Roadside Research

What Is Roadside Research?

Roadside Research is a 1–4 player co-op gas station simulator where you run a roadside stop—fuel pumps,
shelves, food, and customer service—but the real mission is to study humans while disguised as one of them.

It mixes the satisfying “work sim” loop (stock, scan, serve, clean, manage) with a social-stealth layer: act too weird and you
draw suspicion. If suspicion gets high, agents may show up to investigate.

Official tagline-style premise (Steam): a co-op gas station sim… except you’re aliens, and undercover.

Core Gameplay Loop

Suspicion & Consequences

The tension comes from staying believable. Do too many un-humanlike actions and your cover starts to slip.
When suspicion spikes, you may face inspections—forcing you to tighten teamwork, fix mistakes, and play it cool.

Co-op Experience

In co-op, roles naturally form:

• Front-of-house: customer service, checkout, keeping lines moving.
• Stock & logistics: restocking, organizing, keeping essentials available.
• Research specialist: quietly gathering intel while others cover.
• Fixer: handling emergencies when suspicion rises or the station falls behind.

The best runs feel like controlled chaos: everyone multitasking, communicating, and improvising to keep the station “normal.”

Progression & Replay Value

Roadside Research is designed for repeated sessions: each shift encourages you to optimize routines,
coordinate faster, and manage bigger crowds while still completing research goals.

• Skill growth (player-driven): you get better at station flow, task priority, and teamwork.
• Rising pressure: busier moments test how well you can stay organized and stay “human.”
• Comedy + tension: funny situations happen naturally when you’re trying not to look suspicious.

Tips for New Players

• Split roles early: one person stocking, one serving, one researching (rotate as needed).
• Keep shelves “safe”: low stock creates chaos that makes mistakes—and suspicion—more likely.
• Use distractions: if agents are around, keep someone fully focused on acting normal.
• Prioritize bottlenecks: lines/checkout and empty essentials cause the biggest spiral.