People Playground is a 2D physics sandbox by mestiez, published by Studio Minus and on Steam since 23 July 2019. Every object carries its own weight, sharpness, conductivity and heat capacity, and every ragdoll has bones, organs, blood and a nervous system rather than a health bar. There is no score and no win condition, only firearms, machinery, syringes, wires and a Steam Workshop full of extra parts.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9mm Pistol | S | Learning which hit locations are actually lethal before moving up to the AK-47 or Minigun. | The plainest firearm in the spawn menu, low power and easy to place shots with, which makes it the clearest way to watch how a bullet interacts with bone, organs and armour. |
| Atom Bomb | A | Ending a session, or stress testing a base you spent an hour bolting together. | The heaviest vanilla explosive. |
| Tesla Coil | A | Electricity experiments and trap rooms where you want damage without firing a projectile. | Arcs current into nearby conductive objects while powered, cooking flesh and igniting anything flammable inside its reach. |
| Life Syringe | B | Running the same test subject through twenty attempts instead of spawning a fresh ragdoll every time. | Restores an organism to a healthy state, clearing bleeding, broken bones and organ damage in one injection. |
| Thruster | B | Gliders, rockets and anything that needs to leave the ground under its own power. | A small directional engine that pushes while activated. |
S-Tier: 9mm Pistol
The plainest firearm in the spawn menu, low power and easy to place shots with, which makes it the clearest way to watch how a bullet interacts with bone, organs and armour.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Learning which hit locations are actually lethal before moving up to the AK-47 or Minigun. |
| Key Mechanic | Ragdoll anatomy and vitals |
| Recommended Build | Contraption builder |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using 9mm Pistol: Pairs naturally with Contraption builder thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Atom Bomb
The heaviest vanilla explosive. It clears the visible area, shreds most props into debris fragments and drags the framerate down hard on a crowded scene.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Ending a session, or stress testing a base you spent an hour bolting together. |
| Key Mechanic | Heat and temperature transfer |
| Recommended Build | Weapons tester |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Atom Bomb: Pairs naturally with Weapons tester thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Tesla Coil
Arcs current into nearby conductive objects while powered, cooking flesh and igniting anything flammable inside its reach.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Electricity experiments and trap rooms where you want damage without firing a projectile. |
| Key Mechanic | Electricity propagation |
| Recommended Build | Field surgeon |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Tesla Coil: Pairs naturally with Field surgeon thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Life Syringe
Restores an organism to a healthy state, clearing bleeding, broken bones and organ damage in one injection.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Running the same test subject through twenty attempts instead of spawning a fresh ragdoll every time. |
| Key Mechanic | Object linking and contraptions |
| Recommended Build | Electrician |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Life Syringe: Pairs naturally with Electrician thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Thruster
A small directional engine that pushes while activated. It is the standard propulsion source for player built aircraft, rockets and sled contraptions.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Gliders, rockets and anything that needs to leave the ground under its own power. |
| Key Mechanic | Steam Workshop items |
| Recommended Build | Demolition tester |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Thruster: Pairs naturally with Demolition tester thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Default
- Atom Bomb → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Tesla Coil → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- 9mm Pistol → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying. One strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Join frames with Steel Binding instead of Rope or Cable. A binding holds its angle, while a rope lets the chassis fold the instant a Thruster fires, which is why most first aircraft flip rather than climb.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More People Playground Guides
- People Playground People Playground Overview
- People Playground Best Builds
- People Playground Tier List
- People Playground Walkthrough
- People Playground Beginner's Guide
- People Playground Tips & Tricks
- People Playground Combat Guide
- People Playground Boss Guide
- People Playground Maps & Locations
- People Playground Crafting Guide
- People Playground Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy People Playground, check out these related guides:
- Terraria Weapons Guide: sandbox game with similar mechanics
- VRChat Weapons Guide: sandbox game with similar mechanics
- Garry's Mod Weapons Guide: sandbox game with similar mechanics
