---
title: "R.E.P.O.: Complete Co-op Guide"
game: "R.E.P.O."
game_url: "https://qna.gg/games/r-e-p-o"
author: "Qloud"
author_url: "https://qna.gg/players/Qloud"
topics: ["Co-op"]
summary: "A guide to R.E.P.O., Semiwork's physics-based co-op horror game: how runs work, the extraction loop, spending SURPLUS in the shop, the monsters, and team habits that keep you from losing your quota. Researched…"
url: "https://qna.gg/g/r-e-p-o-complete-co-op-guide-cb95b564"
published: "2026-09-27T16:00:59.444Z"
updated: "2026-09-27T16:00:59.444Z"
source: "QnA.GG"
---

# R.E.P.O.: Complete Co-op Guide

A guide to R.E.P.O., Semiwork's physics-based co-op horror game: how runs work, the extraction loop, spending SURPLUS in the shop, the monsters, and team habits that keep you from losing your quota.

*Researched September 2026 — current as of v0.4.4 (May 25, 2026), after the Cosmetics Update (v0.4.0, May 7, 2026). The developers have said a brand-new level is the main focus of the next update. The game is in Early Access, so things change. Check the linked sources if something differs.*

## Quick Start

1. **The goal is to extract valuables and hit the quota.** Each level gives you a target amount. Find valuables, carry them to the **extraction point**, and meet the goal to move on.
2. **Every bump costs money.** Valuables lose value when they hit walls, floors, or other players. Carry them slowly and use two players for large or fragile items.
3. **Use the C.A.R.T.** Load valuables into the cart and push it. It's much safer than carrying items one at a time.
4. **Monsters hear you.** Proximity voice chat is part of the game, and loud noises (including your voice) draw some monsters. Talk quietly when something is nearby.
5. **Dead teammates can be revived.** Carry the fallen player's head to an extraction point or the truck to bring them back. Don't leave heads behind.
6. **Spend SURPLUS on upgrades between levels.** Health and stamina upgrades plus health packs are the core buys.
7. **Split up to search, regroup to extract.** One person scouts while others move the cart.
8. **Learn the map screen.** It shows discovered rooms, valuables, and extraction points.
9. **Up to six players** can play together. Four to six is the sweet spot for hauling big items.

## How a Run Works

1. **Truck:** You start in the truck, where you can see the level goal and charge items.
2. **Level:** Explore a randomized layout, find valuables, and avoid or deal with monsters.
3. **Extraction points:** Activate one, place valuables inside, and watch the counter until you reach the goal. More extraction points open as you go.
4. **Return to the truck** once you've extracted enough, then leave.
5. **Shop:** Between levels, spend SURPLUS on upgrades, weapons, explosives, tools, health, and energy.
6. **Repeat.** Goals rise and monsters get more dangerous with each level. Failing a goal ends the run.

**King of the Losers** is the arena where eliminated or losing players compete. The Cosmetics Update (v0.4.0) added the purchasable **Scout** and **Hauler** vehicles along with a **Race!** mode that uses them. It also added the **Service Station**, a hub where you spend **Tax Tokens** (earned by collecting boxes) on cosmetics, and it changed tumbling so you can grab walls to tumble-climb.

## Levels

| Level | Notes |
|---|---|
| Headman Manor | Mansion layout with tight corridors, lots of breakables, and fragile items |
| McJannek Station | Icy research station with slippery floors and heavy crates |
| Swiftbroom Academy | Magic academy with vertical rooms and potions and orbs as valuables |
| Museum of Human Art | Added in the Museum Update (v0.2.0, June 2025). Much larger, with vertical zones and laser traps. |

The Monster Update (v0.3.0, late October 2025) also expanded every map with new rooms. The developers have said a new level is next.

## Valuables and Handling

- **Grab physics:** Hold to grab, scroll or move to push and pull. Heavy objects need multiple players or a Strength upgrade.
- **Value drops per hit.** A vase that hits a doorframe can lose a big chunk of its value, and fragile items can break entirely.
- **Carry in the cart for long trips.** The C.A.R.T. protects items and moves several at once. A **Pocket C.A.R.T.** is a smaller portable version.
- **Big items (pianos, statues, safes):** Plan the route first, open doors ahead of time, and clear monsters before moving.
- **Don't throw valuables at monsters.** Use cheap props as distractions or improvised weapons instead.

## The Shop

Items and upgrades cost **SURPLUS**, the money left over after you meet the goal. Prices rise as you progress.

### Upgrades (permanent for the run)

| Upgrade | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Health | Survive one more hit. Buy early. |
| Stamina | Sprint away from monsters. Very high value. |
| Strength | Carry heavier items alone |
| Grab Range | Pick things up from further away |
| Sprint Speed | Outrun chasers |
| Extra Jump | Mobility across gaps and obstacles |
| Tumble Launch | Launch yourself while tumbling |
| Map Player Count | See teammates on the map |

### Consumables and tools

- **Health packs** in several sizes. Heal teammates too.
- **Energy crystals** recharge rechargeable items at the truck's charging station.
- **Weapons:** melee (such as bats, frying pans, sledgehammers, swords, and an inflatable hammer) and guns (such as a pistol, shotgun, and tranq gun).
- **Explosives and traps:** grenades and mines for crowds or big monsters.
- **Drones:** helper drones that assist with carrying, healing, or recharging.
- **Cosmetics Update additions:** Semibot Walkies (communication), the **Scout** and **Hauler** vehicles, the **Defibro** revive item, a **Leaf Blower** (pushes back monsters and items), and **Roll**, **Zero Gravity**, and **Void** staffs. The charging station's capacity was also expanded.

