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

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Spend SURPLUS on upgrades between levels. Health and stamina upgrades plus health packs are the core buys.
Split up to search, regroup to extract. One person scouts while others move the cart.
Learn the map screen. It shows discovered rooms, valuables, and extraction points.
Up to six players can play together. Four to six is the sweet spot for hauling big items.

How a Run Works

Truck: You start in the truck, where you can see the level goal and charge items.
Level: Explore a randomized layout, find valuables, and avoid or deal with monsters.
Extraction points: Activate one, place valuables inside, and watch the counter until you reach the goal. More extraction points open as you go.
Return to the truck once you've extracted enough, then leave.
Shop: Between levels, spend SURPLUS on upgrades, weapons, explosives, tools, health, and energy.
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.