--- key: mechanic/movement-platforming--t010 type: mechanic id: movement-platforming--t010 lang: en title: Runners and obstacle courses summary: >- Forward progress is imposed or expected to continue, while the player chooses dodge timing and obstacle-clearing sequences. updatedAt: '2026-10-22' status: active url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/movement-platforming--t010/' jsonUrl: >- https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/movement-platforming--t010.json markdownUrl: >- https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/movement-platforming--t010.md aliases: [] tags: - Movement and platforming - Mechanics and variants sourceIds: - source-b8626268f7974a44 - source-ad5935e19b434514 - source-8b181715b5c89953 - source-48f5d8f7c5026ce1 sources: - id: source-b8626268f7974a44 title: 'Godot: 2D movement overview' url: 'https://docs.godotengine.org/en/stable/tutorials/2d/2d_movement.html' verifiedAt: null - id: source-ad5935e19b434514 title: 'Maddy Thorson: Celeste & TowerFall Physics' url: >- https://www.mattmakesgames.com/articles/celeste_and_towerfall_physics/index.html verifiedAt: null - id: source-8b181715b5c89953 title: 'Godot: CharacterBody3D' url: 'https://docs.godotengine.org/en/stable/classes/class_characterbody3d.html' verifiedAt: null - id: source-48f5d8f7c5026ce1 title: Mirror's Edge™ url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/17410/' verifiedAt: null relations: [] placements: - catalogId: movement-platforming id: t010 title: Movement and platforming url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/movement-platforming/#t010' categoryIds: - mechanics supersededBy: [] attributes: preview: updatedAt: '2026-10-22' title: Runners and obstacle courses description: >- Forward progress is imposed or expected to continue, while the player chooses dodge timing and obstacle-clearing sequences. image: src: images/mechanics/priority-mirrors-edge-01.webp width: 1280 height: 720 game: Mirror's Edge™ sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/17410/' originalUrl: >- https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/17410/0000006706.1920x1080.jpg?t=1777394972 credit: DICE / Electronic Arts rights: >- Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Publisher-distributed Steam screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0. caption: A route through a shaft in Mirror’s Edge alt: A route through a shaft in Mirror’s Edge markers: - x: 55 'y': 54 label: A red support marks the route - x: 48 'y': 75 label: The shaft’s depth establishes the cost of a mistake tips: - Reveal the next obstacle before its required action. examples: - title: Mirror's Edge™ url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/17410/' 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/movement-platforming --- # Runners and obstacle courses id: movement-platforming--t010 type: mechanic key: mechanic/movement-platforming--t010 lang: en status: active url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/movement-platforming--t010/ Forward progress is imposed or expected to continue, while the player chooses dodge timing and obstacle-clearing sequences. ## At a glance ![A route through a shaft in Mirror’s Edge](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/priority-mirrors-edge-01.webp) [Mirror's Edge™](https://store.steampowered.com/app/17410/) · Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Publisher-distributed Steam screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0. 1. A red support marks the route 2. The shaft’s depth establishes the cost of a mistake - Reveal the next obstacle before its required action. - [Mirror's Edge™](https://store.steampowered.com/app/17410/) ## How it works Forward progress is imposed or expected to continue, while the player chooses dodge timing and obstacle-clearing sequences. ## Variants ### Mechanic variants - Lane switching: discrete positions simplify selection of a safe corridor. - Obstacle rhythm: preparation for the next action begins before the previous one ends. - Flow speed: acceleration shortens decision time while retaining visible warning. - Route branching: a safe detour competes with a harder but more rewarding line. ## Design example A runner chooses a long outer lane without gaps or a short sequence of jumping, ducking and turning. Prototype check: Change speed separately from obstacle spacing and check whether there is still time to recognize the next action. ## Context and limits Movement connects input, trajectory and accessible space. Players assess support, speed and remaining abilities, choose an action and correct their motion through feedback. These ten directions range from flat platforming to underwater movement. A first prototype needs only a few surfaces and one distinctive rule; the camera, collisions and return of control should explain success or failure. Godot documentation provides implementation examples, while the Celeste and TowerFall author describes one approach to movement and platforms; these choices are not mandatory in every engine. ## 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. - [Godot: 2D movement overview](https://docs.godotengine.org/en/stable/tutorials/2d/2d_movement.html) (id: source-b8626268f7974a44) - [Maddy Thorson: Celeste & TowerFall Physics](https://www.mattmakesgames.com/articles/celeste_and_towerfall_physics/index.html) (id: source-ad5935e19b434514) - [Godot: CharacterBody3D](https://docs.godotengine.org/en/stable/classes/class_characterbody3d.html) (id: source-8b181715b5c89953) - [Mirror's Edge™](https://store.steampowered.com/app/17410/) (id: source-48f5d8f7c5026ce1) CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors