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Tetris Couldn't Win at The Game Awards — A New Category Might Solve This

Each time a significant honors show nears, one notices a demand for introducing additional classifications to honor overlooked contributions and delight the passions of followers dedicated to specific genres.

Another commentator previously argued for a horror game category. That would be fantastic. Equally deserving are strategy board titles, which is a passionate advocate's mission. However, I must insist if I try to elbow in front just as with other single-minded supporters, there's a strong justification for why my demand remains most pressing and important of all. The demand is this: We need a category for puzzle games.

The Genre Classification Challenge

Organizing artistic expressions isn't exact; it’s very subjective, and typically spark debates resulting in unclear classifications. This explains why film award organizations don’t do it. But it is an essential concession within the realm of interactive entertainment, that demonstrate such variety it's challenging to consider them one unified medium.

For the full spectrum of achievement in video games to be recognized, and to ensure all game types to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.

Existing Game Classification System

The major gaming awards currently feature classifications covering Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Collectively, these classifications actually cover numerous genres, and you can find room for most games within them.

Different situation exists for brain-teasing titles. No suitable classification appears to put them. Examine these examples from recent excellent titles, all very different: structural challenges from a specific release, intense tile-matching from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. Where could they possibly go among existing types? Nowhere, that’s where.

Acknowledgment Issues

Many instances occur of brilliant puzzle games released every year without proper recognition at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify classification types such as Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging small studio competitions.

  • A renowned logic title wasn’t nominated in any category in 2014
  • Another imaginative release was excluded in 2019
  • Popular arranging title got ignored in 2021
  • Limited numbers of logic titles managed to sneak into niche award types

Value of Brain-Teasers

These are often modest productions, yet the craft behind logic titles carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games stand as most engaged experiences in the world continuing this trend for over a decade.

The iconic tile-matching title competes with famous sandbox experiences for the title of most purchased experience; it additionally competes 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. It would be easy to populate five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles annually without trouble — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent numerous deserving experiences.

And to reiterate, these represent titles lacking appropriate categories at major gaming awards. Logic title developers function at the challenging frontier interactive creation, creating some of most fundamental forms within interactive entertainment. Comparable to movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. Let’s not keep them waiting generations.

About the author

Gregg Anderson

A data scientist and tech writer passionate about AI ethics and emerging technologies, with over a decade of industry experience.

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