Dread
Atmospheric horror overhaul for R.E.P.O. Ambient dread, scarier monsters, and a tension system.
About this mod Author’s original text
Dread
Atmospheric horror overhaul for R.E.P.O. Seven runtime systems that layer ambient dread, scarier monsters, real-time proximity tension, psychotic episodes, automated error reporting, and AI-assisted debugging.
What's new (1.6.0)
- Error reporting: default on for new installs; one-time in-game privacy prompt before any data is sent (turn off in prompt, cfg, or REPOConfig)
- Stability: cleaner mod file layout, safer system startup, better audio on low pitch, fewer stub-build crashes
- Hosts: monster changes still host-only; clients without Dread can join
Full notes: CHANGELOG.md
Features
Ambient Audio: weighted random sounds spawn 5-15m around you every 60-180s. Pitch randomized 0.5x-1.5x. Fully spatialized.
| Sound | Rarity |
|-------|--------|
| Scraping | Common |
| Footsteps | Common |
| Breathing | Uncommon |
| Whisper | Rare |
Monster Overhaul: enemy speed +1.2x, detection range +1.5x, audio pitch lowered and spatialized. Works on modded enemies.
Tension System: scans for danger every 0.5s. Adrenaline reduces sprint drain near enemies. Panic sprint gives a speed burst. Fake footsteps play behind you. Breath sounds on low stamina.
Psychotic Break: When everyone is dead and you're alone, scared, and hiding in the dark, a terrifying 20-second episode can trigger. Complete with darkness, flickering shadows, circling phantom footsteps, and bone-chilling screams.
QOL: crouch speed +30%.
Installation
Mod Manager (recommended): Search Dread under R.E.P.O. in r2modman or Mod Manager.
Manual: Download, extract into BepInEx/plugins/elytraking-Dread. Requires BepInEx 5.4.2100+. No other dependencies.
Multiplayer
Monster changes are host-authoritative. Audio, tension, and psychotic breaks are client-local. Players without Dread can join normally.
| Feature | Who Needs It |
|---------|-------------|
| Monster speed, detection | Host only |
| Everything else | Per client |
Configuration
Generated at BepInEx/config/elytraking.dread.cfg on first launch. Compatible with REPOConfig for live editing.
REPOConfig sliders: Dread includes a temporary label workaround when REPOConfig + MenuLib are installed (names on the left, compact rows). Styling may differ from bool toggles; upstream fix in REPOConfig/MenuLib is preferred. Without REPOConfig, or if labels look wrong, edit the cfg file directly. Details: repo-config-slider-labels-investigation.md.
[1. Audio Dread]
Enabled = true
Frequency = 1.0
Volume = 0.4
[2. Monster Overhaul]
AggressionEnabled = true
AudioEnabled = true
[3. Tension]
AdrenalineEnabled = true
PanicSprintEnabled = true
LowStaminaSoundEnabled = true
FakeFootstepsEnabled = true
[4. Psychotic Break]
PsychoticBreakEnabled = true
PsychoticBreakTriggerChance = 0.01
PsychoticBreakDuration = 20
PsychoticBreakOncePerMatch = true
[5. QOL]
CrouchSpeedBoost = true
[6. Compatibility]
CompatibilityMode = false
[7. Error Reporting]
ErrorReportingEnabled = true # default on for new cfg; first-run prompt on first gameplay level
ErrorReportingPromptShown = false
[8. Debug Overlay]
DebugOverlayEnabled = false
[9. Debug Server]
DebugServerEnabled = false
DebugServerPort = 15432
[10. Logging]
LogLevel = Debug
[11. Testing]
Crash Game = false
Compatibility
Dread only requires BepInEx. It works with many popular mods (Mimic, Wesleys Enemies, MoreUpgrades, REPOConfig), but cannot guarantee compatibility with every mod because Harmony patches can overlap.
If something breaks:
- Enable Compatibility mode (6. Compatibility) for ambient audio only
- Turn off Error reporting in cfg, REPOConfig, or the first-run prompt if you do not want crash telemetry
- Keep Debug console guard on if MenuLib/REPOConfig spams console errors
Full matrix, Proton DLL notes, and test checklist: mod-compatibility.md
Changelog
Install & use Install: BepInEx plugin
- The archive from playbuff is the mod itself — usually a BepInEx plugin (a .dll or a plugin folder once unzipped).
- Recommended: use a community mod manager (such as r2modman) — pick this game, import the mod, and the manager sets up BepInEx and its dependencies for you.
- Manual route: install the BepInEx loader in the game folder, then drop the unzipped .dll or plugin folder into BepInEx/plugins/.
- Launch the game — the BepInEx console logs every plugin it loads; seeing this mod in the log means it is installed.
Mods with listed dependencies need those installed too, or they will not load. Options are usually changed in-game or in the plugin's config file.
Install these first, or the mod will not work: