Review: R.E.P.O. the Horror Game
Image Credit: semiwork, R.E.P.O.
So, R.E.P.O. drops you into an abandoned facility with one goal: steal enough junk to pay off the Taxman before he deletes your save file. It’s a game about financial responsibility, except instead of credit card debt, you’re dodging grotesque monsters and trying not to get crushed by an extraction platform. Honestly, same thing.
Gameplay – A Job You’ll Probably Get Fired From
If you’ve played Lethal Company, you’ll feel right at home here. You and up to five other poor souls load up a cart with valuables, all while navigating a terrifying maze of creatures that look like they crawled out of your sleep paralysis episodes. There’s no set strategy—just panic, teamwork, and questionable decision-making.
The physics-based carrying system is where the real magic happens. Heavy objects actually feel heavy, which means half the challenge is just trying to awkwardly shove a grand piano into a cart while your friends scream at you to hurry up. It’s equal parts horror and slapstick comedy.
Oh, and you can talk to each other using text-to-speech. That alone guarantees a near-endless supply of unhinged moments.
Monsters – Creative, Terrifying, and Annoying (In a Good Way?)
The creatures in R.E.P.O. are well-designed, ranging from "mildly creepy" to "I’m never sleeping again." Some lurk in the shadows, others chase you down, and a few exist solely to ruin your plans, like a toddler that just learned how to throw things. You can actually fight back by purchasing weapons, which is a nice change from just running and screaming.
The best part? Every monster is unique. One moment you’re avoiding a floating abomination, the next you’re getting snitched on by a gnome. There’s never a dull moment, unless you count the moment before something horrifying happens.
The Extraction Process – A Test of Intelligence (Or Lack Thereof)
Once you’ve hit your quota, it’s time to extract. This involves carefully rolling your cart onto a platform while praying that no one in your team does something stupid. There’s a three-second countdown before the platform activates, meaning if you’re still standing on it, you get turned into modern art.
After that, you need to sprint back to the truck and finalize the escape. Simple, right? Not when everything in the building suddenly decides it wants a piece of you.
The Downsides – Where’s the Matchmaking?
The biggest issue right now? No public matchmaking. If you don’t have friends to play with, you’re either going solo (which is terrifying) or finding a group through Discord. It’s not a deal-breaker, but an in-game lobby system would make this game even better.
Also, a few small bugs pop up here and there, but nothing that completely ruins the experience. Just some classic Early Access jank.
Final Verdict – Steal, Survive, Repeat
R.E.P.O. is one of the best physics-based horror games out right now. It combines smart mechanics, hilarious physics, and genuinely terrifying moments in a way that feels fresh. It’s already great, and if matchmaking gets added, it might just be one of the best co-op horror games of the year.
Score: 9/10
Just don’t stand on the extraction platform…
