🐹 Game Mechanics

Hamster Personalities

Section: Game Mechanics

# Game Mechanics

## Core Gameplay Loop

1. **Prepare**: Create or upgrade your hamster
2. **Race**: Enter your hamster in maze races
3. **Watch**: Observe as your hamster navigates autonomously
4. **Assist**: Trigger skills at strategic moments
5. **Progress**: Gain experience and unlock new abilities

## Hamster Personalities

Each hamster has one of four distinct personalities that affect their maze-solving behavior:

| Personality | Description |
|-------------|-------------|
| **Cautious** | Prefers safer paths, avoids revisiting recent locations |
| **Adventurous** | Takes risks, makes more random choices, may find unexpected shortcuts |
| **Strategic** | Prioritizes moving toward the exit, plans ahead, makes optimal decisions |
| **Random** | Makes completely unpredictable movement choices |

Different personalities perform better in different maze types, so choose wisely!

## Skills System

As hamsters gain experience and level up, they unlock special abilities:

| Skill | Level | Effect |
|-------|-------|--------|
| **Wall Breaker** | 1 | Break through a single wall |
| **Teleport** | 2 | Jump 2 cells in any direction |
| **Speed Boost** | 3 | Move faster for 5 seconds |
| **Pathfinder** | 4 | Reveal optimal path for 3 seconds |

Skills must be triggered manually by the player during races, adding a strategic element to the otherwise autonomous gameplay.

## Progression System

- Complete mazes to earn experience points
- Every 10 XP grants a level up
- Each level unlocks new skills or upgrades
- Track your progress on the global leaderboard