---
key: mechanic/roguelike--family-06
type: mechanic
id: roguelike--family-06
lang: en
title: Exploration and information
summary: >-
  The player uncovers the world and the properties of its creatures. Records of
  discoveries help prepare for unfamiliar situations.
updatedAt: '2026-10-21'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/roguelike--family-06/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/roguelike--family-06.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/roguelike--family-06.md
aliases: []
tags:
  - Roguelikes and roguelites
  - Mechanics catalog
sourceIds:
  - source-8acd296040247f95
sources:
  - id: source-8acd296040247f95
    title: Spelunky
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/239350/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: roguelike
    id: family-06
    title: Roguelikes and roguelites
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/roguelike/#family-06'
    categoryIds:
      - section-1
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-21'
    title: Exploration and information
    description: >-
      The player uncovers the world and the properties of its creatures. Records
      of discoveries help prepare for unfamiliar situations.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/spelunky-journal.webp
      width: 1280
      height: 720
      game: Spelunky
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/239350/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/239350/ss_73bdc6122f9f0b4f8bfa1f6162b1df08c2fda638.1920x1080.jpg?t=1632912566
      credit: Mossmouth
      rights: © Mossmouth. All rights reserved.
      caption: A journal of discovered enemies
      alt: >-
        Spelunky: an open journal shows a skeleton and a scorpion with behavior
        descriptions and encounter statistics.
      markers:
        - x: 36
          'y': 57
          label: An entry explaining skeleton behavior
        - x: 65
          'y': 34
          label: Another enemy in the journal
    tips:
      - Distinguish known information from undiscovered entries.
      - >-
        Let knowledge affect the next encounter, beyond collecting journal
        entries.
    examples:
      - title: Spelunky
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/239350/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on
  2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are
  preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire
  classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and
  editorial review.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/roguelike
---
# Exploration and information

id: roguelike--family-06
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/roguelike--family-06
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/roguelike--family-06/

The player uncovers the world and the properties of its creatures. Records of discoveries help prepare for unfamiliar situations.

## At a glance

![Spelunky: an open journal shows a skeleton and a scorpion with behavior descriptions and encounter statistics.](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/spelunky-journal.webp)

[Spelunky](https://store.steampowered.com/app/239350/) · © Mossmouth. All rights reserved.

1. An entry explaining skeleton behavior
2. Another enemy in the journal

- Distinguish known information from undiscovered entries.
- Let knowledge affect the next encounter, beyond collecting journal entries.

- [Spelunky](https://store.steampowered.com/app/239350/)

## How it works

Surveying the world reveals information, and limited visibility and uncertainty influence decisions.

## Variants

### Variants and applications

<a id="family-06-variants"></a>

- Fog of War: Unexplored Areas Hidden <a id="variant-roguelike-06-01"></a>
- Limited viewing range <a id="variant-roguelike-06-02"></a>
- Line of sight: obstacles block objects <a id="variant-roguelike-06-03"></a>
- Lighting and light sources <a id="variant-roguelike-06-04"></a>
- Finding hidden doors and traps <a id="variant-roguelike-06-05"></a>
- Hidden rooms and destructible passages <a id="variant-roguelike-06-06"></a>
- Scouting the next room or section of the route <a id="variant-roguelike-06-07"></a>
- Detection of opponents by sound and other traces <a id="variant-roguelike-06-08"></a>
- Cards revealing part of the level <a id="variant-roguelike-06-09"></a>
- Magically detect creatures, objects, or dangers <a id="variant-roguelike-06-10"></a>
- Hidden characteristics of opponents <a id="variant-roguelike-06-11"></a>
- Studying enemies through inspection or interaction <a id="variant-roguelike-06-12"></a>
- Pre-demonstrated enemy intentions <a id="variant-roguelike-06-13"></a>
- Incomplete information about the consequences of a choice <a id="variant-roguelike-06-14"></a>
- Player knowledge that retains value between attempts <a id="variant-roguelike-06-15"></a>

## Context and limits

A wide author's map of classic turn-based roguelikes, modern roguelites and hybrids. Families describe options for organizing a run, and not mandatory features of the genre. Constant metaprogression is not found in all roguelikes. Related systems can be combined; the list is not a closed standard.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review.

- [Spelunky](https://store.steampowered.com/app/239350/) (id: source-8acd296040247f95)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors