# What are the 5 basic game mechanics?

> There is no official list of five. Designers usually group mechanics into space, objects, actions, rules, skill and chance, or into similar categories.

There is no official list of "the 5 game mechanics." Different designers and courses group mechanics in different ways, so lists of three, five or seven are all common. A widely used framework comes from Jesse Schell's book The Art of Game Design, which describes basic mechanics as space, objects (with their attributes and states), actions, rules, skill and chance.

## A practical breakdown

- **Space:** where the game happens and how you can move, whether it is a chessboard, a 2D level or an open world.
- **Objects and states:** characters, items and resources, along with their properties, such as health, ammo or a door being locked or open.
- **Actions:** what the player can do: jump, shoot, build, trade, talk.
- **Rules:** what is allowed, how the game reacts and how you win or lose. Rules connect everything else.
- **Skill:** the physical, mental or social abilities the game asks of you, such as timing, planning or bluffing.
- **Chance:** randomness, from dice rolls and card draws to loot drops and critical hits.

## Common mechanic types you will hear about

Resource management, turn-taking, combat, collection, crafting, progression (levels and experience), puzzles and cooperation or competition are all names for combinations of the categories above.

## FAQ

**What is the difference between a mechanic and a rule?**
A rule says what is allowed; a mechanic is a system players interact with, such as a health bar or a crafting system, built from rules.

**What does breaking the fourth wall mean in games?**
A game addresses the player directly, as if the character knows it is in a game, for example by commenting on your save file.

**What are hidden things in games called?**
Easter eggs: secret jokes, references or rooms that developers hide for players to find.

**What are invisible walls?**
Barriers you cannot see that stop you from leaving the playable area.

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https://gamevoyages.com/what-are-the-5-game-mechanics/ · Game Voyage · Checked 2026-10-30