Tetris Couldn't Win at The Game Awards — A New Category Could Fix That

As any major awards ceremony nears, one notices an outcry to include fresh award types to recognize underappreciated efforts and satisfy the hearts of fans dedicated to specific genres.

My colleague previously argued supporting a scary games classification. It would be amazing. So would strategy board titles, representing a dedicated supporter's campaign. However, I must insist if I try to elbow in front just as with other blinkered fanatics, I have a cast-iron argument backing this proposal is the most urgent and significant. This is the request: There should be a classification for brain-teasing titles.

Categorizing Game Types

Classifying creative works is not a science; opinions vary greatly, and inevitably start arguments and end in fuzzy definitions. It's understandable that film award organizations don’t do it. Yet it remains an essential concession in the world of video games, that demonstrate such variety it's challenging to consider them one unified medium.

For comprehensive acknowledgment of achievement in video games to receive acknowledgment, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.

Existing Game Classification System

The major gaming awards offer these genre categories for Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these six categories effectively encompass numerous genres, making space possible for most games within them.

This doesn't apply to logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears to accommodate them. Consider three of outstanding current releases, all very different: building puzzles of one title, the pulse-pounding block-matching in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. Which classification works within current classifications? Unfortunately, nowhere.

Recognition Challenges

Many instances occur of brilliant puzzle games launched regularly without proper recognition during gaming ceremonies, if they accidentally match classification types such as Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging independent game categories.

  • One classic puzzle game got overlooked completely in 2014
  • Another imaginative release was excluded during that ceremony
  • A beloved organization game got ignored in 2021
  • Limited numbers of puzzle games scraped into independent or mobile categories

Importance of Logic Titles

These are often compact experiences, yet the craft in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Famous handheld logic titles stand as the most-played games worldwide maintaining this status for many years.

The famous puzzle experience rivals popular creative games competing to become most purchased experience; it’s also in the running for top gaming experience. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks for gaming as medium, while interacting with diverse game types.

The Solution and Justification

Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. It would be easy to populate five nominees with fascinating, diverse, deserving games every year with ease — actually, with challenge, since numerous excellent numerous deserving experiences.

To emphasize again, these include experiences that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators are working at the challenging frontier interactive creation, producing among essential manifestations within interactive entertainment. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they merit acknowledgment. We shouldn't delay decades.

Kenneth Nichols
Kenneth Nichols

Award-winning journalist with over 15 years of experience covering international affairs and digital media trends.