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Each time a major honors show approaches, there’s always an outcry to include of new categories to honor overlooked contributions and satisfy the spirits of followers dedicated to specific genres.

A fellow writer has already made supporting a scary games classification. That would rule. Equally deserving are strategy board titles, which is a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance when I prioritize since similar to single-minded supporters, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal is the most urgent and significant. This is the request: It's essential to create a category for puzzle games.

Categorizing Game Types

Organizing artistic expressions is not a science; it’s very subjective, and it will always generate discussions concluding with vague boundaries. It's understandable that film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. Yet it remains a necessary evil in the world of video games, which are so diverse they barely qualify one unified medium.

For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.

Current Gaming Award Categories

The major gaming awards presently include genre categories for Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Between them, these six categories successfully include a lot of ground, making space possible for most games within them.

Not so for brain-teasing titles. There’s simply nowhere to accommodate them. Consider three of recent excellent titles, all very different: structural challenges from a specific release, the pulse-pounding block-matching of another game, thought-provoking social scenarios in another game. Where could they possibly go within current classifications? Simply put, no category fits.

Acknowledgment Issues

Numerous examples exist of brilliant puzzle games published annually without proper recognition at major award shows, except when they manage to fit for categories like Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging independent game categories.

• One classic puzzle game received no recognition for anything that year
• Another creative title was excluded in 2019
• A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment in 2021
• Just some puzzle games barely qualified for niche award types

Importance of Logic Titles

Commonly they're modest productions, however the design in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Famous handheld logic titles stand as the most-played games globally and have been for many years.

The iconic tile-matching title challenges famous sandbox experiences claiming status as highest-selling title ever; it also contends as greatest title ever. Puzzle games are foundational to the art of video games, while interacting with diverse game types.

The Solution and Justification

Puzzle games wouldn’t have that issue. One could readily select five nominees with fascinating, diverse, deserving games annually without trouble — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent so many good games out.

To emphasize again, these include experiences lacking appropriate categories at major gaming awards. Logic title developers operate at the challenging frontier of video game design, producing among essential manifestations of the video game form. Comparable to cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. Let’s not keep them waiting 35 years.