Thursday marks the tenth annual night of The Game Awards. Over the years, the show has had incredible world premiers, experienced infamous security breaches, and faced pointed criticism over the commercialization of the show. Through it all, The Game Awards has moved the industry nearest to the legitimacy afforded to film and television in the Oscars or Emmy Awards. For an industry centered on a burgeoning medium of entertainment, and one that many hope receives its due as an art form, the yearly awards are crucial in shaping public perception.
While the number of awards have grown over the years, the industry itself has changed. Live service games have grown in popularity; micro-transactions and EFTs damaged the relationship between players and publishers; and “new” genres such as walking simulators grew in popularity.
Never heard of walking sims before? The term refers to games based upon exploration, in which players typically can’t die, in which well-developed dialogue and storylines are featured instead of combat. These games often feel like playing a movie and provide the opportunity for incredibly rich storytelling. While defining video games as art is always a tricky business, walking sims provide a shining example.
The genre isn’t actually new. The Forest, developed in 1978, is largely recognized as the first walking simulator. Initially the term was used as a pejorative by “hardcore” gamers, but was later reclaimed as a meaningful descriptor. In recent decades, the genre has gained popularity with indie developers leaving big studios to tell beautifully crafted stories. Games like What Remains of Edith Finch, Firewatch, and Life Is Strange have garnered critical acclaim.
With so many well-crafted narratives delivered in this genre, perhaps it’s time for a prize category at The Game Awards. Though it maybe true that there aren’t enough walking sims released each year to justify a separate nomination, perhaps the creation of the category would foster growth in the genre and inspire developers to select it as an avenue to tell their story.
Tell us what you think! Should The Game Awards have an award category for walking sims? Share your reactions in the comments below or join the conversation on Boss Rush Network’s Discord and Facebook pages.
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