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Whenever a prominent honors show draws close, one notices a demand for introducing of new categories to recognize unsung work and delight the passions of followers dedicated to specific genres.

My colleague previously argued supporting a scary games classification. That would rule. The same goes for strategy board titles, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me when I prioritize since similar to blinkered fanatics, I have a cast-iron argument for why my demand is the most urgent above others. The demand is this: There should be a classification for brain-teasing titles.

The Genre Classification Challenge

Categorizing art by genre isn't exact; opinions vary greatly, and inevitably generate discussions resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason film award organizations don’t do it. However, it represents an unavoidable compromise for the industry of video games, which are so diverse they hardly constitute one unified medium.

To recognize the complete range of gaming accomplishments to receive acknowledgment, and for games of all stripes to have a chance for representation, classification by type becomes crucial.

Current Gaming Award Categories

Leading game ceremonies offer these classifications covering Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these award types actually cover a lot of ground, making space possible for most games within them.

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 from a specific release, intense tile-matching in a different title, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles from additional release. Which classification works within current classifications? Simply put, no category fits.

Recognition Challenges

Numerous examples exist excellent brain-teasers published annually without proper recognition in entertainment awards, if they accidentally match for categories like Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, or the extremely competitive Indie races.

• A renowned logic title received no recognition completely in 2014
• Another creative title received no nominations in 2019
• Well-received sorting experience got ignored recently
• Only a few logic titles scraped into small studio or handheld classifications

Value of Brain-Teasers

Commonly they're small games, however the design behind logic titles holds tremendous importance. Well-known matching games stand as most engaged experiences globally and have been for an extended period.

The iconic tile-matching title competes with well-known building titles claiming status as highest-selling title ever; it additionally competes for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational for gaming as medium, and engaging with diverse game types.

Recommendation and Reasoning

Logic titles wouldn't face that issue. One could readily select five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles every year with ease — or rather, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave many worthy titles.

Restating the point, these represent titles without proper classification during prominent ceremonies. Puzzle game makers operate at the demanding boundary game development, producing among the purest expressions within interactive entertainment. Just like cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. Don't make them wait decades.