Tetris Wouldn't Win at The Game Awards — Another Award Type Could Fix That

As any significant awards ceremony nears, you'll find a clamor for introducing additional classifications to honor unsung work and fill the spirits of enthusiasts with niche passions.

Another commentator previously argued for a horror game category. That would be fantastic. Equally deserving are strategy board titles, this being someone's personal cause. Yet I need to apologize in advance if I try to elbow in front since similar to blinkered fanatics, there's a strong justification for why my demand remains most pressing and important of all. This is the request: We need an award type for logic-based games.

Categorizing Game Types

Categorizing art by genre isn't exact; opinions vary greatly, and typically generate discussions and end in fuzzy definitions. It's understandable that movie academies steer clear of genre categories. But it is an essential concession within the realm of interactive entertainment, showing incredible range it's challenging to consider them a single creative category.

For comprehensive acknowledgment of interactive entertainment excellence to gain proper attention, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, specific award classifications remain vital.

Existing Game Classification System

The major gaming awards currently feature award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these award types actually cover numerous genres, and you can find room for most games within them.

Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. No appropriate category exists to accommodate them. Examine these examples from recent excellent titles, showing diverse approaches: structural challenges of one title, the pulse-pounding block-matching in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios from additional release. What category would fit them among existing types? Nowhere, that’s where.

The Representation Problem

Many instances occur outstanding logic titles launched regularly that have no home at major award shows, if they accidentally match award groups including Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive independent game categories.

  • A renowned logic title wasn’t nominated for anything that year
  • Another imaginative release received no nominations that year
  • Popular arranging title was overlooked that year
  • Only a few brain-teasers barely qualified for independent or mobile categories

Value of Brain-Teasers

These are often compact experiences, however the design behind logic titles carries substantial weight. Famous handheld logic titles rank among most popular titles globally and have been for many years.

The legendary block-stacking game rivals popular creative games claiming status as best-selling game of all time; it also contends for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational for gaming as medium, and engaging with diverse game types.

The Solution and Justification

Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter such difficulty. One could readily select multiple candidates engaging, different, qualified experiences annually without trouble — perhaps, with difficulty, given the need to exclude many worthy titles.

And to reiterate, these represent titles without proper classification in important events. Brain-teaser creators operate at the hard edge game development, developing some of essential manifestations of gaming itself. Comparable to cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay 35 years.

Emily Pacheco
Emily Pacheco

A seasoned expat and travel writer with over a decade of experience in the UK, sharing practical tips for newcomers and visitors.