---
key: mechanic/survival-construction--t122
type: mechanic
id: survival-construction--t122
lang: en
title: Freeform and modular construction
summary: >-
  The player places prefabricated modules in valid locations. Their arrangement
  shapes the base, room access and working routes.
updatedAt: '2026-10-21'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/survival-construction--t122/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/survival-construction--t122.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/survival-construction--t122.md
aliases:
  - Modular construction
tags:
  - 'Survival, crafting and construction'
  - Mechanics and variants
sourceIds:
  - source-2350e106ed66faaf
  - source-df9ed2d1b2e7ac06
sources:
  - id: source-2350e106ed66faaf
    title: 'Klei: Don’t Starve'
    url: 'https://www.klei.com/games/dont-starve'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-df9ed2d1b2e7ac06
    title: Spiritfarer
    url: 'https://thunderlotusgames.com/press-kits/spiritfarer-press-kit/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: survival-construction
    id: t122
    title: 'Survival, crafting and construction'
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/survival-construction/#t122'
    categoryIds:
      - mechanics
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-21'
    title: Modular construction
    description: >-
      The player places prefabricated modules in valid locations. Their
      arrangement shapes the base, room access and working routes.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/spiritfarer-building.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: Spiritfarer
      sourceUrl: 'https://thunderlotusgames.com/press-kits/spiritfarer-press-kit/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://thunderlotusgames.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Spiritfarer-SCREENSHOTS-03.jpg
      credit: Thunder Lotus
      rights: © Thunder Lotus. All rights reserved.
      caption: Placing a garden aboard the ship
      alt: >-
        Spiritfarer: build mode shows a green garden preview on a grid among the
        ship’s other buildings.
      markers:
        - x: 48
          'y': 66
          label: Preview of the module being placed
        - x: 10
          'y': 73
          label: Required construction materials
    tips:
      - Preview placement validity before confirmation.
      - Check that rooms remain accessible after rearrangement.
    examples:
      - title: Spiritfarer
        url: 'https://thunderlotusgames.com/press-kits/spiritfarer-press-kit/'
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/survival-construction
---
# Freeform and modular construction

id: survival-construction--t122
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/survival-construction--t122
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/survival-construction--t122/

The player places prefabricated modules in valid locations. Their arrangement shapes the base, room access and working routes.

## At a glance

![Spiritfarer: build mode shows a green garden preview on a grid among the ship’s other buildings.](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/spiritfarer-building.webp)

[Spiritfarer](https://thunderlotusgames.com/press-kits/spiritfarer-press-kit/) · © Thunder Lotus. All rights reserved.

1. Preview of the module being placed
2. Required construction materials

- Preview placement validity before confirmation.
- Check that rooms remain accessible after rearrangement.

- [Spiritfarer](https://thunderlotusgames.com/press-kits/spiritfarer-press-kit/)

## How it works

Construction places elements using connection rules or free geometry, creating space for later actions.

## Variants

### Mechanic variants

<a id="t122-variants"></a>

- A grid enables predictable part alignment. <a id="t122-v1"></a>
- Sockets accept only compatible connections. <a id="t122-v2"></a>
- Free rotation expands possible structure shapes. <a id="t122-v3"></a>
- Blueprints repeat a tested group of elements. <a id="t122-v4"></a>

## Design example

A player builds a sectional bridge and saves a suitable support as a reusable module.

Prototype check: Test undo, overlapping parts and access to interior spaces after construction is completed.

## Context and limits

Survival connects supply consumption, environmental conditions and preparing a safe return; construction changes that relationship. 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 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.

- [Klei: Don’t Starve](https://www.klei.com/games/dont-starve) (id: source-2350e106ed66faaf)
- [Spiritfarer](https://thunderlotusgames.com/press-kits/spiritfarer-press-kit/) (id: source-df9ed2d1b2e7ac06)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors