Tetris Wouldn't Win at The Game Awards — A New Category May Address This Issue

Whenever a major awards ceremony nears, there’s always a clamor to include additional classifications to honor overlooked contributions and delight the hearts of enthusiasts who have specialized interests.

Another commentator previously argued supporting a scary games classification. It would be amazing. Equally deserving are strategy board titles, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward just as with other single-minded supporters, there's a strong justification supporting my request stands as crucial and important of all. Here's the proposal: There should be a classification for brain-teasing titles.

The Genre Classification Challenge

Classifying creative works is not a science; it remains highly personal, and it will always start arguments concluding with vague boundaries. It's understandable that film award organizations avoid this approach. However, it represents an essential concession within the realm of video games, which are so diverse they barely qualify one unified medium.

For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to receive proper recognition, specific award classifications remain vital.

Current Gaming Award Categories

Leading game ceremonies currently feature genre categories for Action, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these award types successfully include a lot of ground, allowing placement for numerous titles.

Different situation exists for brain-teasing titles. There’s simply nowhere for their placement. Think about these this year’s best games, all very different: building puzzles of one title, the pulse-pounding block-matching of another game, thought-provoking social scenarios in another game. What category would fit them between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.

Acknowledgment Issues

Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles released every year that have no home during gaming ceremonies, if they accidentally match classification types such as Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive Indie races.

  • A renowned logic title received no recognition in any category in 2014
  • A different innovative game was excluded in 2019
  • A beloved organization game got ignored that year
  • Only a few brain-teasers managed to sneak into small studio or handheld classifications

Value of Brain-Teasers

Frequently they represent modest productions, yet the craft in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games stand as most popular titles in the world and have been for many years.

The legendary block-stacking game challenges popular creative games competing to become best-selling game of all time; it also contends for best game of all time. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks to the art of video games, and engaging with diverse game types.

Recommendation and Reasoning

Logic titles wouldn't face that issue. One could readily select multiple candidates interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — perhaps, with difficulty, given the need to exclude numerous deserving experiences.

To emphasize again, these are games that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Logic title developers are working at the hard edge interactive creation, producing among most fundamental forms of gaming itself. Similar to film action specialists, they merit acknowledgment. We shouldn't delay generations.

Deborah Marshall
Deborah Marshall

Elena Voss is a mindfulness coach and author dedicated to helping others find balance through meditation and holistic living.