Deathloop is a complicated game to explain. The main character, Colt, wakes up on a beach and is eventually greeted by Julianna who seems to be in charge of this island. He finds out that he is stuck in a time loop and needs to get rid of the people that run Blackreef in order to break free and escape. The only way he can think to do that is to kill Julianna and the other Visionaries.
Colt must do this in one day’s time as after that everything resets. There are things that carry over between runs so, to put it bluntly, this is a roguelite first-person shooter. Again, there’s a lot to this complex game, so you presumably need as many tips and tricks as possible in order to make sense of this previously PS5 console exclusive.
Updated September 19, 2022 by Sam Reaves: Deathloop is celebrating its one-year anniversary with a brand-new update and release on Xbox consoles. Deathloop has had quite a few updates and enhancements in the time since its release, meaning new players will get the best experience possible with new accessibility features and a photo mode to go along with it. Fans familiar with Arkane Studio's Prey and Dishonored series will feel right at home on the island of Blackreef and have a leg up over traditional FPS players. As you prepare to enter the loop and take on the Visionaries, you'll need to be equipped, so you can hit the ground running.
10 Expect To Loop Multiple Times
Even if you are coming back to Deathloop for a second or third time, there isn't yet a way to complete the game in a single run. You'll need to loop through the same day multiple times to get information, visionary locations, upgrades, and storylines set up to enable access to more areas. Since you're repeating the same day, you might as well take your time, right?
Deathloop focuses on using roguelite elements to enhance every new day and loop, so you'll want to find residuum, the permanent upgrade currency, to make the most of each loop. Whether you sleep or are killed, expect to run through loops often.
9 Online Is Here, But Not Required
The online is not set up where players have to always be online. There are two ways where online comes into play. If you are set to be online, then other players can randomly invade your game as Julianna. You can also choose Julianna as a separate mode from the main menu to then do the same thing: invade other people's games. This is very similar to the Invasion function found in Sniper Elite 5.
This multiplayer aspect heightens the thrill and ingenuity that you will have to find every new run. Make sure to use Performance Mode while playing online. Every frame counts in a duel. It should be noted that even if players are online, they can disable this function altogether.
8 Hack The Planet
One of the earliest tools given to Cole is a hacking device known as the Hackamajig. This puppy can hack into radio signals to distract enemies. It can be used to hack into cameras or turrets to use them against enemies. It can also do the obvious like open doors.
Turrets are really Colt’s best friend in the game, as you can hack it for control and carry it around with you, and deploy it where you wish. Make sure to carry one with you when going into a dicey situation. In the right situation, it can be much more powerful than a single bullet.
7 Try To Favor Stealth Over Chaos
One of the best things about the game is how open it is for character experimentation. At the beginning of Deathloop, there is a tutorial that says the game supports going in guns blazing, which is true - however, there should be an asterisk to that message.
Beginning gear for Colt is too weak to support that kind of mentality. Be smart instead and use stealth. Once enough power and gear have been built up, then players can become Rambo. Also, don’t underestimate the power of a good kick.
6 There Is More Than One Pathway To Success
One loop, you may be able to catch two visionaries in the same space at the same time. Removing them from the equation may inch you closer to your goal of eliminating all of them in a day, but every action you do has a consequence. Each consequence may open up a pathway to eliminating the same visionaries in different ways or other visionaries in new ways.
Maybe a visionary needs to have an "accident" with fireworks, while another needs to take a brief swim. Any of these actions could scare a visionary to meet with another or have them take a new course of action you haven't seen before. Arkane are experts at letting you forge your own path. With all the weapon and power variety at your fingertips, there is more than one way to play.
5 Don’t Bother Looking Up Codes Online
There are various codes in the game that can help unlock doors to find secret items and information. This is pretty standard stuff for a stealth game and is a frequent-use item in developer Arkane's playbook.
The big difference here is that a lot of these codes are randomly generated in the game. This means that no game will be the same as another, and codes will need to be learned rather than shared online. Don’t bother looking up codes for a shortcut, as can be standard practice for guide hunters. You'll need to perform the right actions, listen to the right people, and find the right clues to get the codes that you'll need.
4 Killing Visionaries Is Good, But So Is Gathering Info
The main hook of this game is trying to kill all of the Visionaries, plus Julianna, in a single day which is divided into four sections. Killing them repeatedly will earn players Slabs and Slab upgrades to then feed into the originals.
There is more to this game than killing though — information is key. Every day has a set amount of objectives for Colt. While looking for an office filled with secret documents may not sound as exciting as performing the perfect kill, getting intel is crucial to beating the game - and to finding some interesting side stories and hidden areas.
3 What To Spend Residuum On
The game does not truly begin until players kill Winjie and take her ability to suck Residuum out of people and items. This will allow players to carry things over between runs. It’s a slow start but eventually, the arsenal for gamers will become godlike if they play their cards right.
The first thing players should use Residuum on is Slabs like Shift and Nexus. After that, beef up Colt with some good Trinkets like ones that recharge health and Slab energy. Weapons should always be the last thing on the list but are still very important.
2 Always Look For Fiz-Pops
Health can be recharged with good Trinkets, but they are hard to come by. Fiz-Pops are more plentiful in levels, but they can be hard to see. If you take damage in an encounter, you should always heal if there are some of these items around — even if it is only a scratch.
If players don’t need to heal, they should make a note of where these stashes can be found for future runs or when they need it. Fiz-Pop placement shouldn’t be different between each new day. This will be a long battle before the loop closes and keeping up health is a must.
1 Headphones Are A Must
In order to get the best experience out of the game, headphones (or closed captions) are a must. There is always so much dialogue going on in the levels. Random NPC chatter may not seem crucial at first, but sometimes even the weirdest of comments can point players in the right direction.
Sound will also help players sneak around levels easier as they can hear footsteps. The sound design in the game is great enough to allow this, with 3D audio being present on supported headphones. This is an essential tip for any stealth game out there.