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

Whenever a significant prize-giving event draws close, you'll find an outcry for introducing fresh award types to recognize underappreciated efforts and delight the spirits of fans dedicated to specific genres.

Another commentator has already made advocating for terror-themed awards. That would be fantastic. The same goes for strategy board titles, representing a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me when I prioritize because like all dedicated enthusiasts, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal is the most urgent and important of all. This is the request: There should be a classification for brain-teasing titles.

Categorizing Game Types

Organizing artistic expressions isn't exact; it’s very subjective, and typically generate discussions resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. Yet it remains an essential concession in the world of interactive entertainment, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify as a single art form.

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

Current Gaming Award Categories

The major gaming awards presently include classifications covering Action, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these award types successfully include a lot of ground, making space possible for numerous titles.

This doesn't apply to puzzle games. No appropriate category exists to accommodate them. Think about these outstanding current releases, all very different: building puzzles of one title, intense tile-matching of another game, thought-provoking social scenarios in another game. Which classification works between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.

The Representation Problem

Many instances occur outstanding logic titles launched regularly lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, if they accidentally match classification types such as Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the intensely contested Indie races.

  • A renowned logic title received no recognition in any category during that awards season
  • A different innovative game was excluded in 2019
  • A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment in 2021
  • Limited numbers of brain-teasers managed to sneak into niche award types

Value of Brain-Teasers

Frequently they represent compact experiences, yet the craft of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Well-known matching games stand as most popular titles worldwide maintaining this status for an extended period.

The famous puzzle experience competes with famous sandbox experiences competing to become highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Logic titles represent cornerstones within interactive entertainment, and engaging across multiple categories.

The Solution and Justification

Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter such difficulty. One could readily select multiple candidates with fascinating, diverse, deserving games each ceremony simply — or rather, with difficulty, given the need to exclude many worthy titles.

To emphasize again, these include experiences that otherwise have no home in important events. Puzzle game makers operate at the hard edge of video game design, creating some of essential manifestations within interactive entertainment. Similar to film action specialists, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay decades.

By

Stephen Payne

A tech journalist and business strategist with over a decade of experience covering global innovation and digital transformation.

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