceremonies, unless they happen to qualify classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions.

  • A renowned logic title got overlooked for anything during that awards season
  • Another imaginative release was excluded in 2019
  • Popular arranging title was overlooked recently
  • Limited numbers of brain-teasers barely qualified for niche award types

Value of Brain-Teasers

Frequently they represent modest productions, but the art in brain-teasers is of massive significance. Iconic mobile puzzle games rank among the most-played games globally and have been for many years.

The famous puzzle experience competes with famous sandbox experiences for the title of highest-selling title ever; it also contends for best game of all time. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, and engaging with diverse game types.

Recommendation and Reasoning

Logic titles wouldn't face this problem. One could readily select five nominees engaging, different, qualified experiences annually without trouble — actually, with challenge, since numerous excellent so many good games out.

To emphasize again, these are games that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Puzzle game makers function at the demanding boundary interactive creation, developing some of most fundamental forms of the video game form. Similar to movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. Let’s not keep them waiting 35 years.

By

Madeline Sheppard

Liam de Vries is a Rotterdam-based journalist and urban culture enthusiast with a passion for street art and underground music scenes.

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