Shop priorities early on: Health and Stamina upgrades first, then health packs, then one weapon for the team. Save explosives for later levels.

## Monsters

Monsters range from harmless-until-provoked to lethal chasers. Many have a specific trigger, and learning it matters more than fighting.

| Monster | Behavior | How to deal with it |
|---|---|---|
| Gnomes | Small swarm that smashes valuables | Kill them with melee or keep them away from loot |
| Duck | Cute and harmless until provoked, then extremely dangerous | Don't grab or hit it |
| Clown | Big, loud, lethal | Run, break line of sight, and use doors |
| Bella (Monster Update) | Ghost child on a tricycle who goes berserk after ringing her bell three times if you touch her or block her | Stay out of her path |
| Elsa (Monster Update) | Calm dog you can pet. If it gets hurt, it turns into an aggressive "Buff Doge". | Don't let teammates or other monsters hit it |
| Birthday Boy (Monster Update) | Tame until you pop one of the balloons it leaves around, then it slaps you repeatedly | Leave the balloons alone |
| Tick (Monster Update) | Tiny and harmless until you grab it | Don't grab it |
| Ooly (Monster Update) | Alien with a spotlight; step into the light and it swoops down for heavy damage | Walk around the light |
| Gambit (Monster Update) | Grabs a player and forces a wheel spin that can hurt or reward you | Keep your distance if you're low on health |
| Loom (Monster Update) | Slow, but claps to create a shockwave that can kill in one hit | Never let it get close; keep moving |
| Cleanup Crew (Monster Update) | Throws its head, which bounces and explodes; its body spikes hurt too | Break line of sight after the throw |
| Heart Hugger (Monster Update) | Harmless-looking, but sprays pink mist that turns into attacking hearts | Back out of the mist |
| Head Grabber (Monster Update) | Hunts dead players' heads and gets faster and more dangerous after stealing one | Recover teammates' heads quickly |

The Monster Update added these 10 new enemies in total. Enemies scale with level, so later levels spawn more dangerous monsters and more of them.

General rules:
- **Hide instead of fight** when you don't know a monster yet.
- **Close doors** behind you. Many monsters are slowed by doors.
- **Crouch and stay quiet** near sound-sensitive monsters.
- **Kill weak monsters for orbs.** Killed enemies drop valuable orbs you can extract.

## Team Roles

| Role | Job |
|---|---|
| Scout | Explore ahead, mark valuables and threats, call routes |
| Hauler | Pushes the C.A.R.T. and moves heavy items (needs the Strength upgrade) |
| Guard | Carries a weapon, clears or distracts monsters |
| Medic | Holds health packs and the Defibro, and brings heads back |

## Common Mistakes to Avoid

- **Sprinting while carrying fragile valuables** and slamming them into doorframes.
- **Shouting in voice chat** near sound-sensitive monsters.
- **Leaving dead teammates' heads** in the level.
- **Spending all your SURPLUS on weapons** instead of health and stamina.
- **Everyone going the same direction.** Search in pairs.
- **Poking harmless-looking monsters** (duck, dog, tick, balloons).
- **Waiting too long** to head to extraction once you're close to the goal.

## Advanced Tips

- **Scout rooms before bringing the cart.** Clear the path first.
- **Upgrade Strength on one hauler** so they can carry big items solo.
- **Stack upgrades on one player** if they're the best at surviving. Upgrades are per player.
- **Use drones** to cover weaknesses, such as a feather drone for fragile items or an indestructible drone for high-value pieces.
- **On the Museum, watch for laser traps** before you push a cart through a new hallway.
- **Late levels are about survival.** Once goals get high, extracting the biggest items safely beats clearing every room.

## FAQ

**How many players can play R.E.P.O.?**
Up to six. Solo is possible but much harder.

**How do I revive a teammate?**
Carry their head to an extraction point or the truck. The Defibro (from the Cosmetics Update) is another revive option.

**What should I buy first in the shop?**
Health and Stamina upgrades, then health packs.

**What's the newest content?**
The Cosmetics Update (v0.4.0, May 7, 2026) with 500+ cosmetic parts, the Service Station cosmetics hub, the Race! mode, vehicles, and new staffs. The latest patch is v0.4.4 (May 25, 2026). A June 5, 2026 devlog said a brand-new level is the main focus of the next update, with development pacing slowing as the team also prepares for 1.0.

**Why do my valuables keep losing value?**
Every impact reduces value. Carry slowly, use the cart, and avoid monsters that smash items.

**Is R.E.P.O. still in Early Access?**
Yes. It launched in Early Access on February 26, 2025.

## Sources

- [R.E.P.O. Steam news](https://steamcommunity.com/app/3241660/allnews/)
- [R.E.P.O. on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R.E.P.O.)
- [Destructoid: R.E.P.O. Cosmetics Update patch notes](https://www.destructoid.com/r-e-p-o-cosmetics-update-patch-notes/)
- [GameDropDaily: R.E.P.O. latest updates](https://gamedropdaily.com/updates/r-e-p-o/)
- [Steam: R.E.P.O. v0.2.0 The Museum Update](https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/3241660/view/544486109101430167)
- [Destructoid: R.E.P.O. v0.3.0 Monster Update patch notes](https://www.destructoid.com/r-e-p-o-v0-3-0-monster-update-full-patch-notes-listed/)
- [Gamepressure: All new monsters in the Monster Update](https://www.gamepressure.com/newsroom/meet-all-new-monsters-in-repo-from-the-latest-update-the-birthday/zf8887)