Tetris Didn't Succeed at The Game Awards — An Additional Classification Could Fix That

Each time a prominent honors show nears, one notices a clamor to include of new categories to acknowledge underappreciated efforts and satisfy the passions of enthusiasts dedicated to specific genres.

My colleague made the case supporting a scary games classification. It would be amazing. So would strategy board titles, which is someone's personal cause. However, I must insist when I prioritize because like all single-minded supporters, there's a strong justification backing this proposal stands as crucial above others. Here's the proposal: It's essential to create a category for puzzle games.

Organizing Gaming Categories

Classifying creative works is not a science; opinions vary greatly, and typically spark debates resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that cinema institutions avoid this approach. However, it represents a necessary evil in the world of interactive entertainment, showing incredible range they barely qualify as a single art form.

For comprehensive acknowledgment of interactive entertainment excellence to gain proper attention, and to ensure all game types to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.

Present Award Structure

Prominent interactive entertainment events presently include award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these classifications actually cover a lot of ground, and you can find room accommodating various experiences.

This doesn't apply to logic-based experiences. There’s simply nowhere to put them. Think about these recent excellent titles, all very different: structural challenges from a specific release, fast-paced pattern recognition of another game, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. What category would fit them between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.

The Representation Problem

There are dozens outstanding logic titles launched regularly that have no home during gaming ceremonies, if they accidentally match award groups including Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive independent game categories.

  • An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition for anything that year
  • A different innovative game missed out in 2019
  • Well-received sorting experience got ignored in 2021
  • Only a few logic titles barely qualified for independent or mobile categories

Importance of Logic Titles

Frequently they represent small games, however the design of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Iconic mobile puzzle games rank among the most-played games in the world and have been for an extended period.

The legendary block-stacking game challenges popular creative games for the title of most purchased experience; it also contends as greatest title ever. Puzzle games are foundational within interactive entertainment, and they are in conversation with diverse game types.

The Solution and Justification

Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter such difficulty. You could fill a field of five with fascinating, diverse, deserving games each ceremony simply — perhaps, with difficulty, since numerous excellent so many good games out.

Restating the point, these include experiences without proper classification during prominent ceremonies. Logic title developers operate at the hard edge interactive creation, developing some of the purest expressions of the video game form. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they merit acknowledgment. We shouldn't delay generations.

Amber Fowler
Amber Fowler

A mindfulness coach and storyteller who shares personal journeys and insights to help others cultivate serenity and resilience in everyday life.