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Whenever a prominent awards ceremony nears, there’s always a clamor to include of new categories to acknowledge unsung work and fill the spirits of followers who have specialized interests.

Another commentator previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. That would be fantastic. Equally deserving are board games, this being someone's personal cause. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward because like all single-minded supporters, I have a cast-iron argument for why my demand stands as crucial and significant. The demand is this: We need a category for puzzle games.

Categorizing Game Types

Classifying creative works defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and it will always spark debates resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason movie academies steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents an unavoidable compromise for the industry of video games, which are so diverse they barely qualify one unified medium.

To recognize the complete range of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to receive proper recognition, genre categories are essential.

Present Award Structure

Leading game ceremonies currently feature genre categories for Action, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Between them, these award types successfully include many game types, allowing placement for numerous titles.

Not so for brain-teasing titles. No appropriate category exists for their placement. Examine these examples from this year’s best games, showing diverse approaches: building puzzles of one title, the pulse-pounding block-matching in a different title, engaging interpersonal challenges from additional release. Where could they possibly go between these six categories? Nowhere, that’s where.

Recognition Challenges

Many instances occur excellent brain-teasers published annually lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, except when they manage to fit for categories like Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions.

• An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition in any category during that awards season
• Another creative title received no nominations in 2019
• Popular arranging title got ignored recently
• Just some brain-teasers barely qualified for independent or mobile categories

Value of Brain-Teasers

These are often small games, but the art of the puzzle game is of massive significance. Iconic mobile puzzle games stand as the most-played games globally and have been for over a decade.

The legendary block-stacking game challenges famous sandbox experiences claiming status as most purchased experience; it also contends as greatest title ever. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks to the art of video games, while interacting across multiple categories.

Proposal and Rationale

Puzzle games wouldn’t have that issue. One could readily select five nominees with fascinating, diverse, deserving games each ceremony simply — actually, with challenge, given the need to exclude so many good games out.

To emphasize again, these represent titles without proper classification during prominent ceremonies. Puzzle game makers operate at the challenging frontier of video game design, producing among essential manifestations of gaming itself. Comparable to film action specialists, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait decades.