---
key: mechanic/roguelike--family-21
type: mechanic
id: roguelike--family-21
lang: en
title: Inventory and carrying capacity
summary: >-
  Limited carrying capacity forces choices about supplies, loot to keep and
  items to leave behind.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/roguelike--family-21/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/roguelike--family-21.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/roguelike--family-21.md
aliases: []
tags:
  - Roguelikes and roguelites
  - Mechanics catalog
sourceIds:
  - source-44f598e5a2cf8d02
sources:
  - id: source-44f598e5a2cf8d02
    title: Darkest Dungeon®
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/262060/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: roguelike
    id: family-21
    title: Roguelikes and roguelites
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/roguelike/#family-21'
    categoryIds:
      - section-1
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Inventory and carrying capacity
    description: >-
      Limited carrying capacity forces choices about supplies, loot to keep and
      items to leave behind.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/systems-darkest-dungeon-12.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: Darkest Dungeon®
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/262060/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/262060/ss_0513e7921787b61192ac356580f1d4c66a236092.1920x1080.jpg?t=1789168187
      credit: Red Hook Studios / Red Hook Studios
      rights: © Red Hook Studios / Red Hook Studios. All rights reserved.
      caption: Preparing supplies before an expedition
      alt: Preparing supplies before an expedition
      markers:
        - x: 70
          'y': 66
          label: Inventory slots limit the items that can be carried
    tips:
      - Make an item’s benefit comparable to its occupied space.
    examples:
      - title: Darkest Dungeon®
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/262060/'
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
---
# Inventory and carrying capacity

id: roguelike--family-21
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/roguelike--family-21
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/roguelike--family-21/

Limited carrying capacity forces choices about supplies, loot to keep and items to leave behind.

## At a glance

![Preparing supplies before an expedition](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/systems-darkest-dungeon-12.webp)

[Darkest Dungeon®](https://store.steampowered.com/app/262060/) · © Red Hook Studios / Red Hook Studios. All rights reserved.

1. Inventory slots limit the items that can be carried

- Make an item’s benefit comparable to its occupied space.

- [Darkest Dungeon®](https://store.steampowered.com/app/262060/)

## How it works

The limitations of carrying and organizing things force you to choose what to keep, use, or leave behind.

## Variants

### Variants and applications

<a id="family-21-variants"></a>

- Item limit <a id="variant-roguelike-21-01"></a>
- Total weight limit <a id="variant-roguelike-21-02"></a>
- Fines for overload <a id="variant-roguelike-21-03"></a>
- Objects of different sizes and shapes <a id="variant-roguelike-21-04"></a>
- Placing items on the inventory grid <a id="variant-roguelike-21-05"></a>
- Rotating and stacking objects <a id="variant-roguelike-21-06"></a>
- Bonuses for the proximity of objects <a id="variant-roguelike-21-07"></a>
- Effects of the order or state of things <a id="variant-roguelike-21-08"></a>
- Containers with special storage rules <a id="variant-roguelike-21-09"></a>
- Limited fast slots <a id="variant-roguelike-21-10"></a>
- Separate restrictions on consumables and equipment <a id="variant-roguelike-21-11"></a>
- Caches for delayed use <a id="variant-roguelike-21-12"></a>
- Throwing away or destroying items to free up space <a id="variant-roguelike-21-13"></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.

- [Darkest Dungeon®](https://store.steampowered.com/app/262060/) (id: source-44f598e5a2cf8d02)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors