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As any major prize-giving event approaches, one notices an outcry for the addition of new categories to recognize underappreciated efforts and fill the spirits of enthusiasts with niche passions.

Another commentator made the case advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. Equally deserving are board games, which is a passionate advocate's mission. However, I must insist for pushing forward just as with other single-minded supporters, there's a strong justification supporting my request is the most urgent above others. The demand is this: There should be an award type for logic-based games.

The Genre Classification Challenge

Classifying creative works is not a science; it’s very subjective, and inevitably spark debates concluding with vague boundaries. It's understandable that cinema institutions don’t do it. But it is a necessary evil in the world of gaming, which are so diverse they hardly constitute as a single art form.

For comprehensive acknowledgment of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, and for games of all stripes to receive proper recognition, specific award classifications remain vital.

Current Gaming Award Categories

Prominent interactive entertainment events presently include classifications covering Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these award types actually cover numerous genres, and you can find room for most games within them.

This doesn't apply to brain-teasing titles. No appropriate category exists to put them. Examine these examples from outstanding current releases, all very different: building puzzles in a particular game, the pulse-pounding block-matching from another release, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles in another game. Where could they possibly go between these six categories? Nowhere, that’s where.

Acknowledgment Issues

Many instances occur outstanding logic titles released every year that have no home at major award shows, if they accidentally match for categories like Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested independent game categories.

• An iconic brain-teaser wasn’t nominated in any category in 2014
• Another imaginative release was excluded that year
• A beloved organization game got ignored recently
• Limited numbers of brain-teasers managed to sneak into niche award types

Value of Brain-Teasers

Commonly they're compact experiences, however the design of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Well-known matching games rank among most engaged experiences globally maintaining this status for many years.

The legendary block-stacking game competes with popular creative games for the title of most purchased experience; it additionally competes as greatest title ever. Puzzle games are foundational to the art of video games, and engaging with almost every other genre.

Proposal and Rationale

Logic titles wouldn't face this problem. One could readily select multiple candidates interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — or rather, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.

Restating the point, these represent titles that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators operate at the challenging frontier of video game design, producing among the purest expressions of gaming itself. Comparable to movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. Don't make them wait decades.