---
key: mechanic/goals-feedback--t271
type: mechanic
id: goals-feedback--t271
lang: en
title: 'Scores, combos, multipliers and records'
summary: >-
  Scores evaluate actions while combos and multipliers link rewards to sequence
  and consistent execution.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/goals-feedback--t271/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/goals-feedback--t271.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/goals-feedback--t271.md
aliases:
  - 'Scores, combos and records'
tags:
  - 'Goals, difficulty, learning and feedback'
  - Mechanics and variants
sourceIds:
  - source-d4c7409816f79db5
  - source-52d22a0a24958997
sources:
  - id: source-d4c7409816f79db5
    title: Game Accessibility Guidelines
    url: 'https://gameaccessibilityguidelines.com/'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-52d22a0a24958997
    title: Sonic Mania
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/584400/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: goals-feedback
    id: t271
    title: 'Goals, difficulty, learning and feedback'
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/goals-feedback/#t271'
    categoryIds:
      - mechanics
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: 'Scores, combos and records'
    description: >-
      Scores evaluate actions while combos and multipliers link rewards to
      sequence and consistent execution.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/priority-sonic-mania-00.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: Sonic Mania
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/584400/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/584400/ss_27efb8f61892a9bd732952c76dae9dd7ad1b6748.1920x1080.jpg?t=1785856230
      credit: Christian Whitehead / Headcannon / PagodaWest Games / SEGA
      rights: >-
        Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Publisher-distributed
        Steam screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.
      caption: Score beside time and collected rings
      alt: Score beside time and collected rings
      markers:
        - x: 29
          'y': 8
          label: Score earned through player actions
    tips:
      - Explain why points are awarded and what preserves a combo.
    examples:
      - title: Sonic Mania
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/584400/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original bilingual editorial overviews authored for gamemechanics.pro on
  2026-10-20 and reviewed on 2026-10-21. Scenarios are hypothetical design
  examples; prototype checks describe work to perform, not completed playtests.
  Primary sources support the stated techniques and implementation context, not
  every proposed variant.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/goals-feedback
---
# Scores, combos, multipliers and records

id: goals-feedback--t271
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/goals-feedback--t271
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/goals-feedback--t271/

Scores evaluate actions while combos and multipliers link rewards to sequence and consistent execution.

## At a glance

![Score beside time and collected rings](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/priority-sonic-mania-00.webp)

[Sonic Mania](https://store.steampowered.com/app/584400/) · Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Publisher-distributed Steam screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.

1. Score earned through player actions

- Explain why points are awarded and what preserves a combo.

- [Sonic Mania](https://store.steampowered.com/app/584400/)

## How it works

Scores evaluate actions while combos and multipliers link rewards to sequence and consistent execution.

## Variants

### Mechanic variants

<a id="t271-variants"></a>

- Base points weight individual actions. <a id="t271-v1"></a>
- Combos require another success before a window closes. <a id="t271-v2"></a>
- Multipliers raise the value of keeping a streak. <a id="t271-v3"></a>
- Records preserve results under shared mode conditions. <a id="t271-v4"></a>

## Design example

Varied tricks raise a multiplier while repeating one safe trick gradually loses value.

Prototype check: Test indefinite scoring without progress and agreement between displayed and final totals.

## Context and limits

Goals and feedback explain the value of an action, the causes of its result and ways to improve the next attempt. Each overview separates player actions, state changes and alternative rules. Examples are hypothetical design scenarios, not claims about a named game. A prototype check states an observable question for the next iteration. Existing detailed references remain separately linked from the direction map.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Original bilingual editorial overviews authored for gamemechanics.pro on 2026-10-20 and reviewed on 2026-10-21. Scenarios are hypothetical design examples; prototype checks describe work to perform, not completed playtests. Primary sources support the stated techniques and implementation context, not every proposed variant.

- [Game Accessibility Guidelines](https://gameaccessibilityguidelines.com/) (id: source-d4c7409816f79db5)
- [Sonic Mania](https://store.steampowered.com/app/584400/) (id: source-52d22a0a24958997)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors