---
key: mechanic/point-and-click--family-40
type: mechanic
id: point-and-click--family-40
lang: en
title: Dependencies and task organization
summary: The player identifies task dependencies and chooses a valid execution order.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/point-and-click--family-40/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/point-and-click--family-40.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/point-and-click--family-40.md
aliases:
  - Task dependencies and planning
tags:
  - Point-and-click adventures
  - Puzzle and progression architecture
sourceIds:
  - source-08dab20219905f60
  - source-2fb392d4831688b7
sources:
  - id: source-08dab20219905f60
    title: 'Ron Gilbert: Puzzle Dependency Charts'
    url: 'https://grumpygamer.com/puzzle_dependency_charts/'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-2fb392d4831688b7
    title: Human Resource Machine
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/375820/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: point-and-click
    id: family-40
    title: Point-and-click adventures
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/point-and-click/#family-40'
    categoryIds:
      - section-6
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Task dependencies and planning
    description: >-
      The player identifies task dependencies and chooses a valid execution
      order.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/adventure-human-resource-machine-03.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: Human Resource Machine
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/375820/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/375820/ss_616cc4fd06f072e5610439bde791f54abc802e87.1920x1080.jpg?t=1692721273
      credit: Tomorrow Corporation
      rights: >-
        Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Publisher-distributed
        Steam screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.
      caption: Connected tasks on the Human Resource Machine map
      alt: Connected tasks on the Human Resource Machine map
      markers:
        - x: 47
          'y': 59
          label: Links determine access to later tasks
    tips:
      - Distinguish required dependencies from a suggested order.
    examples:
      - title: Human Resource Machine
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/375820/'
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
---
# Dependencies and task organization

id: point-and-click--family-40
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/point-and-click--family-40
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/point-and-click--family-40/

The player identifies task dependencies and chooses a valid execution order.

## At a glance

![Connected tasks on the Human Resource Machine map](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/adventure-human-resource-machine-03.webp)

[Human Resource Machine](https://store.steampowered.com/app/375820/) · Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Publisher-distributed Steam screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.

1. Links determine access to later tasks

- Distinguish required dependencies from a suggested order.

- [Human Resource Machine](https://store.steampowered.com/app/375820/)

## How it works

The player identifies task dependencies and chooses a valid execution order.

## Variants

### Variants

<a id="family-40-branch-1"></a>

- Linear chains: each step depends on the preceding one. <a id="family-40-variant-1"></a>
- Independent branches: solve simultaneous tasks in any order. <a id="family-40-variant-2"></a>
- Shared conditions: complete all branches or a specified number of conditions. <a id="family-40-variant-3"></a>
- Alternatives: satisfy one of several approaches. <a id="family-40-variant-4"></a>
- Branching and convergence: discoveries open tasks whose results later combine. <a id="family-40-variant-5"></a>
- Cross-location dependencies: combine information, actions and items from different places. <a id="family-40-variant-6"></a>
- Nested tasks: prepare a separate chain for a larger problem. <a id="family-40-variant-7"></a>
- Metapuzzles: use separate puzzle results as inputs to a shared puzzle. <a id="family-40-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.

- [Ron Gilbert: Puzzle Dependency Charts](https://grumpygamer.com/puzzle_dependency_charts/) (id: source-08dab20219905f60)
- [Human Resource Machine](https://store.steampowered.com/app/375820/) (id: source-2fb392d4831688b7)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors