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Tetris Couldn't Succeed at The Game Awards — A New Category Could Fix That

As any significant prize-giving event nears, there’s always a demand for introducing of new categories to honor underappreciated efforts and satisfy the hearts of fans with niche passions.

Another commentator previously argued for a horror game category. That would be fantastic. The same goes for strategy board titles, which is a passionate advocate's mission. But they will have to forgive me if I try to elbow in front since similar to dedicated enthusiasts, I have a cast-iron argument supporting my request stands as crucial above others. This is the request: We need an award type for logic-based games.

The Genre Classification Challenge

Categorizing art by genre is not a science; it remains highly personal, and inevitably generate discussions and end in fuzzy definitions. It's understandable that cinema institutions don’t do it. However, it represents a necessary evil within the realm of gaming, which are so diverse they hardly constitute as a single art form.

To recognize the complete range of interactive entertainment excellence to receive acknowledgment, and for games of all stripes to have a chance for representation, classification by type becomes crucial.

Existing Game Classification System

The major gaming awards currently feature classifications covering Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Between them, these award types successfully include numerous genres, and you can find room for most games within them.

This doesn't apply to logic-based experiences. No appropriate category exists to put them. Examine these examples from outstanding current releases, each quite distinct: building puzzles from a specific release, intense tile-matching from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. Which classification works within current classifications? Unfortunately, nowhere.

The Representation Problem

Many instances occur of brilliant puzzle games launched regularly lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, except when they manage to fit award groups including Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions.

  • A renowned logic title wasn’t nominated completely in 2014
  • Another creative title missed out in 2019
  • Well-received sorting experience was overlooked in 2021
  • Just some puzzle games managed to sneak into niche award types

Importance of Logic Titles

These are often compact experiences, but the art behind logic titles holds tremendous importance. Iconic mobile puzzle games rank among most popular titles worldwide continuing this trend for many years.

The iconic tile-matching title challenges famous sandbox experiences claiming status as most purchased experience; it additionally competes as greatest title ever. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks to the art of video games, and they are in conversation with almost every other genre.

Proposal and Rationale

Logic titles wouldn't face such difficulty. You could fill multiple candidates engaging, different, qualified experiences annually without trouble — actually, with challenge, because you’d have to leave numerous deserving experiences.

And to reiterate, these represent titles that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Puzzle game makers are working at the challenging frontier interactive creation, producing among essential manifestations of the video game form. Just like film action specialists, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay decades.

The writer

Amy Diaz

A seasoned business consultant with over 15 years of experience helping local enterprises grow through innovative strategies and community engagement.

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