Tetris Didn't Win at The Game Awards — Another Award Type Might Solve This

Whenever a significant prize-giving event nears, you'll find a demand for introducing of new categories to honor underappreciated efforts and satisfy the passions of followers with niche passions.

A fellow writer has already made advocating for terror-themed awards. It would be amazing. So would board games, representing someone's personal cause. However, I must insist for pushing forward because like all dedicated enthusiasts, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal remains most pressing and significant. The demand is this: We need an award type for logic-based games.

The Genre Classification Challenge

Categorizing art by genre defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and typically spark debates resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. Yet it remains an essential concession for the industry of interactive entertainment, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute as a single art form.

To recognize the complete range of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to have a chance for representation, specific award classifications remain vital.

Existing Game Classification System

Prominent interactive entertainment events presently include genre categories for Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Between them, these award types effectively encompass numerous genres, allowing placement accommodating various experiences.

Not so for puzzle games. No suitable classification appears to put them. Consider three of outstanding current releases, all very different: the architectural riddles in a particular game, the pulse-pounding block-matching from another release, thought-provoking social scenarios from additional release. Which classification works between these six categories? Unfortunately, nowhere.

Acknowledgment Issues

There are dozens outstanding logic titles launched regularly that have no home during gaming ceremonies, unless they happen to qualify award groups including Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging independent game categories.

  • One classic puzzle game got overlooked for anything during that awards season
  • Another creative title was excluded in 2019
  • Well-received sorting experience received no acknowledgment in 2021
  • Just some brain-teasers managed to sneak into independent or mobile categories

Importance of Logic Titles

These are often small games, yet the craft in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games rank among most engaged experiences in the world maintaining this status for an extended period.

The iconic tile-matching title rivals popular creative games for the title of highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Puzzle games are foundational within interactive entertainment, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.

Proposal and Rationale

Logic titles wouldn't face that issue. One could readily select a field of five engaging, different, qualified experiences every year with ease — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent so many good games out.

To emphasize again, these are games without proper classification at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators function at the demanding boundary of video game design, developing some of most fundamental forms of gaming itself. Just like film action specialists, they merit acknowledgment. Let’s not keep them waiting generations.

Benjamin Miles
Benjamin Miles

Aria Vance is a digital marketing strategist with over a decade of experience in SEO and content marketing, passionate about helping brands thrive online.