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As any prominent awards ceremony draws close, there’s always a demand to include additional classifications to acknowledge unsung work and satisfy the spirits of fans who have specialized interests.

My colleague made the case advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. So would strategy board titles, which is a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me if I try to elbow in front since similar to blinkered fanatics, there's a strong justification for why my demand is the most urgent and significant. The demand is this: There should be an award type for logic-based games.

Organizing Gaming Categories

Categorizing art by genre is not a science; opinions vary greatly, and it will always generate discussions resulting in unclear classifications. This explains why movie academies steer clear of genre categories. But it is a necessary evil in the world of interactive entertainment, which are so diverse they hardly constitute one unified medium.

For the full spectrum of achievement in video games to be recognized, and to ensure all game types to compete fairly, specific award classifications remain vital.

Present Award Structure

Prominent interactive entertainment events currently feature classifications covering Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Between them, these classifications actually cover a lot of ground, making space possible for most games within them.

Not so for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Examine these examples from recent excellent titles, all very different: structural challenges from a specific release, fast-paced pattern recognition in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. Where could they possibly go among existing types? Nowhere, that’s where.

The Representation Problem

Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles launched regularly lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, except when they manage to fit for categories like Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested Indie races.

• One classic puzzle game got overlooked in any category in 2014
• Another creative title was excluded that year
• A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment that year
• Limited numbers of brain-teasers managed to sneak into independent or mobile categories

Value of Brain-Teasers

Frequently they represent modest productions, yet the craft in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games stand as the most-played games globally continuing this trend for many years.

The iconic tile-matching title challenges well-known building titles for the title of best-selling game of all time; it additionally competes for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational within interactive entertainment, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.

Recommendation and Reasoning

Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. You could fill a field of five interesting, varied, worthy titles annually without trouble — perhaps, with difficulty, given the need to exclude so many good games out.

And to reiterate, these are games that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Puzzle game makers operate at the challenging frontier interactive creation, developing some of essential manifestations of gaming itself. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they merit acknowledgment. Let’s not keep them waiting decades.