---
key: mechanic/run-structures--t062
type: mechanic
id: run-structures--t062
lang: en
title: Survivor-likes and automatic attacks
summary: >-
  Automatic attacks leave route selection and upgrades to the player, making
  movement through waves the central skill.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/run-structures--t062/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/run-structures--t062.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/run-structures--t062.md
aliases: []
tags:
  - Roguelikes and run structure
  - Mechanics and variants
sourceIds:
  - source-3817d420df0baa92
  - source-43a59b91bdde2acb
sources:
  - id: source-3817d420df0baa92
    title: 'Robert Nystrom: State'
    url: >-
      https://github.com/munificent/game-programming-patterns/blob/master/book/state.markdown
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-43a59b91bdde2acb
    title: Vampire Survivors
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1794680/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations:
  - type: uses
    direction: outgoing
    label: Sources in the selection
    key: resource/state-pattern
    title: 'State: Game Programming Patterns'
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/resources/#resource-state-pattern'
    jsonUrl: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/resource/state-pattern.json'
    markdownUrl: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/resource/state-pattern.md'
placements:
  - catalogId: run-structures
    id: t062
    title: Roguelikes and run structure
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/run-structures/#t062'
    categoryIds:
      - mechanics
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Survivor-likes and automatic attacks
    description: >-
      Automatic attacks leave route selection and upgrades to the player, making
      movement through waves the central skill.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/broad-vampire-survivors-00.webp
      width: 1280
      height: 800
      game: Vampire Survivors
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1794680/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/1794680/ss_6c55afe36be2a7784bf18cb9b3218321ae2d10e5.1920x1080.jpg?t=1787911678
      credit: poncle / poncle
      rights: © poncle / poncle. All rights reserved.
      caption: The character acts within a continuous flow of enemies
      alt: The character acts within a continuous flow of enemies
      markers:
        - x: 51
          'y': 52
          label: The central choice concerns safe positioning among enemies
    tips:
      - >-
        Preserve meaningful movement choices while attacks execute
        automatically.
    examples:
      - title: Vampire Survivors
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1794680/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original bilingual editorial overviews authored for gamemechanics.pro on
  2026-10-20 and reviewed on 2026-10-21. Scenarios are hypothetical design
  examples; prototype checks describe work to perform, not completed playtests.
  Primary sources support the stated techniques and implementation context, not
  every proposed variant.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/run-structures
---
# Survivor-likes and automatic attacks

id: run-structures--t062
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/run-structures--t062
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/run-structures--t062/

Automatic attacks leave route selection and upgrades to the player, making movement through waves the central skill.

## At a glance

![The character acts within a continuous flow of enemies](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/broad-vampire-survivors-00.webp)

[Vampire Survivors](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1794680/) · © poncle / poncle. All rights reserved.

1. The central choice concerns safe positioning among enemies

- Preserve meaningful movement choices while attacks execute automatically.

- [Vampire Survivors](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1794680/)

## How it works

Automatic attacks leave route selection and upgrades to the player, making movement through waves the central skill.

## Variants

### Mechanic variants

<a id="t062-variants"></a>

- Auto-targeting selects targets by a stated rule. <a id="t062-v1"></a>
- Experience pickups require approaching danger. <a id="t062-v2"></a>
- Weapon evolution needs a combination of upgrades. <a id="t062-v3"></a>
- Waves change the shape of safe movement routes. <a id="t062-v4"></a>

## Design example

Circular fire permits movement through small enemies, but ranged opponents force a route change.

Prototype check: Test whether movement remains a decision after strong upgrades rather than waiting for a timer.

## Context and limits

Run structure connects limited resources, changing capabilities and failure consequences into a complete play cycle. Each overview separates player actions, state changes and alternative rules. Examples are hypothetical design scenarios, not claims about a named game. A prototype check states an observable question for the next iteration. Existing detailed references remain separately linked from the direction map.

## Connected materials

- Sources in the selection: [State: Game Programming Patterns](https://gamemechanics.pro/en/resources/#resource-state-pattern) (key: resource/state-pattern)

## Sources and provenance

Original bilingual editorial overviews authored for gamemechanics.pro on 2026-10-20 and reviewed on 2026-10-21. Scenarios are hypothetical design examples; prototype checks describe work to perform, not completed playtests. Primary sources support the stated techniques and implementation context, not every proposed variant.

- [Robert Nystrom: State](https://github.com/munificent/game-programming-patterns/blob/master/book/state.markdown) (id: source-3817d420df0baa92)
- [Vampire Survivors](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1794680/) (id: source-43a59b91bdde2acb)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors