Completing Every Upgrade in Roadside Research

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Roadside Research is a cooperative simulation game where players manage their own gas station while convincing people that they are fully human. The game features aliens sent to study Earth, and players must run a profitable business while staying within the law. You can upgrade your gas station with alien technology to boost profits and expand your operations.

Some upgrades will help you reach your goals, while others are meant to annoy customers and staff. Knowing where to invest your points and money is key to building the best gas station. Below is a full list of upgrades available in Roadside Research.

Alien Upgrades

The main purpose of alien upgrades is to increase your daily Alien Points and provide better insights into your customers. Profits are important, but gathering intelligence on humans is a major part of the game.

Many alien technologies are improvements of previous tools, but some require following a specific upgrade path before unlocking new items. Progressing through these branches is necessary to access certain products.

Here are some of the available alien upgrades:

Technology	Cost (Alien Points)	Notes
Trash Bag	50	Helps collect more trash at once.
Trashcan	300	Encourages customers to dispose of trash properly; needs trash bags for maintenance.
Auto-Trashcan	750	Automatically tallies your Alien Points without manual input.
Hypnotic Image Projector	300	Makes customers accept overpriced items, but raises suspicion.
Spy Plushies	450	Profitable soft toys with high suspicion impact.
Camera	450	Allows photographing customers and unlocks daily tasks.
Photobooth	3,200	Upgraded photo area that completes tasks but increases suspicion.
Wacky Inflated Entry Enforcer	1,250	Inflatable figure increasing customer flow but raising suspicion.
Brain Washer Barrier	2,000	Confuses customers and decreases suspicion.
Scanner 2.0	2,000	Upgrades automatic trash cans to produce more Alien Points.
Video Recorder	2,500	Captures human activity; provides a bonus on first use daily.
Price Propaganda Caster	2,500	Encourages purchases with audio waves, raising suspicion.
Bang-Flash!	4,000	Adds a flash to the camera to boost research points.
CCTV	3,000	Records all activity, increases suspicion.
360 Activity Recording System	120,000	Monitors a larger area, but suspicion remains high.
Prober	10,000	Gun-style device for probing humans and gathering info.
Auto Brain-Washer	10,000	Reduces suspicion by 50%.
Glorp-o-vision	15,000	Improves camera footage quality day and night.
Auto-Probing Device	20,000	Automatically probes humans near sensors, but raises suspicion.
Auto-Prober with Toilet	25,000	Combined probing and toilet stall, with suspicion impact.
Laser Gun	600	Temporarily knocks out humans, staff, or agents.
Loudspeaker	150	Plays annoying noises.
Brain Washer	1,500	Wipes humans’ memories.
Goop Sucker	1,000	Converts goop into energy, boosting speed temporarily.
Automatic Surface Scrubber	3,000	Robot to keep the store clean without manual effort.
Replicator	6,000	Duplicates your products, reducing stock purchases.

Choosing your initial upgrades depends on your preferred style. If you’re comfortable facing agents or have a Laser Gun and Brain Washer, focus on human investigation openly. For more stealth, CCTV and hidden probes are better investments. Fun items like Loudspeakers are mainly for entertainment, and tools like Goop Suckers help with maintaining cleanliness.

If scrubbing off messes becomes tiring, an Automatic Surface Scrubber is essential. The latest updates have introduced more automated options, adding to the fun.

Store Upgrades

The store upgrades focus on making your gas station more profitable. They unlock new products, add better decorations, and allow for store expansions, all aimed at increasing efficiency and sales. Like alien upgrades, some products can only be unlocked by following upgrade trees, and you can’t skip ahead.

When you buy an upgrade, customers will expect to see the new features available. Here are some options:

Upgrade	Cost	What It Unlocks
Pump Expansion	800	Serve more cars at once.
Second Pump	1,100	Add an extra pump to serve more customers simultaneously.
Store Expansion	1,100	Increase store space by moving walls.
Additional Expansion	1,400	Further enlarges your store.
Additional Expansion	1,700	Further enlarges your store.
Larger Expansion	3,000	Maximum store size increase.
Barrel Fuel	400	Enables fueling with barrels.
Pump Payment Terminal	1,100	Allows customers to pump gas themselves via a payment terminal.
Second Payment Terminal	2,500	Adds a second self-service payment terminal.
Self-Checkout	2,000	Customers can serve themselves at checkout.
Cold Drinks	300	Adds a fridge for beverages like Conk, Spirt, or Ice Cream.
Multiple Fridges	600	Larger drink selections such as almond milk or lactose-free varieties.
Soda	900	Packs of soda including Conk, Spirit, and others.
Water & Sparkling Water	1,200	Bottled water options.
Ice Cream	1,000	Various freezer options like Goopka or Onion Ice Cream.
Frozen Fast Food	1,200	Offers burgers and sandwiches.
Frozen Pizza	1,500	Multiple types of frozen pizzas.
Vending Machines	1,500	Coffee, snacks, or soda vending options.
Beer	1,200	Brands like White Whale Beer or Roobeer.
Beer Packs	1,500	Six-packs of beer.
Camping Supplies	300	Butane gas and camping cups.
Car Supplies	600	Motor oil, batteries, or shelves.
Other Supplies	900	Gasoline, chemicals, or canned foods.
Snacks	600	Biscuits, raisins, or snack racks.
Breads	600	Baguettes, croissants, and breakfast items.
Special Items	100	Chinese New Year decorations.
Drugstore Items	1,200	Pills, hand creams, or premium snack racks.
Fresh Produce	1,200	Fruits like apples, melons, and papayas.
Decorative Items	150	Small plants or hanging decorations.
Wall Decor	250	Plants or aesthetic pieces.
Larger Decorations	350	Big plants, clocks, or boom boxes.
Signage & Seating	150-350	Signs, outdoor chairs, ceiling fans, or posters.

Before investing heavily in canned foods and other products, it’s wise to first focus on expanding your gas station. This prevents running out of space quickly and ensures you can stock the new inventory properly. Purchasing your first expansion gives you an idea of your available space before pouring resources into product upgrades.

Decorations such as plants and signs are mainly for aesthetic appeal, but utility items like ATMs serve a practical function. Be cautious about adding fun elements like a dog or cat until your essentials are in place. Seating can encourage customers to stay longer, increasing sales, and automation helps reduce your workload, allowing you to focus on other tasks.