Restoration Perks Guide: Unlock Relaxing Boosts

What Are Perks in Restoration?

In Restoration, perks are special passive abilities that enhance your cartridge-cleaning workflow. Unlike traditional RPG skill trees, these perks focus on making your cozy simulation more efficient, rewarding, and visually satisfying. Each perk you unlock provides a tangible benefit, such as speeding up a cleaning action, increasing the shine on a restored cartridge, or unlocking new decorative options for your workshop.

Perks are earned through natural gameplay progression. As you successfully restore cartridges, you earn experience points that contribute to your overall restorer level. Each time you level up, you earn a perk point that can be spent in one of several perk trees. There is no penalty for respeccing, so feel free to experiment with different combinations to find what suits your relaxing style best.

How to Unlock and Spend Perk Points

Unlocking perks in Restoration is a straightforward, stress-free process. You begin with zero perks and earn your first perk point after completing your initial restoration tutorial. From there, every cartridge you fully restore—from tearing the wrapping to the final polish—grants experience. The amount of experience scales with the rarity and condition of the cartridge.

To access the perk menu, press the P key on PC or navigate to the Workshop tab in the main menu. Here, you will see three distinct perk trees: Efficiency, Aesthetics, and Comfort. Each tree contains five perks, with the first perk costing one point and subsequent perks costing two points each. You can fully max out all three trees by reaching the maximum restorer level, which is currently set at level 30.

It is recommended to prioritize perks that match your personal cleaning style. If you enjoy the tactile sensation of peeling stickers, invest in the Efficiency tree. If you love making each cartridge look museum-ready, the Aesthetics tree is for you. The Comfort tree is ideal for players who want to minimize distractions and maximize the cozy atmosphere.

Efficiency Perk Tree Breakdown

The Efficiency tree is designed for players who want to streamline their cleaning process without sacrificing the relaxing nature of the game. These perks reduce the time required for repetitive tasks, allowing you to restore more cartridges in a single session.

• Swift Tear (1 point): Increases the speed of tearing wrapping paper by 20%. This is the first perk you should consider, as wrapping removal is the most frequent action in the game.
• Sticker Sense (2 points): Highlights the edges of stubborn stickers, making them easier to peel without leaving residue. This perk is invaluable for cartridges with multiple layers of old price tags.
• Gentle Scrub (2 points): Reduces the number of scrub strokes needed to remove light grime by 30%. Perfect for cartridges that are only slightly dusty.
• Deep Clean (2 points): Increases the effectiveness of cleaning solutions, allowing you to tackle moderate grime in a single pass instead of two.
• Master Restorer (2 points): Unlocks the ability to restore two cartridges simultaneously in your workshop, effectively doubling your output. This is the capstone perk of the Efficiency tree.

Aesthetics Perk Tree Breakdown

The Aesthetics tree focuses on the visual outcome of your restorations. If you take pride in making each cartridge look brand new, these perks will greatly enhance your satisfaction.

• Polished Finish (1 point): Adds a subtle, glossy sheen to restored cartridges. This effect is purely cosmetic but deeply satisfying to see in your display case.
• Color Boost (2 points): Restores faded labels to their original vibrant colors. This perk is especially useful for older cartridges that have been exposed to sunlight.
• Label Protector (2 points): Applies a virtual protective coating to labels, preventing future scratches during the cleaning process. This ensures your final product is flawless.
• Display Mastery (2 points): Unlocks three new display stand designs for your restored collection, including a rotating pedestal and a backlit shelf.
• Artisan Touch (2 points): Your restored cartridges now have a unique, shimmering aura when viewed in the collection menu. This is the ultimate cosmetic reward for dedicated restorers.

Comfort Perk Tree Breakdown

The Comfort tree is all about enhancing your personal experience. These perks do not directly affect the cartridges but make the game more accessible and relaxing.

• Soothing Sounds (1 point): Adds a layer of ambient workshop sounds, such as a gentle fan hum and soft music, to the existing soundtrack.
• Focused Mode (2 points): Reduces visual clutter in the workshop by dimming non-essential UI elements. Great for players who find the standard interface distracting.
• Break Reminder (2 points): After restoring three cartridges in a row, a gentle notification appears suggesting a short break. This promotes healthy gaming habits.
• Custom Palette (2 points): Unlocks three new color themes for your workshop walls and tools, including a warm sepia tone and a cool mint green.
• Zen Master (2 points): Completely removes the optional timer display from the workshop, allowing you to lose track of time entirely. This is the ultimate perk for immersion.

Best Perk Combinations for Beginners

If you are new to Restoration and unsure where to start, a balanced approach is recommended. Begin by spending your first point on Swift Tear from the Efficiency tree to speed up the most common action. Next, invest in Polished Finish from the Aesthetics tree to immediately see beautiful results. Your third point should go into Soothing Sounds from the Comfort tree to enhance the atmosphere.

This combination ensures you are cleaning faster, seeing prettier results, and enjoying a more relaxing soundscape. From there, you can branch out based on your preferences. If you find sticker peeling tedious, go for Sticker Sense next. If you want your collection to look stunning, prioritize Color Boost.

For more tips on getting started, check out our beginner guide and beginner tips. You can also learn about the overall gameplay in our gameplay overview.

Frequently Asked Questions About Perks

Can I reset my perk points? Yes, you can reset your perk points at any time from the perk menu. There is no cost or penalty, so feel free to experiment.

Do perks affect the game's difficulty? Restoration has no difficulty or failure state. Perks only make the process faster, more beautiful, or more comfortable.

Are there any hidden perks? No, all perks are visible in the three trees. There are no secret perks to discover.

Do perks carry over between save files? No, each save file has its own perk progression. You will need to unlock perks again if you start a new game.

Is there a maximum level for perks? Yes, you can earn a total of 30 perk points, which is exactly enough to unlock every perk in all three trees.

For more information on the game itself, visit the official Restoration page.