# Gates In level design, a **gate** is anything that blocks player [flow](https://book.leveldesignbook.com/process/layout/flow), usually along a [critical path](https://book.leveldesignbook.com/process/layout/criticalpath). Gating is an abstract concept, it is not necessarily a literal gate or door. It could be a magic barrier, an NPC blocking a doorway until you complete their quest, or an avalanche of rocks that falls behind the player. Anything that blocks player movement is functioning as a gate. Gating is also a verb: *"we have to gate the player inside the arena until they complete the boss fight..."* ## Gate types ### Strictness * **Hard gate:** players must always complete the encounter with no shortcuts *(e.g. wait until a timer elapses, defeat all enemies, loot a key from a defeated boss)* * **Soft gate:** can potentially exit early, but must usually complete the encounter *(e.g. exit mechanism requires staying in a vulnerable position, so most players clear the arena first)* * **Hidden exit:** the player must explore the arena to find the exit *(e.g. an exit hidden in a corner that most players won't notice until after clearing the arena)* ### Direction * **Forward gate:** player's forward progress is blocked. * **Backward gate / one-way entrance**: player cannot backtrack. ## Lock and key gates A **lock and key gate** is a hard gate that prevents the player from passing through until they find the "key" somewhere else in the level. This key is abstract -- it can be a literal key item that the player picks up, or it could be a button. Some best practices with implementing lock and key gating: * **Show the lock before the key.** When the player finally finds a key, they might remember the locked door they encountered earlier. If you do it the other way around, it will feel less like the player solved a problem, and more like they accidentally stumbled on the lock with the key already. * **Remind the player about the lock when they get the key.** Maybe the key is on a balcony overlooking the lock, or the button is aligned with a window facing the lock. Nonrealistic projects could script a brief cutscene that shows the unlock. * **If the lock requires multiple keys, the lock's visual design should hint at the key count.** For example, a locked door that requires three keys should have three keyholes. ## Shortcuts A **shortcut** is a hard gate that the player can unlock from the other side, allowing easier backtracking and/or better flow between areas. Exploration games often feature one way doors, climbable ladders that drop down, or elevators that turn on. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://book.leveldesignbook.com/process/layout/typology/gates.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.