---
key: mechanic/shared-family-60
type: mechanic
id: shared-family-60
lang: en
title: 'Progression, mastery and new capabilities'
summary: >-
  Successful actions unlock tools, levels or ways to play and help players
  choose their next goal.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/shared-family-60/'
jsonUrl: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/shared-family-60.json'
markdownUrl: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/shared-family-60.md'
aliases:
  - Mastery and unlocking capabilities
tags:
  - Children’s games
  - 'Goals, constraints and progression'
  - Educational games
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: children
    id: family-60
    title: Children’s games
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/children/#family-60'
    categoryIds:
      - progress
  - catalogId: education
    id: family-60
    title: Educational games
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/education/#family-60'
    categoryIds:
      - progress
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Mastery and unlocking capabilities
    description: >-
      Successful actions unlock tools, levels or ways to play and help players
      choose their next goal.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/slay-the-spire-unlocks.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/ss20.jpg'
      credit: Mega Crit
      rights: © Mega Crit. All rights reserved.
      caption: Permanent card unlocks for future runs
      alt: Permanent card unlocks for future runs
      markers:
        - x: 50
          'y': 45
          label: New elements expand future action options
    tips:
      - Show which mastered action unlocks the next capability.
    examples:
      - title: Slay the Spire
        url: 'https://www.megacrit.com/press-kits/slay-the-spire/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Play-focused selection adapted from the original children-education taxonomy,
  with original editorial additions dated 2026-10-20. Developer sources support
  specific examples, not the entire classification.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/children
---
# Progression, mastery and new capabilities

id: shared-family-60
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/shared-family-60
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/shared-family-60/

Successful actions unlock tools, levels or ways to play and help players choose their next goal.

## At a glance

![Permanent card unlocks for future runs](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/slay-the-spire-unlocks.webp)

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

1. New elements expand future action options

- Show which mastered action unlocks the next capability.

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

## How it works

Unlock levels

## Variants

### Variants

<a id="family-60-branch-1"></a>

- Unlock levels <a id="family-60-variant-1"></a>
- Unlock tools <a id="family-60-variant-2"></a>
- Unlock rules <a id="family-60-variant-3"></a>
- Develop the world <a id="family-60-variant-4"></a>
- Develop characters <a id="family-60-variant-5"></a>
- Map mastered skills <a id="family-60-variant-6"></a>
- Add composite tasks <a id="family-60-variant-7"></a>
- Offer next-branch choices <a id="family-60-variant-8"></a>
- Revisit areas with new skills <a id="family-60-variant-9"></a>
- Unlock creative modes <a id="family-60-variant-10"></a>
- Expand independence gradually <a id="family-60-variant-11"></a>
- Complete thematic chapters <a id="family-60-variant-12"></a>

## Design example

After mastering turns, give the robot new routes.

## Context and limits

An action map for children’s digital, board, active and mixed games. An instructional goal is optional: children can invent stories, explore toys, compete or enjoy play itself. Select age suitability, reading demands, controls and pace separately; different implementations can suit different ages. Learning tasks and instructional support have their own reference.

## Context: Educational games

A mechanic map for games with explicit learning goals, from first encounters with a topic to professional practice. It covers children, teenagers and adults; choose subject, difficulty, context and controls for the learner. Player actions, subject content, instructional support and assessment are distinct layers. Scores and game completion alone do not establish mastery or skill transfer.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Play-focused selection adapted from the original children-education taxonomy, with original editorial additions dated 2026-10-20. Developer sources support specific examples, not the entire classification.

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

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors