In Roadside Research is one those unique games that keep you hooked, kind of life Schedule I. But in this game, you are an alien doing research on humans while running and managing a roadside gas station. But every now and then, since you’re an alien, your customers will get suspicious.
Eventually, agents will arrive to investigate and if you’re caught, you will not only lose Alien Points but also Buckeroo. The entire research operation will be at risk until you decrease the suspicion levels in Roadside Research.
How To Manage Suspicion Levels
Suspicion levels are highlighted to the top right corner of the screen. The meter has a base suspicion level (shown as striped sections) from your alien upgrades, plus temporary spikes from actions like customers spotting photos/videos or failed probes/interrogations.
Keep it green/low to avoid agents (sunglass-wearing investigators); orange/red triggers visits leading to investigation, sabotage, hunts, or game overs (losing Alien Points).
Until your base suspicion levels are brought down, agents will keep visiting the Gas Station which means you’re constantly at risk of getting caught. An instigation leads to playing annoying mini-games. So what can you do? One of the best ways to lower suspicion level is removing whacky upgrades all over your Gas Station.
Enter Construction Mode (toggle to delete items) and remove unneeded alien gadgets, you get your money back. This instantly drops base suspicion.
| Upgrade | Base Suspicion Increase |
|---|---|
| Wacky Inflated Entry Enforcer | +20% |
| Photographic Posing Billboard | +10% |
| Auto Trashcan | +10% |
| Photobooth | +20% |
| Price Propaganda Caster | +20% |
| CCTV | +10% |
| 360° Activity Recording System | +20% |
| Automatic Posterior Investigator | +5% |
| Auto-Prober | +5% |
| Spy Plushies (Alien Toys) | Per purchase |
| Hypnotic Image Projector | Customer behavior |
Additionally, purchase suspicion-reducing upgrades from the Alien upgrades menu in the back room of the Gas Station with Alien Points. For example, the following two upgrades really help:
- Brain Washer Barrier: -30% base suspicion (confuses nearby humans).
- Auto-Brain Washer: -50% base suspicion.
These upgrades counterbalance your more suspicion increasing upgrades.
Tip: Daily sales slightly lower suspicion levels. Every time someone buys an item, you’ll notice a small drop in the suspicion meter.
Prevent Raises & Manage Agents
Survelience of customers is a part of your research but this can often raise suspicion in Roadside Research. Only take pictures and record videos when customers aren’t looking. Failing probes and interrogations will spike suspicion as well.
As for handling agents, you can ignore them and they will wander and leave. But there is more to this:
| Agent Stage | Action |
|---|---|
| Investigation | Ignore: they wander and leave. |
| Sabotage | Laser Gun (stun) → remove sunglasses → Brain Washer (erase memory). |
| Hunt | Prioritize Laser Gun + Brain Washer combo; avoid without them. |
