Ready or Not is a tactical SWAT simulator where you command a police team clearing dangerous locations. Unlike arcade shooters, RoN punishes shooting first — you lose points for unauthorized use of force. Suspects must be given a chance to surrender before engagement. The missions range from drug lab raids to active shooter responses, each requiring different loadouts and tactics. The AI (both enemies and teammates) behaves unpredictably, creating tense room-clearing sequences where a suspect might surrender or open fire. The 1.0 release added a full campaign connecting missions narratively.
Ready or Not features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order — what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gas Station | Tutorial difficulty | Basic tactics practice, evidence collection training, scoring fundamentals | Breacher |
| 2 | Hotel | Medium difficulty | Multi-floor clearing practice, civilian rescue scenarios, complex layouts | Breacher |
| 3 | Meth House | Hard difficulty | Drug evidence collection, hazmat scenarios, aggressive suspect behavior | Point Man |
| 4 | Hospital | Very Hard | Civilian protection training, target discrimination, high-stress scenarios | Point Man |
| 5 | Port | Hard difficulty | Large-scale operation practice, multiple entry coordination, evidence-rich environment | Point Man |
Gas Station — Starting Area
A small-scale mission with few rooms and suspects. The Gas Station teaches basic room clearing, compliance, and evidence collection. The confined space makes flashbang usage highly effective.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Tutorial difficulty |
| Key Rewards | Basic tactics practice, evidence collection training, scoring fundamentals |
| Recommended Role | Breacher |
| Key Weapons | MP5 |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of door breaching — this is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first weapons upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Hotel.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Hotel — Early Game
A multi-floor hotel with numerous rooms, corridors, and suspects. Each room must be checked individually. The Hotel tests systematic room-clearing discipline and team coordination across multiple floors.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Medium difficulty |
| Key Rewards | Multi-floor clearing practice, civilian rescue scenarios, complex layouts |
| Recommended Role | Breacher |
| Key Weapons | MP5 |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering suspect compliance — it's critical from this point on.
- Farm for MP5 if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Meth House.
Meth House — Mid Game
A drug lab raid with armed suspects and hazardous materials. The tight residential layout creates dangerous CQB encounters. Chemical hazards (meth lab fumes) require gas masks. Suspects are often high and unpredictable.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Hard difficulty |
| Key Rewards | Drug evidence collection, hazmat scenarios, aggressive suspect behavior |
| Recommended Role | Point Man |
| Key Weapons | MP5 |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- G36C becomes accessible here — prioritize getting it.
- Master non-lethal options for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
Hospital — Late Game
An active threat scenario in a hospital with civilians, patients, and hostile suspects mixed together. The highest civilian density makes target identification critical — shooting a civilian fails the mission. Requires extreme fire discipline.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Very Hard |
| Key Rewards | Civilian protection training, target discrimination, high-stress scenarios |
| Recommended Role | Point Man |
| Key Weapons | G36C |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- G36C should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- evidence collection mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Port.
Port — Endgame
A large industrial port with open areas, shipping containers, and warehousing. The Port has long sightlines (unusual for RoN) and numerous hiding spots. Multiple entry points require strategic approach planning.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Hard difficulty |
| Key Rewards | Large-scale operation practice, multiple entry coordination, evidence-rich environment |
| Recommended Role | Point Man |
| Key Weapons | G36C |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Sniper for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order — Gas Station → Hotel → Meth House → Hospital → Port. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner — Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your weapons — Some areas favor different weapons types.
- Read the walkthrough — Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush — Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.
More Ready or Not Guides
- Ready or Not Ready or Not Overview
- Ready or Not Best Builds
- Ready or Not Tier List
- Ready or Not Walkthrough
- Ready or Not Beginner's Guide
- Ready or Not Tips & Tricks
- Ready or Not Weapons Guide
- Ready or Not Combat Guide
- Ready or Not Boss Guide
- Ready or Not Crafting Guide
- Ready or Not Classes & Characters
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- Rainbow Six Siege Maps & Locations — fps game with similar mechanics
