I think Ori and the Will of the Wisps did "digging through terrain to go through it without leaving a trace" before, for a high profile example. Rewind/recall,

I think Ori and the Will of the Wisps did "digging through terrain to go through it without leaving a trace" before, for a high profile example. Rewind/recall, the game Entropy Centre has that mechanic for specific objects too. That said most of those patents also are so mundane I doubt they can be enforced.