Hey everyone! I’m back with another game review! As someone who enjoys exploring different gaming styles, I always try to review games based on how well they cater to both casual and hardcore players. This time, I’ll be sharing my experience with R.E.P.O. , a co-op horror game that just released on February 26, 2025.
⋆˚࿔About R.E.P.O.⋆˚࿔
R.E.P.O. is a physics-based co-op horror game for up to six players, where you take on the role of adorable little robots tasked with recovering valuable items while avoiding various monsters. The goal is to meet a set quota of collected items—without breaking anything! Since the game has physics-based mechanics, even a small bump can reduce an item’s value, making every move count.
⋆˚࿔The Good⋆˚࿔
One of the most charming aspects of R.E.P.O. are the robot characters. They’re ridiculously cute, and you can customize their colors while waiting in the loading screen. Though customization is currently limited, it's a fun touch that adds some personality.
The game also features proximity chat, which means the further you are from your teammates, the harder it is to hear them. Additionally, there’s a text-to-speech system that lets the little robots "talk," and it's both hilarious and adorable to watch them communicate this way.
Another positive is that the developers seem active in the community, listening to feedback and planning future content updates. The game is currently in early access, with an expected development period of 6–12 months, after which the price is expected to increase.
From my experience, R.E.P.O. runs very smoothly, and the physics mechanics feel polished. The movement of the little robots is fluid, and interacting with items—whether picking them up, moving them, or placing them—feels natural without any noticeable hiccups. I haven’t encountered any major performance issues or bugs that hinder game play, which is a strong plus for an early access game.
The sound design and music, however, feel a bit lackluster. At times, there is eerie silence, which works well for the atmosphere, but when music does play, it often seems disconnected from the game play, as if it's meant to build suspense without a clear payoff. Some monster audio cues are effective, while others feel underwhelming.
One notable mechanic is the lack of a time limit in levels. You can take as long as needed to meet your quota, though the longer you stay, the more monsters appear, particularly the smaller ones like gnomes.
⋆˚࿔Difficulty & Learning Curve⋆˚࿔
One of R.E.P.O.'s strengths is how easy it is for new players to jump in. There is a tutorial to help introduce the mechanics, but even without it, the game is intuitive enough to learn on the go. The difficulty progression is well-balanced—levels start out simple but become more complex as you advance, adding a nice challenge without feeling overwhelming.
⋆˚࿔Multiplayer & Teamwork⋆˚࿔
R.E.P.O. is heavily reliant on teamwork, making multiplayer a key aspect of the experience. You can play with up to six people, and having more players is definitely beneficial. While some smaller items can be carried solo, heavier objects require multiple people to transport, reinforcing the need for cooperation.
Adding to the challenge, items can lose value or break if dropped or bumped into something. Monsters can also target your loot, damaging or destroying items, which adds another layer of strategy.
When turning in items, they must be placed perfectly within a designated square stamper—if anything is even slightly outside the square, the stamper will crush it, causing you to lose money.
⋆˚࿔Progression & Upgrades⋆˚࿔
Successfully completing levels rewards you with currency that can be used to purchase upgrades and weapons. These upgrades enhance future runs, adding a sense of progression and giving players a reason to keep playing. While I haven’t explored all the upgrade options yet, it's a nice incentive to continue improving efficiency.
⋆˚࿔The Not-So-Good⋆˚࿔
While R.E.P.O. has a fun premise, the game play quickly becomes repetitive. After a few rounds, the lack of variety in level layouts and enemy encounters makes things feel monotonous.
The monsters themselves feel underwhelming. Unlike other horror games where enemies create a lingering sense of dread, R.E.P.O.'s creatures don’t feel as dynamic or threatening. For example, one monster is blind and tracks players using sound, but in my experience, it didn’t provide enough audio cues before attacking—I would simply turn around and suddenly be dead. Initially, this was amusing, but over time, it became frustrating. Some monsters also spawn too suddenly, leaving little to no room for reaction.
I can’t help but compare R.E.P.O. to Lethal Company, which has a similar premise of collecting items while avoiding monsters. What makes Lethal Company stand out is its creatures' ability to create a persistent sense of fear—they make noises, give warnings, and force players to strategize. In contrast, R.E.P.O.'s enemies feel more like sudden obstacles rather than threats that build tension.
This is a personal nitpick, but I believe the immersion in R.E.P.O. would improve if the monsters had more personality, lore, or behaviors that made them feel "alive." Lethal Company achieves this by allowing players to scan creatures and learn about them, which enhances the immersive experience.
The single-player mode is available for those who prefer to play solo, but it doesn’t feel as engaging as the co-op experience. Since some items require multiple players to carry, solo players must adapt by collecting smaller objects to meet their quota. Additionally, without online matchmaking, finding a group to play with can be a challenge.
⋆˚࿔Final Thoughts⋆˚࿔
Overall, R.E.P.O. is a fun and silly game to play with friends, especially if you enjoy lighthearted horror with physics-based mechanics. However, it lacks the depth and variety needed to keep players engaged long-term. The cute robots, proximity chat, and teamwork elements are entertaining, but the repetitive game play and underwhelming enemy design hold it back.
If the developers introduce more variety, improve enemy mechanics, and enhance the horror elements, R.E.P.O. has the potential to be something special.
Would I recommend it? Yes, but with reservations. If you're looking for a casual, cooperative horror game to play with friends, it's worth trying. However, don’t expect a deeply terrifying experience—at least not yet. Since the game is still in early access, I hope to see continued improvements, including new locations and mechanics. R.E.P.O. has great potential and could eventually stand alongside beloved classics like Lethal Company.
I also appreciate how R.E.P.O. caters to both casual and hardcore players. You can simply have fun goofing around with friends, or you can challenge yourself with speed runs and higher-level strategies. It’s a solid game that, with further development, could become a standout title in its genre!
*Since the game is still in early access, there will be updated blog reviews as those changes happen or when the game is deemed final. This post is up to date as of March 9th, 2025*
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