---
key: mechanic/roguelike--family-27
type: mechanic
id: roguelike--family-27
lang: en
title: Risk and reward
summary: >-
  A more rewarding action adds danger or gives up a safety net. The player
  weighs the potential benefit against the cost of failure.
updatedAt: '2026-10-21'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/roguelike--family-27/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/roguelike--family-27.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/roguelike--family-27.md
aliases: []
tags:
  - Roguelikes and roguelites
  - Mechanics catalog
sourceIds:
  - source-7f09c8a736762f4f
sources:
  - id: source-7f09c8a736762f4f
    title: Slay the Spire
    url: 'https://www.megacrit.com/press-kits/slay-the-spire/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: roguelike
    id: family-27
    title: Roguelikes and roguelites
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/roguelike/#family-27'
    categoryIds:
      - section-1
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-21'
    title: Risk and reward
    description: >-
      A more rewarding action adds danger or gives up a safety net. The player
      weighs the potential benefit against the cost of failure.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/slay-the-spire-rest.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: Slay the Spire
      sourceUrl: 'https://www.megacrit.com/press-kits/slay-the-spire/'
      originalUrl: 'https://www.megacrit.com/images/ss11.jpg'
      credit: Mega Crit
      rights: © Mega Crit. All rights reserved.
      caption: Gain power or recover health
      alt: >-
        Slay the Spire: resting and upgrading a card are mutually exclusive
        campfire choices.
      markers:
        - x: 58
          'y': 34
          label: Upgrading gains power without recovering health
        - x: 43
          'y': 34
          label: Rest adds a safety margin for the next fight
    tips:
      - Show the possible losses before the risk is accepted.
      - The safer choice should still advance the player’s goal.
    examples:
      - title: Slay the Spire
        url: 'https://www.megacrit.com/press-kits/slay-the-spire/'
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
---
# Risk and reward

id: roguelike--family-27
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/roguelike--family-27
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/roguelike--family-27/

A more rewarding action adds danger or gives up a safety net. The player weighs the potential benefit against the cost of failure.

## At a glance

![Slay the Spire: resting and upgrading a card are mutually exclusive campfire choices.](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/slay-the-spire-rest.webp)

[Slay the Spire](https://www.megacrit.com/press-kits/slay-the-spire/) · © Mega Crit. All rights reserved.

1. Upgrading gains power without recovering health
2. Rest adds a safety margin for the next fight

- Show the possible losses before the risk is accepted.
- The safer choice should still advance the player’s goal.

- [Slay the Spire](https://www.megacrit.com/press-kits/slay-the-spire/)

## How it works

An additional benefit is offered with the threat of loss, complication, or denial of another benefit.

## Variants

### Variants and applications

<a id="family-27-variants"></a>

- Extra challenge for extra reward <a id="variant-roguelike-27-01"></a>
- Continuing after a safe exit point <a id="variant-roguelike-27-02"></a>
- Payment for health benefits <a id="variant-roguelike-27-03"></a>
- Paying for benefits with maximum health <a id="variant-roguelike-27-04"></a>
- Getting cursed for a powerful item <a id="variant-roguelike-27-05"></a>
- Temporary penalty for future gain <a id="variant-roguelike-27-06"></a>
- Reward for fighting without taking damage <a id="variant-roguelike-27-07"></a>
- Action Restriction Reward <a id="variant-roguelike-27-08"></a>
- Contract to fulfill the condition in the following rooms <a id="variant-roguelike-27-09"></a>
- Random event with multiple outcomes <a id="variant-roguelike-27-10"></a>
- Choosing a guaranteed or probabilistic reward <a id="variant-roguelike-27-11"></a>
- Accumulation of risk when reusing an object <a id="variant-roguelike-27-12"></a>
- Sacrifice an Item, Ally, or Ability <a id="variant-roguelike-27-13"></a>
- Trading immediate power for long-term gain <a id="variant-roguelike-27-14"></a>
- Refusal of reward to change future conditions <a id="variant-roguelike-27-15"></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.

- [Slay the Spire](https://www.megacrit.com/press-kits/slay-the-spire/) (id: source-7f09c8a736762f4f)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors