---
key: mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-torch
type: mechanic
id: game-mechanics--gm-torch
lang: en
title: Torch
summary: A carried flame illuminates surroundings and may support world interactions.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-torch/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-torch.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-torch.md
aliases: []
tags:
  - Game design techniques
  - Lights
  - Fire
sourceIds:
  - source-c822d8c5658c5bd1
  - source-1bb65b1bf3a78543
  - source-e990ca3fe7bbc748
sources:
  - id: source-c822d8c5658c5bd1
    title: 'Game Mechanics: Torch'
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/torch'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-1bb65b1bf3a78543
    title: Tomb Raider (2013)
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/torch/game/tomb-raider-2013'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-e990ca3fe7bbc748
    title: 'Uncharted 4: A Thief''s End (2016)'
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/torch/game/uncharted-4-a-thiefs-end'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: game-mechanics
    id: gm-torch
    title: Game design techniques
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/game-mechanics/#gm-torch'
    categoryIds:
      - gm-category-fire
      - gm-category-lights
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Torch
    description: >-
      A carried flame illuminates surroundings and may support world
      interactions.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/atmosphere-torch.webp
      width: 500
      height: 278
      game: Tomb Raider
      sourceUrl: 'https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/torch'
      originalUrl: 'https://cdn.gamemechanics.org/webm/tomb_raider_torch.webm'
      sourceFrameSeconds: 6.08
      credit: >-
        Crystal Dynamics; frame from clip via GameMechanics.org; visible
        recording watermark: MKIceAndFire
      rights: >-
        Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Source host:
        GameMechanics.org. Visible source watermarks preserved. All rights
        reserved; excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.
      caption: Lara holds a portable flame inside a cave
      alt: 'Tomb Raider: Lara holds a portable flame inside a cave.'
      markers:
        - x: 43
          'y': 26
          label: Torch flame in the raised hand
    tips:
      - Show the lit area and the ability to ignite suitable objects.
    examples:
      - title: Tomb Raider
        url: 'https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/torch'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Editorial reference index based on the 199 public Game Mechanics pattern pages
  checked on 2026-10-20. Original concise RU/EN definitions by
  gamemechanics.pro; pattern names, category associations and game-reference
  URLs retained from gamemechanics.org. The source gallery includes a film
  analogy. Linked materials retain their original rights; references are
  upstream attributions, not independent verification.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/game-mechanics
---
# Torch

id: game-mechanics--gm-torch
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-torch
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-torch/

A carried flame illuminates surroundings and may support world interactions.

## At a glance

![Tomb Raider: Lara holds a portable flame inside a cave.](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/atmosphere-torch.webp)

[Tomb Raider](https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/torch) · Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Source host: GameMechanics.org. Visible source watermarks preserved. All rights reserved; excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.

[Source recording](https://cdn.gamemechanics.org/webm/tomb_raider_torch.webm), 6.08 s

1. Torch flame in the raised hand

- Show the lit area and the ability to ignite suitable objects.

- [Tomb Raider](https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/torch)

## How it works

A carried flame illuminates surroundings and may support world interactions.

## Variants

### How the technique works

<a id="gm-torch-rule"></a>

- A carried flame illuminates surroundings and may support world interactions. <a id="gm-torch-definition"></a>

## Context and limits

All 199 Game Mechanics entries at the check date: player actions, systems, presentation techniques and contested patterns. Entries are grouped by their first source-card category; all categories appear in their descriptions. Definitions use original wording. References link to game-specific galleries; images and videos remain at the source.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Editorial reference index based on the 199 public Game Mechanics pattern pages checked on 2026-10-20. Original concise RU/EN definitions by gamemechanics.pro; pattern names, category associations and game-reference URLs retained from gamemechanics.org. The source gallery includes a film analogy. Linked materials retain their original rights; references are upstream attributions, not independent verification.

- [Game Mechanics: Torch](https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/torch) (id: source-c822d8c5658c5bd1)
- [Tomb Raider (2013)](https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/torch/game/tomb-raider-2013) (id: source-1bb65b1bf3a78543)
- [Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (2016)](https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/torch/game/uncharted-4-a-thiefs-end) (id: source-e990ca3fe7bbc748)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors