--- key: mechanic/visual-novel--family-09 type: mechanic id: visual-novel--family-09 lang: en title: Investigation and deduction summary: >- The collected observations and evidence are linked into a conclusion that reveals a solution or changes the understanding of events. updatedAt: '2026-10-22' status: active url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/visual-novel--family-09/' jsonUrl: >- https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/visual-novel--family-09.json markdownUrl: >- https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/visual-novel--family-09.md aliases: [] tags: - Visual novels - Mechanics sourceIds: - source-5826b1f3d00cd60a sources: - id: source-5826b1f3d00cd60a title: Shadows of Doubt url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/986130/' verifiedAt: null relations: [] placements: - catalogId: visual-novel id: family-09 title: Visual novels url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/visual-novel/#family-09' categoryIds: - section-1 supersededBy: [] attributes: preview: updatedAt: '2026-10-22' title: Investigation and deduction description: >- The collected observations and evidence are linked into a conclusion that reveals a solution or changes the understanding of events. image: src: images/mechanics/narrative-shadows-doubt-01.webp width: 1440 height: 810 game: Shadows of Doubt sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/986130/' originalUrl: >- https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/986130/ss_6e8b247fbef7b2be4d87b4a7ef9d6bae191e39f8.1920x1080.jpg?t=1787842717 credit: ColePowered Games / Fireshine Games rights: © ColePowered Games / Fireshine Games. All rights reserved. caption: 'The board connects a receipt, people and places' alt: 'The board connects a receipt, people and places' markers: - x: 69 'y': 56 label: The relationship between entries remains visible on the case board tips: - Let players trace a conclusion back to the observations supporting it. examples: - title: Shadows of Doubt url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/986130/' 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/visual-novel --- # Investigation and deduction id: visual-novel--family-09 type: mechanic key: mechanic/visual-novel--family-09 lang: en status: active url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/visual-novel--family-09/ The collected observations and evidence are linked into a conclusion that reveals a solution or changes the understanding of events. ## At a glance ![The board connects a receipt, people and places](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/narrative-shadows-doubt-01.webp) [Shadows of Doubt](https://store.steampowered.com/app/986130/) · © ColePowered Games / Fireshine Games. All rights reserved. 1. The relationship between entries remains visible on the case board - Let players trace a conclusion back to the observations supporting it. - [Shadows of Doubt](https://store.steampowered.com/app/986130/) ## How it works The collected observations and evidence are linked into a conclusion that reveals a solution or changes the understanding of events. ## Variants ### Variants and applications - Collection of evidence. Type: Mechanics. Rule: Discovered information is recorded as material for investigation. - Analysis of evidence. Type: Mechanics. Rule: Research reveals properties or additional information. - Comparison of evidence. Type: Mechanics. Rule: The player finds coincidences and contradictions in several stories. - Selecting a significant fragment. Type: Mechanics. Rule: You must indicate the exact location in the text, image or post. - Presentation of evidence. Type: Mechanics. Rule: The player associates relevant evidence with a specific statement. - Connecting facts. Type: Mechanics. Rule: A new fact is derived from a pair or set of information. - Filling out the hypothesis. Type: Mechanics. Rule: The player fills in names, reasons and actions to explain the event. - Restoring chronology. Type: Mechanics. Rule: Events are arranged in causal or temporal order. - Reconstruction of the scene. Type: Mechanics. Rule: The player restores the positions of the participants and the sequence of actions. - Version check. Type: Mechanics. Rule: A hypothesis is tested by a new action, question or experiment. - The accusation and the final conclusion. Type: Mechanics. Rule: The player chooses the culprit, explanation or solution to the case... - Accounting for investigation errors. Type: Mechanics. Rule: Wrong conclusions waste trust, effort, or time. ## Context and limits Author's working classification for designing games and interactions. Options can overlap and combine; the list is not a generally accepted standard or proven exhaustive list. Application examples are conditional unless a specific verifiable observation is indicated nearby. Sources support individual techniques and technical limitations. ## 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. - [Shadows of Doubt](https://store.steampowered.com/app/986130/) (id: source-5826b1f3d00cd60a) CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors