Tetris Wouldn't Succeed at The Game Awards — An Additional Classification May Address This Issue

Each time a significant honors show approaches, one notices a demand to include of new categories to recognize unsung work and fill the hearts of enthusiasts dedicated to specific genres.

Another commentator previously argued for a horror game category. That would be fantastic. So would tabletop games, representing a passionate advocate's mission. However, I must insist if I try to elbow in front because like all dedicated enthusiasts, I have a cast-iron argument backing this proposal is the most urgent and important of all. The demand is this: There should be an award type for logic-based games.

Categorizing Game Types

Organizing artistic expressions isn't exact; it remains highly personal, and it will always spark debates concluding with vague boundaries. It's understandable that movie academies don’t do it. However, it represents a necessary evil within the realm of video games, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute as a single art form.

To recognize the complete range of interactive entertainment excellence to receive acknowledgment, while allowing diverse titles to have a chance for representation, specific award classifications remain vital.

Existing Game Classification System

Leading game ceremonies presently include genre categories for Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these classifications successfully include numerous genres, and you can find room accommodating various experiences.

This doesn't apply to brain-teasing titles. No suitable classification appears to put them. Examine these examples from this year’s best games, each quite distinct: the architectural riddles from a specific release, fast-paced pattern recognition in a different title, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles in another game. What category would fit them among existing types? Nowhere, that’s where.

The Representation Problem

Many instances occur excellent brain-teasers launched regularly lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, if they accidentally match classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging independent game categories.

  • An iconic brain-teaser wasn’t nominated completely that year
  • Another creative title missed out in 2019
  • A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment that year
  • Only a few puzzle games barely qualified for niche award types

Value of Brain-Teasers

Frequently they represent compact experiences, but the art behind logic titles carries substantial weight. Iconic mobile puzzle games stand as the most-played games worldwide continuing this trend for many years.

The legendary block-stacking game competes with well-known building titles claiming status as highest-selling title ever; it also contends for best game of all time. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation with diverse game types.

Proposal and Rationale

Puzzle games wouldn’t have that issue. One could readily select multiple candidates engaging, different, qualified experiences annually without trouble — or rather, with difficulty, given the need to exclude numerous deserving experiences.

And to reiterate, these represent titles that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Logic title developers are working at the hard edge of video game design, developing some of most fundamental forms of gaming itself. Just like movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. Let’s not keep them waiting decades.

Lee Reyes
Lee Reyes

Elena is a seasoned innovation consultant with over a decade of experience helping businesses grow through strategic thinking and creative solutions.