Link - Games

In game design, 'Link' represents the fundamental connective tissue that transforms isolated elements into cohesive systems. It manifests as environmental traversal mechanics like grappling hooks or portal guns, narrative threads between characters, or strategic resource management chains. The concept elevates gameplay from discrete actions to meaningful relationships—whether connecting puzzle pieces, establishing multiplayer synergies, or creating cause-effect loops in emergent systems. Successful linking mechanics provide players with agency through interconnection, making the whole experience greater than the sum of its parts.