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As any prominent prize-giving event draws close, there’s always an outcry to include additional classifications to honor underappreciated efforts and delight the hearts of followers who have specialized interests.

My colleague made the case for a horror game category. That would rule. The same goes for strategy board titles, which is someone's personal cause. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward since similar to single-minded supporters, I have a cast-iron argument supporting my request stands as crucial above others. This is the request: There should be a classification for brain-teasing titles.

Categorizing Game Types

Organizing artistic expressions isn't exact; it remains highly personal, and typically start arguments and end in fuzzy definitions. There’s a reason movie academies don’t do it. However, it represents an unavoidable compromise for the industry of video games, showing incredible range it's challenging to consider them one unified medium.

To recognize the complete range of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, and to ensure all game types to compete fairly, specific award classifications remain vital.

Current Gaming Award Categories

Prominent interactive entertainment events presently include award types recognizing Action, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these classifications actually cover many game types, and you can find room for numerous titles.

Not so for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Think about these this year’s best games, all very different: building puzzles of one title, fast-paced pattern recognition of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. Where could they possibly go within current classifications? Simply put, no category fits.

The Representation Problem

Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles released every year without proper recognition in entertainment awards, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested Indie races.

• One classic puzzle game got overlooked completely in 2014
• Another creative title missed out during that ceremony
• Well-received sorting experience was overlooked that year
• Limited numbers of logic titles scraped into small studio or handheld classifications

Value of Brain-Teasers

Frequently they represent modest productions, but the art behind logic titles holds tremendous importance. Well-known matching games rank among the most-played games globally and have been for many years.

The famous puzzle experience challenges popular creative games for the title of most purchased experience; it additionally competes for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational for gaming as medium, while interacting with diverse game types.

The Solution and Justification

Logic titles wouldn't face that issue. You could fill a field of five with fascinating, diverse, deserving games every year with ease — actually, with challenge, because you’d have to leave many worthy titles.

Restating the point, these are games lacking appropriate categories during prominent ceremonies. Puzzle game makers are working at the demanding boundary of video game design, developing some of the purest expressions of gaming itself. Just like movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. Let’s not keep them waiting generations.