---
key: mechanic/detective--family-30
type: mechanic
id: detective--family-30
lang: en
title: Limited resources and access risk
summary: >-
  Action costs make players choose which uncertainty to reduce first. This
  additional layer is not necessary in every detective game.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/detective--family-30/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/detective--family-30.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/detective--family-30.md
aliases: []
tags:
  - Detective games
  - Investigation structure
sourceIds:
  - source-ce786c639336367e
  - source-3674ef77efed76d0
  - source-090ee83445744667
sources:
  - id: source-ce786c639336367e
    title: Shadows of Doubt
    url: 'https://fireshinegames.co.uk/games/shadows-of-doubt/'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-3674ef77efed76d0
    title: 'Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies'
    url: >-
      https://www.nintendo.com/hk/3ds/aceattorney_dualdestinies/pdf/Ace_Attorney_5_OPSeet_en_R15.pdf
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-090ee83445744667
    title: The Operator
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1771980/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: detective
    id: family-30
    title: Detective games
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/detective/#family-30'
    categoryIds:
      - structure
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Limited resources and access risk
    description: >-
      Action costs make players choose which uncertainty to reduce first. This
      additional layer is not necessary in every detective game.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/narrative-the-operator-00.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_152c464d71afa7bf2a0546cab74008d0e91b20c8.1920x1080.jpg?t=1778485297
      credit: Bureau 81 / Bureau 81 / indienova
      rights: © Bureau 81 / Bureau 81 / indienova. All rights reserved.
      caption: Profile access is restricted by clearance
      alt: Profile access is restricted by clearance
      markers:
        - x: 56
          'y': 81
          label: The access denial creates an obstacle to obtaining information
    tips:
      - Explain access costs before a resource is spent or a risk accepted.
    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
---
# Limited resources and access risk

id: detective--family-30
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/detective--family-30
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/detective--family-30/

Action costs make players choose which uncertainty to reduce first. This additional layer is not necessary in every detective game.

## At a glance

![Profile access is restricted by clearance](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/narrative-the-operator-00.webp)

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

1. The access denial creates an obstacle to obtaining information

- Explain access costs before a resource is spent or a risk accepted.

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

## How it works

Action costs make players choose which uncertainty to reduce first. This additional layer is not necessary in every detective game.

## Variants

### Variants

<a id="family-30-branch-1"></a>

- Testing budget: spend a limited resource on the most informative query or analysis. <a id="family-30-variant-1"></a>
- Risky access: obtain information covertly while accounting for guards and possible loss of access. <a id="family-30-variant-2"></a>
- Cost of error: define the consequences of an unsupported attempt and whether play can continue afterward. <a id="family-30-variant-3"></a>

## Design example

The budget permits one of two analyses. The player chooses the one that distinguishes the remaining hypotheses.

## 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.

- [Shadows of Doubt](https://fireshinegames.co.uk/games/shadows-of-doubt/) (id: source-ce786c639336367e)
- [Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies](https://www.nintendo.com/hk/3ds/aceattorney_dualdestinies/pdf/Ace_Attorney_5_OPSeet_en_R15.pdf) (id: source-3674ef77efed76d0)
- [The Operator](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1771980/) (id: source-090ee83445744667)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors