R.E.P.O. is a co-op horror extraction game where you and up to 5 friends work as repo agents collecting valuable items from haunted locations to pay off an ever-growing debt. Think Lethal Company meets GTFO — you scavenge furniture, electronics, and cursed objects from procedurally generated buildings while ghosts, traps, and environmental hazards try to kill you. The physics-based item carrying system makes every extraction chaotic and hilarious as your team struggles to shove a grand piano through a doorway while something screams in the next room.
This guide covers everything you need: core mechanics, the best builds, equipment worth investing in, location progression, and the tips that actually make a difference.
Core Mechanics
debt repayment
Your team has a debt quota that increases each day. You must extract enough valuable items to meet the quota or face penalties. Items have different values visible on your scanner — a gold bar might be worth $200 while a chair is $15. Missing quota leads to escalating consequences including losing access to upgrades.
item extraction
Items must be physically carried back to the truck before the extraction timer runs out. Heavy items like safes and pianos require 2+ players to carry and move slowly. Items can be dropped, thrown, and stacked on carts for efficient transport. Broken items lose value, so handle fragile things carefully.
ghost encounters
Different ghost types have unique behaviors and triggers. Some chase noise, others patrol set paths, and some only activate when you grab certain items. Learning ghost patterns is key to surviving. Ghosts can kill in one hit but most have tells before they attack — audio cues, flickering lights, or temperature drops.
team coordination
The game is built around teamwork. One player scans for valuable items, another grabs them, a third watches for threats, and someone manages the truck and cart logistics. Voice communication is proximity-based, adding tension when separated from your team.
truck management
The truck is your extraction point and mobile base. It has limited cargo space that must be organized efficiently. The truck departs at a set time regardless of whether your team is aboard. Upgrades purchased between runs improve truck capacity, speed, and features.
Builds Overview
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Key Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grabber | S | Follow the Scanner's callouts, grab the highest-value items first, and sprint them back to the truck as efficiently as possible. | Stamina, carry speed, grip strength |
| Runner | A | Grab lightweight high-value items and sprint them to the truck in rapid succession while the Grabbers handle heavy objects. | Speed, stamina regeneration, inventory slots |
| Scanner | S | Enter rooms first, scan everything, call out high-value targets to Grabbers, and monitor ghost activity to warn the team. | Scanner range, battery life, movement speed |
| Fighter | B | Position between the ghosts and your Grabbers, use flares and light to stun or redirect threats, and sacrifice yourself if needed to save a high-value extraction. | Health, stamina, flare capacity |
| Driver | B | Stay near the truck, organize incoming items for maximum space efficiency, deploy carts to the building entrance, and call departure warnings. | Truck capacity upgrades, cart management, timing awareness |
Grabber (S-Tier): The primary item carrier who does the heavy lifting — literally. Grabbers prioritize strength upgrades and stamina to carry heavy items faster. A good Grabber memorizes item values and grabs the most expensive things first, maximizing quota efficiency.
Runner (A-Tier): The Runner focuses on speed to shuttle small-to-medium items quickly between the building and truck. With sprint upgrades, a Runner can make two trips in the time it takes a Grabber to make one heavy haul. Essential for meeting tight time limits.
Scanner (S-Tier): The Scanner identifies valuable items through walls and prioritizes the team's collection route. Without a Scanner, the team wastes time grabbing low-value junk. The Scanner tool shows item values and ghost proximity, making this role the team's eyes and ears.
Fighter (B-Tier): Fighters focus on distracting or slowing ghosts to buy time for the extraction team. Most ghosts can't be killed, but they can be stunned with flares, flashlights, and specific items. The Fighter keeps threats occupied while Grabbers work.
Driver (B-Tier): The Driver manages truck logistics — organizing cargo space, positioning the truck near exits, and ensuring departure timing is optimized. On larger maps, a good Driver repositions the truck closer to the building entrance to cut transit time.
For full build breakdowns with gear and stat priorities, see our R.E.P.O. builds guide.
Equipment Guide
| Equipment | Why It Matters | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Flashlight | Your primary tool for visibility and ghost interaction. | Fighter |
| Grabber Tool | The primary item-carrying tool that increases grip strength and carry speed when upgraded. | Grabber |
| Scanner | Shows item values through walls in a cone-shaped area. | Scanner |
| Cart | A wheeled platform that holds multiple small-to-medium items simultaneously. | Driver |
| Flares | Throwable light sources that stun ghosts in a radius when they ignite. | Fighter |
Flashlight: Your primary tool for visibility and ghost interaction. Shining it directly at certain ghost types stuns them briefly. Upgraded flashlights have longer battery life and stronger stun effects. Never enter a dark room without it active.
Grabber Tool: The primary item-carrying tool that increases grip strength and carry speed when upgraded. Without it, heavy items slip from your hands after a few seconds. The upgraded version lets you carry items while sprinting without dropping them.
Scanner: Shows item values through walls in a cone-shaped area. Higher upgrades increase range and show ghost positions as red blips. The Scanner drains battery quickly, so use it in bursts rather than leaving it on constantly.
Cart: A wheeled platform that holds multiple small-to-medium items simultaneously. Push it through hallways to the truck for efficient multi-item transport. Carts get stuck on stairs and tight corners, so plan your route through accessible paths.
Flares: Throwable light sources that stun ghosts in a radius when they ignite. Each flare lasts about 30 seconds. Toss them into dark rooms before entering or behind you while fleeing. They can be purchased in bulk between runs.
Location Progression
| Location | Level Range | Key Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Manor House | Medium difficulty | Antique furniture ($100-300), gold items, paintings |
| Arctic Station | Hard difficulty | Research equipment ($150-400), frozen samples, electronics |
| Warehouse | Easy-Medium | Industrial equipment, packaged goods, electronics |
| Hospital | Hard difficulty | Medical equipment ($200-500), pharmaceuticals, diagnostic machines |
| Wizard Tower | Very Hard | Cursed artifacts ($300-800), magical items, rare collectibles |
Manor House: A sprawling Victorian mansion with multiple floors, hidden rooms, and a basement. Rich in high-value antiques but heavily haunted on upper floors. The main hallway provides a straight path to the exit but ghosts patrol it frequently.
Arctic Station: A remote research station with narrow corridors and frozen equipment. Cold mechanics drain stamina faster. The station has compact rooms making ghost encounters more dangerous but item extraction distances are shorter.
Warehouse: A large industrial space with open floor plans and stacked shelving. Good sightlines make ghost tracking easier but items are scattered across a massive area. Forklifts and pallets serve as improvised barriers.
Hospital: A multi-floor medical facility with long dark hallways and patient rooms. The Hospital has the highest concentration of ghosts but also the most valuable medical equipment. Elevators provide shortcuts but make noise that attracts threats.
Wizard Tower: A vertical tower with spiral staircases and magical hazards unique to this location. Cursed items have higher value but cause visual distortions when carried. The tower rewards brave teams who climb to the top for the most valuable artifacts.
Tips That Actually Matter
- Items near the entrance are intentionally low-value — the game rewards pushing deeper into dangerous areas where high-value items spawn.
- When carrying a heavy item with a partner, both players must move in the same direction. If you pull opposite ways, you drop it and waste stamina.
- The truck departure timer is shown on your watch — check it every minute so you don't get stranded. Being left behind means losing everything you're carrying.
- Some items are cursed and cause screen distortions or attract ghosts while you carry them. These items are worth significantly more, so decide if the risk is worth the payout.
- Crouch-walking is silent and ghosts that track by sound won't detect you. Use this in rooms where you hear ghost audio cues.
- Broken items lose 50-80% of their value. Carry fragile items with both hands and avoid sprinting or bumping into walls.
- Between runs, prioritize Scanner range upgrades first — knowing where the valuable items are saves more time than any other upgrade.
- If a ghost is chasing one player, other players can extract items safely. Sometimes sacrificing one team member to distract a ghost is the optimal play.
- Stack small items on the Cart before moving it — three $50 items on one cart trip beats three separate runs.
- Learn the map layouts in easy difficulty first before attempting hard locations. Knowing the exit routes saves lives when ghosts appear.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Grabbing everything you see instead of scanning for high-value items first — filling your truck with $15 chairs when a $400 safe is in the next room.
- Splitting up the team on the first run of a new map — always stick together until you learn the ghost patterns and layout.
- Forgetting to check the departure timer and getting left behind with valuable cargo that is then lost.
- Running with fragile items and smashing them into doorframes, destroying half their value.
- Spending all upgrade money on weapons and combat gear instead of Scanner and carry upgrades — you can't fight most ghosts, but you can outrun them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players can play R.E.P.O.?
R.E.P.O. supports 1-6 players in co-op. The game scales difficulty based on team size — more players means higher quotas and more ghosts. Solo play is possible but significantly harder since heavy items require two people. The sweet spot is 3-4 players.
Is R.E.P.O. like Lethal Company?
R.E.P.O. shares the co-op horror extraction concept with Lethal Company but focuses more on physics-based item carrying and has more varied locations. The ghost mechanics are different — R.E.P.O. ghosts have more distinct behaviors and the item value system is more detailed. Think of it as the next evolution of the formula.
Does R.E.P.O. have progression between runs?
Yes, you earn money from extracted items and spend it on permanent upgrades between runs. Upgrades include better tools, increased carry capacity, longer flashlight batteries, and truck improvements. Your debt also increases over time, creating escalating pressure.
What to Read Next
- Best R.E.P.O. Builds — Detailed breakdowns with gear, stats, and playstyle guides
- R.E.P.O. Tier List — Current meta rankings
- R.E.P.O. Walkthrough — Step-by-step progression from start to endgame
- R.E.P.O. Beginner's Guide — First session essentials
- R.E.P.O. Tips & Tricks — Advanced strategies and hidden mechanics
