---
key: mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-zipline
type: mechanic
id: game-mechanics--gm-zipline
lang: en
title: Zipline
summary: >-
A suspended cable carries the player across a gap. Its route is visible before
boarding, and the player chooses when to get off.
updatedAt: '2026-10-21'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-zipline/'
jsonUrl: >-
https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-zipline.json
markdownUrl: >-
https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-zipline.md
aliases:
- Zipline traversal
tags:
- Game design techniques
- Movement
sourceIds:
- source-bd4d85ab004b1382
- source-7900c17775dc172e
- source-d9a06d5fcc84a288
- source-40b150858d1e3f93
- source-514a72affc8931e6
- source-0a031a39aeeef0d8
sources:
- id: source-bd4d85ab004b1382
title: 'Game Mechanics: Zipline'
url: 'https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/zipline'
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-7900c17775dc172e
title: Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell (2002)
url: 'https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/zipline/game/tom-clancys-splinter-cell'
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-d9a06d5fcc84a288
title: Far Cry 3 (2012)
url: 'https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/zipline/game/far-cry-3'
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-40b150858d1e3f93
title: Killzone Shadow Fall (2013)
url: 'https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/zipline/game/killzone-shadow-fall'
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-514a72affc8931e6
title: Far Cry 5 (2018)
url: 'https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/zipline/game/far-cry-5'
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-0a031a39aeeef0d8
title: Deep Rock Galactic
url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/548430/'
verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
- catalogId: game-mechanics
id: gm-zipline
title: Game design techniques
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/game-mechanics/#gm-zipline'
categoryIds:
- gm-category-movement
supersededBy: []
attributes:
preview:
updatedAt: '2026-10-21'
title: Zipline traversal
description: >-
A suspended cable carries the player across a gap. Its route is visible
before boarding, and the player chooses when to get off.
image:
src: images/mechanics/drg-zipline.webp
width: 1440
height: 810
game: Deep Rock Galactic
sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/548430/'
originalUrl: >-
https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/548430/ss_3fff97072bf18e192b0bc99f59209d357c62d624.1920x1080.jpg?t=1792497307
credit: Ghost Ship Games / Coffee Stain Publishing
rights: © Ghost Ship Games / Coffee Stain Publishing. All rights reserved.
caption: The team crosses a cavern
alt: >-
Deep Rock Galactic: three dwarves ride a zipline across a deep cavern,
with its anchor on the left.
markers:
- x: 41
'y': 42
label: A rider suspended from the cable
- x: 11
'y': 23
label: Anchor and start of the route
tips:
- Keep both ends of the cable visible against the environment.
- Provide a predictable way to leave the cable.
examples:
- title: Deep Rock Galactic
url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/548430/'
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
---
# Zipline
id: game-mechanics--gm-zipline
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-zipline
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-zipline/
A suspended cable carries the player across a gap. Its route is visible before boarding, and the player chooses when to get off.
## At a glance
[Deep Rock Galactic](https://store.steampowered.com/app/548430/) · © Ghost Ship Games / Coffee Stain Publishing. All rights reserved.
1. A rider suspended from the cable
2. Anchor and start of the route
- Keep both ends of the cable visible against the environment.
- Provide a predictable way to leave the cable.
- [Deep Rock Galactic](https://store.steampowered.com/app/548430/)
## How it works
The character travels along a taut cable using a suspended attachment.
## Variants
### How the technique works
- The character travels along a taut cable using a suspended attachment.
## 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: Zipline](https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/zipline) (id: source-bd4d85ab004b1382)
- [Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell (2002)](https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/zipline/game/tom-clancys-splinter-cell) (id: source-7900c17775dc172e)
- [Far Cry 3 (2012)](https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/zipline/game/far-cry-3) (id: source-d9a06d5fcc84a288)
- [Killzone Shadow Fall (2013)](https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/zipline/game/killzone-shadow-fall) (id: source-40b150858d1e3f93)
- [Far Cry 5 (2018)](https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/zipline/game/far-cry-5) (id: source-514a72affc8931e6)
- [Deep Rock Galactic](https://store.steampowered.com/app/548430/) (id: source-0a031a39aeeef0d8)
CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors