---
key: mechanic/detective--family-28
type: mechanic
id: detective--family-28
lang: en
title: Leads and investigation order
summary: >-
  Case structure determines which questions and locations are currently
  available and how new information opens further actions.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/detective--family-28/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/detective--family-28.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/detective--family-28.md
aliases: []
tags:
  - Detective games
  - Investigation structure
sourceIds:
  - source-b21a556417974437
  - source-de967651def38651
  - source-5826b1f3d00cd60a
sources:
  - id: source-b21a556417974437
    title: Paradise Killer
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1160220/Paradise_Killer/'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-de967651def38651
    title: 'Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments'
    url: >-
      https://store.steampowered.com/app/241260/Sherlock_Holmes_Crimes_and_Punishments/
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-5826b1f3d00cd60a
    title: Shadows of Doubt
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/986130/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: detective
    id: family-28
    title: Detective games
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/detective/#family-28'
    categoryIds:
      - structure
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Leads and investigation order
    description: >-
      Case structure determines which questions and locations are currently
      available and how new information opens further actions.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/narrative-shadows-doubt-01.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: Shadows of Doubt
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/986130/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/986130/ss_6e8b247fbef7b2be4d87b4a7ef9d6bae191e39f8.1920x1080.jpg?t=1787842717
      credit: ColePowered Games / Fireshine Games
      rights: © ColePowered Games / Fireshine Games. All rights reserved.
      caption: 'The board connects a receipt, people and places'
      alt: 'The board connects a receipt, people and places'
      markers:
        - x: 69
          'y': 56
          label: The relationship between entries remains visible on the case board
    tips:
      - A new lead should explain which question or location is now available.
    examples:
      - title: Shadows of Doubt
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/986130/'
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
---
# Leads and investigation order

id: detective--family-28
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/detective--family-28
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/detective--family-28/

Case structure determines which questions and locations are currently available and how new information opens further actions.

## At a glance

![The board connects a receipt, people and places](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/narrative-shadows-doubt-01.webp)

[Shadows of Doubt](https://store.steampowered.com/app/986130/) · © ColePowered Games / Fireshine Games. All rights reserved.

1. The relationship between entries remains visible on the case board

- A new lead should explain which question or location is now available.

- [Shadows of Doubt](https://store.steampowered.com/app/986130/)

## How it works

Case structure determines which questions and locations are currently available and how new information opens further actions.

## Variants

### Variants

<a id="family-28-branch-1"></a>

- Multiple entry points: reveal an important lead through different independent clues. <a id="family-28-variant-1"></a>
- Knowledge unlocks a topic: open a question or location after a meaningful discovery. <a id="family-28-variant-2"></a>
- Player-chosen stopping point: let the player decide when there is enough support to conclude. <a id="family-28-variant-3"></a>

## Design example

An address can be learned from a receipt or a neighbor. Both paths lead to the archive but reveal different context.

## 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.

- [Paradise Killer](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1160220/Paradise_Killer/) (id: source-b21a556417974437)
- [Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments](https://store.steampowered.com/app/241260/Sherlock_Holmes_Crimes_and_Punishments/) (id: source-de967651def38651)
- [Shadows of Doubt](https://store.steampowered.com/app/986130/) (id: source-5826b1f3d00cd60a)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors