Secret - Games
In game design, 'Secret' represents a fundamental engagement tool. It manifests as hidden paths, cryptic puzzles, or lore fragments that reward curiosity. This mechanic transforms passive consumption into active exploration, creating personal narratives of discovery. Secrets validate player agency, offering exclusive knowledge or power. They build worlds that feel larger than their playable space, suggesting depth beyond the immediate narrative. Ultimately, secrets are a pact between designer and player: a promise that effort and attention will be rewarded with meaningful, often intimate, revelations.