---
key: mechanic/detective--family-04
type: mechanic
id: detective--family-04
lang: en
title: Trace and sample comparison
summary: >-
  The player checks similarities and differences between a trace and candidate
  samples. A matching property alone does not establish guilt.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/detective--family-04/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/detective--family-04.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/detective--family-04.md
aliases: []
tags:
  - Detective games
  - Finding and examining evidence
sourceIds:
  - source-090ee83445744667
sources:
  - id: source-090ee83445744667
    title: The Operator
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1771980/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: detective
    id: family-04
    title: Detective games
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/detective/#family-04'
    categoryIds:
      - evidence
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Trace and sample comparison
    description: >-
      The player checks similarities and differences between a trace and
      candidate samples. A matching property alone does not establish guilt.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/narrative-the-operator-08.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: The Operator
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1771980/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/1771980/ss_53cdfb9a020be84bd244dba7817656b1c37a176f.1920x1080.jpg?t=1778485297
      credit: Bureau 81 / Bureau 81 / indienova
      rights: © Bureau 81 / Bureau 81 / indienova. All rights reserved.
      caption: Chemical analysis of a sample beside the fire report
      alt: Chemical analysis of a sample beside the fire report
      markers:
        - x: 56
          'y': 69
          label: The sample’s composition can be compared with the report’s claims
    tips:
      - 'Show inference limits: a sample match alone does not prove guilt.'
    examples:
      - title: The Operator
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1771980/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original editorial taxonomy authored for gamemechanics.pro on 2026-10-19.
  Primary developer and publisher sources support specific released-game
  examples, not the whole classification; design examples are hypothetical.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/detective
---
# Trace and sample comparison

id: detective--family-04
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/detective--family-04
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/detective--family-04/

The player checks similarities and differences between a trace and candidate samples. A matching property alone does not establish guilt.

## At a glance

![Chemical analysis of a sample beside the fire report](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/narrative-the-operator-08.webp)

[The Operator](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1771980/) · © Bureau 81 / Bureau 81 / indienova. All rights reserved.

1. The sample’s composition can be compared with the report’s claims

- Show inference limits: a sample match alone does not prove guilt.

- [The Operator](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1771980/)

## How it works

The player checks similarities and differences between a trace and candidate samples. A matching property alone does not establish guilt.

## Variants

### Variants

<a id="family-04-branch-1"></a>

- Shape matching: compare an impression, tear or fragment with possible sources. <a id="family-04-variant-1"></a>
- Composition matching: combine fictional analysis results for a material, liquid or coating. <a id="family-04-variant-2"></a>
- Inference limits: determine whom a match excludes and which alternatives remain open. <a id="family-04-variant-3"></a>

## Design example

A sole pattern matches three characters’ work shoes. Stride length narrows the field but still needs verification.

## Context and limits

A working map of detective design: 32 families and 96 variants. The core loop is to find information, form a hypothesis, test it and explain a conclusion. Answer formats, hints and investigation structure are treated separately. Families overlap, design examples are hypothetical, and released-game examples cite primary sources without revealing case solutions.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Original editorial taxonomy authored for gamemechanics.pro on 2026-10-19. Primary developer and publisher sources support specific released-game examples, not the whole classification; design examples are hypothetical.

- [The Operator](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1771980/) (id: source-090ee83445744667)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors