--- key: mechanic/metroidvania--family-group-20 type: mechanic id: metroidvania--family-group-20 lang: en title: 'Saving, death and transport' summary: >- Checkpoints and transport determine the cost of returning. Failure repeats a section of the route, while opened shortcuts make that section shorter. updatedAt: '2026-10-21' status: active url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/metroidvania--family-group-20/' jsonUrl: >- https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/metroidvania--family-group-20.json markdownUrl: >- https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/metroidvania--family-group-20.md aliases: - Saving and returning tags: - Metroidvanias - Systems sourceIds: - source-1696c3167e4356ed sources: - id: source-1696c3167e4356ed title: Hollow Knight url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/367520/Hollow_Knight/' verifiedAt: null relations: [] placements: - catalogId: metroidvania id: family-group-20 title: Metroidvanias url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/metroidvania/#family-group-20' categoryIds: - section-4 supersededBy: [] attributes: preview: updatedAt: '2026-10-21' title: Saving and returning description: >- Checkpoints and transport determine the cost of returning. Failure repeats a section of the route, while opened shortcuts make that section shorter. image: src: images/mechanics/hollow-knight-bench.webp width: 1440 height: 810 crop: x: 450 'y': 225 width: 788 height: 563 game: Hollow Knight sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/367520/Hollow_Knight/' originalUrl: >- https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/367520/ss_92c7e8f34c00bdb455070ecdd5b746f0d2f6d808.1920x1080.jpg?t=1776125684 credit: Team Cherry rights: © Team Cherry. All rights reserved. caption: A bench as a rest and return point alt: >- Hollow Knight: the Knight rests at a Dirtmouth bench, a save point and a return location after death. markers: - x: 61.5 'y': 79 label: The bench establishes a return point tips: - >- Balance the repeated route’s length together with the obstacle’s difficulty. - Use shortcuts to reward learning the world’s connections. examples: - title: Hollow Knight url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/367520/Hollow_Knight/' endsAt: null provenance: >- Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review. license: CC-BY-4.0 codeLicense: MIT attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors catalogKey: catalog/metroidvania --- # Saving, death and transport id: metroidvania--family-group-20 type: mechanic key: mechanic/metroidvania--family-group-20 lang: en status: active url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/metroidvania--family-group-20/ Checkpoints and transport determine the cost of returning. Failure repeats a section of the route, while opened shortcuts make that section shorter. ## At a glance ![Hollow Knight: the Knight rests at a Dirtmouth bench, a save point and a return location after death.](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/hollow-knight-bench.webp) [Hollow Knight](https://store.steampowered.com/app/367520/Hollow_Knight/) · © Team Cherry. All rights reserved. 1. The bench establishes a return point - Balance the repeated route’s length together with the obstacle’s difficulty. - Use shortcuts to reward learning the world’s connections. - [Hollow Knight](https://store.steampowered.com/app/367520/Hollow_Knight/) ## How it works Checkpoints, death consequences, and transport determine the cost of returning and trying again. ## Variants ### Variants and applications - Control points. Rule: After defeat, the hero returns to the last activated location. - Rest with restoration of peace. Rule: Replenishment of supplies is associated with the revival of ordinary threats... - Automatic or manual saving. Rule: The recording rule determines how much progress survives exit and defeat. - Penalty for death. Rule: Defeat takes away currency, resource or part of the current state. - Return of the lost. Rule: Going to the place of death allows you to return the abandoned resource. - Saved discoveries. Rule: Abilities, important items, or open cuts survive defeat. - Local release after trap. Rule: An error returns the hero to the nearest safe point with a given price. - Fast movement between nodes. Rule: Open stations connect distant areas without a complete retracement. - Return to the shelter. Rule: An item or ability transports the hero to a resting point. - Elevators, trains and transport lines. Rule: Regular world connections become available after launching or gaining clearance. - Own point of return. Rule: The player places a temporary or permanent point of convenient return... ## Context and limits The author's working taxonomy of mechanics, access rules, structural patterns and support systems. This is not an industry standard or a statement that every item is required or present in every game. Hybrids and support are highlighted separately. Any finite list is limited by the level of detail; combinations and new options remain open. ## Connected materials ## Sources and provenance Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review. - [Hollow Knight](https://store.steampowered.com/app/367520/Hollow_Knight/) (id: source-1696c3167e4356ed) CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors