---
key: mechanic/point-and-click--family-41
type: mechanic
id: point-and-click--family-41
lang: en
title: 'Solutions, choices and consequences'
summary: >-
  Choosing a solution changes later conditions, available actions or the
  outcome.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/point-and-click--family-41/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/point-and-click--family-41.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/point-and-click--family-41.md
aliases:
  - Choices and consequences
tags:
  - Point-and-click adventures
  - Puzzle and progression architecture
sourceIds:
  - source-66b8bba810f83fc8
sources:
  - id: source-66b8bba810f83fc8
    title: Storyteller
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1624540/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: point-and-click
    id: family-41
    title: Point-and-click adventures
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/point-and-click/#family-41'
    categoryIds:
      - section-6
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Choices and consequences
    description: >-
      Choosing a solution changes later conditions, available actions or the
      outcome.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/adventure-storyteller-00.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: Storyteller
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1624540/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/1624540/ss_5f99d37b23fc3d4469c40dfc78a69cd3a51d4f26.1920x1080.jpg?t=1729098997
      credit: Daniel Benmergui / Annapurna Interactive
      rights: >-
        Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Publisher-distributed
        Steam screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.
      caption: Earlier scenes determine the final reaction
      alt: Earlier scenes determine the final reaction
      markers:
        - x: 16
          'y': 56
          label: The first scene establishes a relationship
        - x: 79
          'y': 56
          label: The final scene accounts for earlier events
    tips:
      - Preserve a clear causal link between a choice and its consequence.
    examples:
      - title: Storyteller
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1624540/'
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
---
# Solutions, choices and consequences

id: point-and-click--family-41
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/point-and-click--family-41
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/point-and-click--family-41/

Choosing a solution changes later conditions, available actions or the outcome.

## At a glance

![Earlier scenes determine the final reaction](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/adventure-storyteller-00.webp)

[Storyteller](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1624540/) · Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Publisher-distributed Steam screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.

1. The first scene establishes a relationship
2. The final scene accounts for earlier events

- Preserve a clear causal link between a choice and its consequence.

- [Storyteller](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1624540/)

## How it works

Choosing a solution changes later conditions, available actions or the outcome.

## Variants

### Variants

<a id="family-41-branch-1"></a>

- Unique solution: one authored successful approach. <a id="family-41-variant-1"></a>
- Multiple solutions: use different items, dialogue, abilities or paths. <a id="family-41-variant-2"></a>
- Systemic solutions: combine rules without an individually authored sequence. <a id="family-41-variant-3"></a>
- Outcome costs: spend resources, time, relationships or risk, or sacrifice another benefit. <a id="family-41-variant-4"></a>
- Local branching: alter a scene or path without changing the whole story. <a id="family-41-variant-5"></a>
- Delayed effects: receive reactions in later episodes or endings. <a id="family-41-variant-6"></a>
- Exclusive goals: choose whom to save or help and what to preserve. <a id="family-41-variant-7"></a>
- Outcomes: achieve different success states, partial results, failures and endings. <a id="family-41-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.

- [Storyteller](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1624540/) (id: source-66b8bba810f83fc8)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors