{"schemaVersion":1,"record":{"key":"mechanic/progression-rewards--t242","type":"mechanic","id":"progression-rewards--t242","lang":"en","title":"Achievements, challenges and mastery","summary":"A challenge sets a separate mastery criterion and recognizes execution beyond ordinary objective completion.","updatedAt":"2026-10-22","status":"active","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/progression-rewards--t242/","jsonUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/progression-rewards--t242.json","markdownUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/progression-rewards--t242.md","aliases":["Achievements and challenges"],"tags":["Progression, rewards and retention","Mechanics and variants"],"sourceIds":["source-3817d420df0baa92","source-ea407a6c37045737"],"sources":[{"id":"source-3817d420df0baa92","title":"Robert Nystrom: State","url":"https://github.com/munificent/game-programming-patterns/blob/master/book/state.markdown","verifiedAt":null},{"id":"source-ea407a6c37045737","title":"Monster Train","url":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/1102190/","verifiedAt":null}],"sections":[{"id":"principle","title":"How it works","body":"A challenge sets a separate mastery criterion and recognizes execution beyond ordinary objective completion."},{"id":"variants","title":"Variants","body":"### Mechanic variants\n\n<a id=\"t242-variants\"></a>\n\n- Medals distinguish levels of execution quality. <a id=\"t242-v1\"></a>\n- Restrictions remove a familiar powerful tool. <a id=\"t242-v2\"></a>\n- Records preserve the best result of an attempt. <a id=\"t242-v3\"></a>\n- Streaks test consistent execution without mistakes. <a id=\"t242-v4\"></a>"},{"id":"example","title":"Design example","body":"A level allows an ordinary route, while a separate medal requires avoiding stationary platforms.\n\nPrototype check: Test immediate feedback for a broken challenge rule and retrying without unnecessary waiting."},{"id":"context","title":"Context and limits","body":"Progression changes player options and goals; rewards should explain new decisions and preserve useful stopping points. 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":[{"type":"uses","direction":"outgoing","label":"Sources in the selection","key":"resource/state-pattern","title":"State: Game Programming Patterns","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/resources/#resource-state-pattern","jsonUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/resource/state-pattern.json","markdownUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/resource/state-pattern.md"}],"placements":[{"catalogId":"progression-rewards","id":"t242","title":"Progression, rewards and retention","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/progression-rewards/#t242","categoryIds":["mechanics"]}],"supersededBy":[],"attributes":{"preview":{"updatedAt":"2026-10-22","title":"Achievements and challenges","description":"A challenge sets a separate mastery criterion and recognizes execution beyond ordinary objective completion.","image":{"src":"images/mechanics/monster-train-challenge.webp","width":1440,"height":810,"game":"Monster Train","sourceUrl":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/1102190/","originalUrl":"https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/1102190/ss_482b7d543a1e5773eb469b4702258b7eb34f2da1.1920x1080.jpg?t=1779381275","credit":"Shiny Shoe / Good Shepherd Entertainment","rights":"© Shiny Shoe / Good Shepherd Entertainment. All rights reserved.","caption":"Distinct challenge conditions in Monster Train","alt":"Distinct challenge conditions in Monster Train","markers":[{"x":50,"y":44,"label":"Parameters of a distinct challenge"}]},"tips":["Describe the checked condition and show progress toward it."],"examples":[{"title":"Monster Train","url":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/1102190/"}]}},"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/progression-rewards"}}