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As any major prize-giving event nears, there’s always a clamor for introducing of new categories to acknowledge overlooked contributions and fill the passions of enthusiasts who have specialized interests.

Another commentator made the case for a horror game category. It would be amazing. So would board games, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. However, I must insist when I prioritize just as with other blinkered fanatics, I possess a compelling case supporting my request remains most pressing and significant. This is the request: It's essential to create a category for puzzle games.

Organizing Gaming Categories

Classifying creative works is not a science; it’s very subjective, and it will always start arguments and end in fuzzy definitions. It's understandable that movie academies steer clear of genre categories. Yet it remains a necessary evil for the industry of gaming, showing incredible range they hardly constitute a single creative category.

For the full spectrum of achievement in video games to gain proper attention, while allowing diverse titles to have a chance for representation, genre categories are essential.

Present Award Structure

Prominent interactive entertainment events offer these award types recognizing Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these six categories effectively encompass many game types, allowing placement for numerous titles.

This doesn't apply to brain-teasing titles. There’s simply nowhere to accommodate them. Examine these examples from recent excellent titles, showing diverse approaches: structural challenges from a specific release, intense tile-matching from another release, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles from additional release. Which classification works within current classifications? Simply put, no category fits.

The Representation Problem

Many instances occur outstanding logic titles released every year without proper recognition at major award shows, except when they manage to fit award groups including Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the intensely contested small studio competitions.

• A renowned logic title received no recognition for anything that year
• A different innovative game received no nominations in 2019
• Well-received sorting experience was overlooked that year
• Only a few logic titles barely qualified for niche award types

Importance of Logic Titles

Frequently they represent compact experiences, however the design behind logic titles is of massive significance. Well-known matching games count as most popular titles globally maintaining this status for an extended period.

The iconic tile-matching title rivals famous sandbox experiences competing to become most purchased experience; it also contends as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones to the art of video games, and they are in conversation with almost every other genre.

The Solution and Justification

Puzzle games wouldn’t have this problem. One could readily select five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles every year with ease — perhaps, with difficulty, given the need to exclude numerous deserving experiences.

To emphasize again, these represent titles lacking appropriate categories during prominent ceremonies. Puzzle game makers operate at the demanding boundary interactive creation, producing among essential manifestations within interactive entertainment. Comparable to cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay 35 years.