---
key: mechanic/point-and-click--family-24
type: mechanic
id: point-and-click--family-24
lang: en
title: 'Maps, routes and mazes'
summary: >-
  The player uses maps and landmarks to select and verify a route through a
  space.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/point-and-click--family-24/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/point-and-click--family-24.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/point-and-click--family-24.md
aliases: []
tags:
  - Point-and-click adventures
  - Devices and spatial puzzles
sourceIds:
  - source-1696c3167e4356ed
sources:
  - id: source-1696c3167e4356ed
    title: Hollow Knight
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/367520/Hollow_Knight/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations:
  - type: explains
    direction: incoming
    label: Understand the principle
    key: lesson/npc-pathfinding
    title: Pathfinding and following a route
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/lessons/npc-pathfinding/'
    jsonUrl: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/lesson/npc-pathfinding.json'
    markdownUrl: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/lesson/npc-pathfinding.md'
placements:
  - catalogId: point-and-click
    id: family-24
    title: Point-and-click adventures
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/point-and-click/#family-24'
    categoryIds:
      - section-3
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: 'Maps, routes and mazes'
    description: >-
      The player uses maps and landmarks to select and verify a route through a
      space.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/hollow-knight-map.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_bd76bd88bc5334ee56ae3d5f0d8dec4455e8e3b8.1920x1080.jpg?t=1776125684
      credit: Team Cherry
      rights: © Team Cherry. All rights reserved.
      caption: A map connects discovered rooms and passages
      alt: A map connects discovered rooms and passages
      markers:
        - x: 51
          'y': 48
          label: Connections between map regions
    tips:
      - Help players connect map locations to landmarks in the scene.
    examples:
      - title: Hollow Knight
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/367520/Hollow_Knight/'
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
---
# Maps, routes and mazes

id: point-and-click--family-24
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/point-and-click--family-24
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/point-and-click--family-24/

The player uses maps and landmarks to select and verify a route through a space.

## At a glance

![A map connects discovered rooms and passages](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/hollow-knight-map.webp)

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

1. Connections between map regions

- Help players connect map locations to landmarks in the scene.

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

## How it works

The player uses maps and landmarks to select and verify a route through a space.

## Variants

### Variants

<a id="family-24-branch-1"></a>

- Mazes: find an exit through location connections. <a id="family-24-variant-1"></a>
- Instructions: follow directions, maps, verses, sound or landmarks. <a id="family-24-variant-2"></a>
- Mapping: restore links, unexplored areas and landmark positions. <a id="family-24-variant-3"></a>
- Changing routes: switch bridges, doors, rooms, platforms or transport links. <a id="family-24-variant-4"></a>
- One-way transitions: plan return paths around directional passages. <a id="family-24-variant-5"></a>
- Visit conditions: reach required points, avoid repetition or forbidden areas. <a id="family-24-variant-6"></a>
- Following signals: follow characters, marks, light, smell or changing landmarks. <a id="family-24-variant-7"></a>
- Conditional topology: account for time, scale, character or world state. <a id="family-24-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

- Understand the principle: [Pathfinding and following a route](https://gamemechanics.pro/en/lessons/npc-pathfinding/) (key: lesson/npc-pathfinding)

## Sources and provenance

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

- [Hollow Knight](https://store.steampowered.com/app/367520/Hollow_Knight/) (id: source-1696c3167e4356ed)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors