A game mechanic that requires a player trace a path.
Tracing is a common game mechanic where a player uses clues, or constraints to draw a path on image. The path that they draw is the answer to the puzzle.
Live Examples:
A tracing puzzle typically consists of the clues, in the form of a legend, and a map, typically an image. The legend denotes places on the map, from a starting location, to an ending location. If the player were to draw a line from the start, to each subsequent location, they will end up with a number, or a letter.
The abstract foundation of this puzzle are coordinates on a graph. For example, take a piece of graph paper, and starting at the first point below, draw a line to each following point. These are x,y coordinates on the graph paper:
The number you have drawn is a 7.
A puzle may have several sequences to trace, resulting in several numbers. Or it may be a more complex single sequence resulting in a single image, which is a clue to a further puzzle.
The spatial quality is a vital part of the pieces in a tracing puzzle, as the resulting image will map the spatiality to a simpler image.
If you have any questions, need an example, or want clarification, then let me know. Ask on Discord or Twitter.
Assume everything in this reference is a working draft, there's prone to be some mistakes and inconsistencies. I figure it's best to publish and get feedback rather than write for years in secret. The terms will change, the structure will shift, and the bugs will be chased out. It'll take a while.