Tether mechanics create a connection between two objects or characters that constrains or empowers their movement relative to each other. In co-op games, tethering players to a shared zone forces proximity and teamwork. In combat, tethering to an enemy can drain their health or limit their escape. Physics-based tethers create pendulum swings and slingshot maneuvers. The design power of tethers is that they turn empty space into a resource: the distance between tethered objects becomes a variable players must manage, adding a spatial puzzle layer to whatever the core gameplay is.