Knowledge-based progression

Knowledge-based progression is progression that is driven by players learning game rules that allow them to do actions that they were always able to do but did not know how to before.

In games with knowledge-based progression, players encounter obstacles that they can not get past. Instead of acquiring an item or ability that allows them to get past the obstacle, players instead gain knowledge. The gained knowledge is often something that players have been able to do before, but they did not know that they could or they did not know how to do so.