---
key: mechanic/point-and-click--family-28
type: mechanic
id: point-and-click--family-28
lang: en
title: 'Worlds, layers and state switching'
summary: 'Switching world layers changes available objects, rules and actions.'
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/point-and-click--family-28/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/point-and-click--family-28.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/point-and-click--family-28.md
aliases:
  - Switching world layers
tags:
  - Point-and-click adventures
  - Extended adventure systems
sourceIds:
  - source-d0f904004e312936
sources:
  - id: source-d0f904004e312936
    title: 'Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective'
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1967430/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: point-and-click
    id: family-28
    title: Point-and-click adventures
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/point-and-click/#family-28'
    categoryIds:
      - section-4
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Switching world layers
    description: 'Switching world layers changes available objects, rules and actions.'
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/adventure-ghost-trick-00.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: 'Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective'
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1967430/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/1967430/ss_0d9a02d8e24e3fb05b1fda410cbb7d9470eb21e3.1920x1080.jpg?t=1787717141
      credit: 'CAPCOM Co., Ltd.'
      rights: >-
        Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Publisher-distributed
        Steam screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.
      caption: Ghost mode exposes object cores
      alt: Ghost mode exposes object cores
      markers:
        - x: 36
          'y': 36
          label: Available cores are visible in this mode
    tips:
      - Identify the active layer and explain which rules changed.
    examples:
      - title: 'Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective'
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1967430/'
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
---
# Worlds, layers and state switching

id: point-and-click--family-28
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/point-and-click--family-28
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/point-and-click--family-28/

Switching world layers changes available objects, rules and actions.

## At a glance

![Ghost mode exposes object cores](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/adventure-ghost-trick-00.webp)

[Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1967430/) · Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Publisher-distributed Steam screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.

1. Available cores are visible in this mode

- Identify the active layer and explain which rules changed.

- [Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1967430/)

## How it works

Switching world layers changes available objects, rules and actions.

## Variants

### Variants

<a id="family-28-branch-1"></a>

- Physical and immaterial: switch between matter, spirits, thoughts or another reality. <a id="family-28-variant-1"></a>
- Reality and virtual spaces: solve connected tasks in two representations. <a id="family-28-variant-2"></a>
- Dreams and memories: investigate internal scenes and affect external actions. <a id="family-28-variant-3"></a>
- Alternate places: switch dimensions, histories or versions of a location. <a id="family-28-variant-4"></a>
- Global state: change light, water, weather, season, gravity or environmental mode. <a id="family-28-variant-5"></a>
- Perception layers: use spectra, lenses, special vision or interpretation. <a id="family-28-variant-6"></a>
- Scale: switch size or move between object exterior and interior. <a id="family-28-variant-7"></a>
- Cross-layer effects: act in one state to change another. <a id="family-28-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.

- [Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1967430/) (id: source-d0f904004e312936)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors