---
key: mechanic/survival-construction--t123
type: mechanic
id: survival-construction--t123
lang: en
title: Structural integrity and destruction
summary: >-
  Structural stability depends on supports, connections and loads; failure
  changes load paths and usable geometry.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/survival-construction--t123/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/survival-construction--t123.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/survival-construction--t123.md
aliases:
  - Structures and destruction
tags:
  - 'Survival, crafting and construction'
  - Mechanics and variants
sourceIds:
  - source-2350e106ed66faaf
  - source-8acd296040247f95
sources:
  - id: source-2350e106ed66faaf
    title: 'Klei: Don’t Starve'
    url: 'https://www.klei.com/games/dont-starve'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-8acd296040247f95
    title: Spelunky
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/239350/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: survival-construction
    id: t123
    title: 'Survival, crafting and construction'
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/survival-construction/#t123'
    categoryIds:
      - mechanics
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Structures and destruction
    description: >-
      Structural stability depends on supports, connections and loads; failure
      changes load paths and usable geometry.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/spelunky-explosion.webp
      width: 1280
      height: 720
      game: Spelunky
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/239350/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/239350/ss_d9ed1da2c639aad60ad5cb6715be2f0a4f8f2f63.1920x1080.jpg?t=1632912566
      credit: Mossmouth
      rights: © Mossmouth. All rights reserved.
      caption: An explosion reshapes the cave
      alt: >-
        Spelunky: an explosion sends rock fragments flying beside a ladder, near
        the explorer.
      markers:
        - x: 48
          'y': 62
          label: Explosion and rock destruction
    tips:
      - Show how destruction changes traversability and remaining supports.
    examples:
      - title: Spelunky
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/239350/'
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
---
# Structural integrity and destruction

id: survival-construction--t123
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/survival-construction--t123
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/survival-construction--t123/

Structural stability depends on supports, connections and loads; failure changes load paths and usable geometry.

## At a glance

![Spelunky: an explosion sends rock fragments flying beside a ladder, near the explorer.](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/spelunky-explosion.webp)

[Spelunky](https://store.steampowered.com/app/239350/) · © Mossmouth. All rights reserved.

1. Explosion and rock destruction

- Show how destruction changes traversability and remaining supports.

- [Spelunky](https://store.steampowered.com/app/239350/)

## How it works

Structural stability depends on supports, connections and loads; failure changes load paths and usable geometry.

## Variants

### Mechanic variants

<a id="t123-variants"></a>

- Spans are limited by supported reach. <a id="t123-v1"></a>
- Materials give elements different strengths. <a id="t123-v2"></a>
- Overloading warns of an approaching failure. <a id="t123-v3"></a>
- Cascades propagate the loss of supporting links. <a id="t123-v4"></a>

## Design example

Removing a column shifts load to a visibly cracking beam before the hall collapses.

Prototype check: Test whether shown supports explain failure; do not present a simplified game model as a building calculation.

## 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)
- [Spelunky](https://store.steampowered.com/app/239350/) (id: source-8acd296040247f95)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors