{"schemaVersion":1,"record":{"key":"mechanic/exploration-adventures--t040","type":"mechanic","id":"exploration-adventures--t040","lang":"en","title":"Action-adventure","summary":"Exploration combines with character-control challenges. Routes, obstacles and discoveries connect learning about the world with mastering its actions.","updatedAt":"2026-10-21","status":"active","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/exploration-adventures--t040/","jsonUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/exploration-adventures--t040.json","markdownUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/exploration-adventures--t040.md","aliases":[],"tags":["Exploration and adventures","Mechanics and variants"],"sourceIds":["source-8a492c292e237e0e","source-6d034345094b033d"],"sources":[{"id":"source-8a492c292e237e0e","title":"Godot: Ray-casting","url":"https://docs.godotengine.org/en/stable/tutorials/physics/ray-casting.html","verifiedAt":null},{"id":"source-6d034345094b033d","title":"Rise of the Tomb Raider","url":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/391220/","verifiedAt":null}],"sections":[{"id":"principle","title":"How it works","body":"The player alternates combat, traversal and finding tools that open further stages of an adventure."},{"id":"variants","title":"Variants","body":"### Mechanic variants\n\n<a id=\"t040-variants\"></a>\n\n- A tool opens routes and changes combat. <a id=\"t040-v1\"></a>\n- A dungeon teaches one new action. <a id=\"t040-v2\"></a>\n- A companion grants access to another area. <a id=\"t040-v3\"></a>\n- Returning reveals changes to a familiar place. <a id=\"t040-v4\"></a>"},{"id":"example","title":"Design example","body":"A shield reflects an enemy beam and directs light toward a locked door.\n\nPrototype check: Check that the new tool remains useful beyond its tutorial room instead of becoming a disposable key."},{"id":"context","title":"Context and limits","body":"Exploration connects route choices to observation, new knowledge and the cost of returning. Each overview separates player actions, state changes and alternative rules. Examples are hypothetical design scenarios, not claims about a named game. A prototype check states an observable question for the next iteration. Existing detailed references remain separately linked from the direction map."}],"relations":[],"placements":[{"catalogId":"exploration-adventures","id":"t040","title":"Exploration and adventures","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/exploration-adventures/#t040","categoryIds":["mechanics"]}],"supersededBy":[],"attributes":{"preview":{"updatedAt":"2026-10-21","title":"Action-adventure","description":"Exploration combines with character-control challenges. Routes, obstacles and discoveries connect learning about the world with mastering its actions.","image":{"src":"images/mechanics/tomb-raider-jump.webp","width":1440,"height":810,"game":"Rise of the Tomb Raider","sourceUrl":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/391220/","originalUrl":"https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/391220/ss_749f99146e5ebad371e37d95bfab7b17847c1d81.1920x1080.jpg?t=1766187095","credit":"Crystal Dynamics / Eidos-Montréal","rights":"© 2015 Crystal Dynamics group of companies. All rights reserved.","caption":"Exploration through a traversal challenge","alt":"Rise of the Tomb Raider: the route through the ruins continues across a gap that Lara crosses by jumping.","markers":[{"x":32,"y":49,"label":"A route to the next part of the space"},{"x":84,"y":37,"label":"An action that advances exploration"}]},"tips":["Let actions reveal information and open routes.","Alternate demanding actions with opportunities to observe."],"examples":[{"title":"Rise of the Tomb Raider","url":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/391220/"}]}},"endsAt":null,"provenance":"Original bilingual editorial overviews authored for gamemechanics.pro on 2026-10-20 and reviewed on 2026-10-21. Scenarios are hypothetical design examples; prototype checks describe work to perform, not completed playtests. Primary sources support the stated techniques and implementation context, not every proposed variant.","license":"CC-BY-4.0","codeLicense":"MIT","attribution":"gamemechanics.pro contributors","catalogKey":"catalog/exploration-adventures"}}