---
key: mechanic/metroidvania--family-group-25
type: mechanic
id: metroidvania--family-group-25
lang: en
title: 'Controls, onboarding and accessibility'
summary: >-
  Prompts, onboarding and control settings help players learn actions and
  accommodate their limitations.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/metroidvania--family-group-25/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/metroidvania--family-group-25.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/metroidvania--family-group-25.md
aliases:
  - Controls and onboarding
tags:
  - Metroidvanias
  - Support
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-25
    title: Metroidvanias
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/metroidvania/#family-group-25'
    categoryIds:
      - section-9
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Controls and onboarding
    description: >-
      Prompts, onboarding and control settings help players learn actions and
      accommodate their limitations.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/hollow-knight-charms.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      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_33a645903d6dd9beec39f272a3daf57174a6cc26.1920x1080.jpg?t=1776125684
      credit: Team Cherry
      rights: © Team Cherry. All rights reserved.
      caption: Button prompts help navigate menu sections
      alt: Button prompts help navigate menu sections
      markers:
        - x: 95
          'y': 8
          label: The button prompt explains how to switch to the adjacent section
    tips:
      - Update prompts when the input method changes.
    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
---
# Controls, onboarding and accessibility

id: metroidvania--family-group-25
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/metroidvania--family-group-25
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/metroidvania--family-group-25/

Prompts, onboarding and control settings help players learn actions and accommodate their limitations.

## At a glance

![Button prompts help navigate menu sections](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/hollow-knight-charms.webp)

[Hollow Knight](https://store.steampowered.com/app/367520/Hollow_Knight/) · © Team Cherry. All rights reserved.

1. The button prompt explains how to switch to the adjacent section

- Update prompts when the input method changes.

- [Hollow Knight](https://store.steampowered.com/app/367520/Hollow_Knight/)

## How it works

Control settings, training, and alternatives help you learn the required actions and work within their limitations.

## Variants

### Variants and applications

<a id="family-group-25-variants"></a>

- Time reserve after the edge, coyote time. Rule: The jump is accepted a short time after leaving the platform. <a id="variant-mv-271"></a>
- Input buffer. Rule: Pressing before the permissible moment is performed when the opportunity arises. <a id="variant-mv-272"></a>
- Correction of grips and landing. Rule: A little help makes it easier to get into the expected safe position. <a id="variant-mv-273"></a>
- A clear demonstration of ability. Rule: A safe situation allows you to understand the action before a complex application. <a id="variant-mv-274"></a>
- A gradual combination of actions. Rule: Tests introduce a new element and then combine it with those already mastered. <a id="variant-mv-275"></a>
- Practice and repeat the test. Rule: A player can practice a technique without a long return to the place of error. <a id="variant-mv-276"></a>
- Reassignment and pressing modes. Rule: Control adapts through changing buttons, holding and switching. <a id="variant-mv-277"></a>
- Adjustment of reaction speed and windows. Rule: The player can change the tempo or the required precision of individual actions. <a id="variant-mv-278"></a>
- Adjusting damage and cost of error. Rule: The available settings change the difficulty without necessarily changing the route. <a id="variant-mv-279"></a>
- Duplication of important signals. Rule: Sound, color, shape and text convey meaningful information in several ways. <a id="variant-mv-280"></a>

## 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