Tetris Wouldn't Win at This Gaming Ceremony — An Additional Classification Could Fix That

Each time a significant prize-giving event draws close, you'll find a clamor for introducing fresh award types to acknowledge unsung work and fill the spirits of fans dedicated to specific genres.

A fellow writer made the case for a horror game category. That would be fantastic. So would board games, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me for pushing forward because like all dedicated enthusiasts, I possess a compelling case supporting my request stands as crucial and important of all. Here's the proposal: It's essential to create a classification for brain-teasing titles.

The Genre Classification Challenge

Categorizing art by genre is not a science; opinions vary greatly, and typically spark debates and end in fuzzy definitions. There’s a reason cinema institutions avoid this approach. Yet it remains an unavoidable compromise in the world of video games, showing incredible range they hardly constitute one unified medium.

For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to receive acknowledgment, while allowing diverse titles to receive proper recognition, genre categories are essential.

Current Gaming Award Categories

The major gaming awards offer these award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these award types effectively encompass a lot of ground, and you can find room for numerous titles.

This doesn't apply to brain-teasing titles. No appropriate category exists for their placement. Think about these outstanding current releases, each quite distinct: the architectural riddles in a particular game, the pulse-pounding block-matching from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges from additional release. Which classification works among existing types? Nowhere, that’s where.

The Representation Problem

There are dozens outstanding logic titles launched regularly lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging independent game categories.

  • A renowned logic title wasn’t nominated in any category in 2014
  • A different innovative game received no nominations during that ceremony
  • A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment in 2021
  • Only a few brain-teasers barely qualified for small studio or handheld classifications

Value of Brain-Teasers

Commonly they're small games, yet the craft of the puzzle game carries substantial weight. Iconic mobile puzzle games stand as most popular titles globally and have been for an extended period.

The iconic tile-matching title rivals well-known building titles for the title of highest-selling title ever; it also contends as greatest title ever. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks to the art of video games, while interacting with almost every other genre.

The Solution and Justification

Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter such difficulty. One could readily select multiple candidates engaging, different, qualified experiences annually without trouble — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent so many good games out.

Restating the point, these include experiences without proper classification during prominent ceremonies. Brain-teaser creators are working at the hard edge interactive creation, producing among most fundamental forms of the video game form. Just like cinema stunt performers, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait 35 years.

Robert Allen
Robert Allen

A software engineer and tech journalist with over a decade of experience covering emerging technologies and startup ecosystems across Europe.