---
key: mechanic/point-and-click--family-19
type: mechanic
id: point-and-click--family-19
lang: en
title: 'Flows, networks and resource distribution'
summary: >-
  The player connects nodes and distributes flows while respecting network links
  and limits.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/point-and-click--family-19/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/point-and-click--family-19.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/point-and-click--family-19.md
aliases:
  - Flows and networks
tags:
  - Point-and-click adventures
  - Devices and spatial puzzles
sourceIds:
  - source-e6546791156b5e83
sources:
  - id: source-e6546791156b5e83
    title: The Talos Principle
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/257510/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: point-and-click
    id: family-19
    title: Point-and-click adventures
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/point-and-click/#family-19'
    categoryIds:
      - section-3
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Flows and networks
    description: >-
      The player connects nodes and distributes flows while respecting network
      links and limits.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/adventure-talos-principle-05.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: The Talos Principle
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/257510/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/257510/ss_b42acabe63d45a11580a2949e34f305e1bd10fc7.1920x1080.jpg?t=1744327639
      credit: Croteam / Devolver Digital
      rights: >-
        Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Publisher-distributed
        Steam screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.
      caption: Connectors link beam sources and receivers
      alt: Connectors link beam sources and receivers
      markers:
        - x: 56
          'y': 30
          label: A node connects several directions
        - x: 30
          'y': 35
          label: A beam crosses the puzzle space
    tips:
      - Show flow direction and the reason for a broken connection.
    examples:
      - title: The Talos Principle
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/257510/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original taxonomy adapted from user-selected design discussions; linked
  sources support specific examples, not the whole classification.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/point-and-click
---
# Flows, networks and resource distribution

id: point-and-click--family-19
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/point-and-click--family-19
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/point-and-click--family-19/

The player connects nodes and distributes flows while respecting network links and limits.

## At a glance

![Connectors link beam sources and receivers](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/adventure-talos-principle-05.webp)

[The Talos Principle](https://store.steampowered.com/app/257510/) · Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Publisher-distributed Steam screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.

1. A node connects several directions
2. A beam crosses the puzzle space

- Show flow direction and the reason for a broken connection.

- [The Talos Principle](https://store.steampowered.com/app/257510/)

## How it works

The player connects nodes and distributes flows while respecting network links and limits.

## Variants

### Variants

<a id="family-19-branch-1"></a>

- Electrical circuits: close, break, redirect or assemble power paths. <a id="family-19-variant-1"></a>
- Pipes and fluids: route water, gas or substances. <a id="family-19-variant-2"></a>
- Light beams: direct, split, reflect, filter or interrupt. <a id="family-19-variant-3"></a>
- Signals: route messages and tune antennas, radio or alarms. <a id="family-19-variant-4"></a>
- Transport networks: manage switches, conveyors, deliveries and routes. <a id="family-19-variant-5"></a>
- Limited resources: choose nodes to power and systems to disconnect. <a id="family-19-variant-6"></a>
- Combined flows: coordinate meeting position, time and proportions. <a id="family-19-variant-7"></a>
- Whole systems: discover distant device relationships and change network state. <a id="family-19-variant-8"></a>

## Context and limits

A working classification with 44 families and 355 variants. Families overlap: one puzzle can combine items, dialogue, deduction and a character schedule. Core actions, progression architecture and assistance are separate layers. Sources identify examples from neighboring adventure genres.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Original taxonomy adapted from user-selected design discussions; linked sources support specific examples, not the whole classification.

- [The Talos Principle](https://store.steampowered.com/app/257510/) (id: source-e6546791156b5e83)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors