That Which Remains investigation tools serve as your primary defense and research gear when entering contamination zones. In this sci-fi ghost-hunting horror extraction sim from developer Remaining Games and publisher Interdimensional Games Inc, your squad of Relics relies on specialized gear to locate Neurospatial Parasitic Entities, identify their traits, and capture their liquefied trauma (Enticine) to meet daily quotas.
According to official game specifications, the Early Access version includes approximately 18 investigation tools. While the full roster expands through base crafting and updates, both developer documentation and early beta playtests outline key equipment categories used to gather evidence and survive excursions.
Confirmed Investigation Tools and Equipment
The tools available in That Which Remains balance detection, communication, and containment. You carry a limited inventory during excursions, meaning players must coordinate loadouts to cover environmental readings, audio analysis, and physical extraction.
| Tool / Item | Function and In-Game Role | Primary Source |
|---|---|---|
| Spirit Box | Facilitates two-way speech with entities, trapped victims, and deceased teammates via V.O.I.C.E. technology. | Steam Store Page / Developer Overview |
| Thermometer / Temp Sensor | Measures ambient temperature in Celsius to identify anomalous cold spots or sudden heat spikes caused by entities. | Early Beta Gameplay / Steam Store Page |
| Camera / Night Vision Camera | Captures photographic evidence for XP, reveals ghost orbs, and tracks manifestations in pitch-black areas. | Early Beta Gameplay / Steam Store Page |
| EMF Detector | Tracks anomalous electromagnetic frequency signals emitted by entity interactions. | Steam Store Page / Official Announcement |
| Walkie-Talkie | Enables long-range communication across the map, though nearby entities can hear transmissions. | Steam Store Page / Official Announcement |
| Flashlight | Provides standard directional illumination across unpowered buildings, basements, and contamination zones. | Early Beta Gameplay |
| Traps & Capture Tool | Deployed after confirming entity identity to extract Enticine directly from the entity. | Steam Store Page |
How Detection Tools Interact with Entities
Investigation tools function alongside distinct entity evidence types. Entities disrupt their surrounding environment by altering temperatures, causing physical disturbances, manipulating lights, and producing invisible anomalies.
Beta gameplay shows that temperature monitoring is often the first step in pinpointing an entity's favorite room. Normal indoor environments register steady ambient temperatures, while entity-occupied rooms can plunge dramatically to freezing levels (such as dropping from over 20°C down to near-freezing or negative values).
The Spirit Box integrates the developer's V.O.I.C.E. recognition system. Players speak directly through their microphone to ask questions regarding the entity's state, presence, or intent. Unlike standard ghost-hunting titles, the Spirit Box in That Which Remains also allows surviving players to communicate with fallen Relics who died earlier in the mission.
Cameras serve dual purposes: documenting visual evidence and navigating darkness. Visual phenomena like ghost orbs remain invisible to the naked eye and require a camera lens to confirm. Taking clean photographs of manifestations, disturbed items, and anomalous phenomena awards evidence points and player experience upon completing an excursion.
Managing Inventory and Base Crafting
You cannot carry every tool at once. Inventory space is restricted, requiring you to drop utility items or coordinate who carries detection devices versus capture equipment. If a player dies during an excursion, their carried items remain behind at the location unless recovered.
Between excursions, players return to the central base hub. Investigation tools are managed through two main base progression systems:
- Energy Credits: Earned by completing excursions and securing evidence. These credits are spent at base recycling and crafting stations to assemble new investigation tools.
- Base Power & Upgrades: Excess Enticine extracted beyond your daily quota powers the base. Spending base power unlocks higher tier equipment, base room improvements, and personal character upgrades as you level up.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many investigation tools are in That Which Remains?
The Early Access build features approximately 18 investigation tools, with additional equipment planned for future narrative and zone updates.
Can entities hear you when you use communication tools?
Yes. Official developer details confirm that entities listen to both proximity voice chat and walkie-talkie chatter. Making noise or speaking openly can provoke hostile reactions, door slams, object throwing, or physical manifestations.
How do you unlock the Capture Tool and advanced gear?
Basic tools can be brought on initial runs, while advanced gear and traps are crafted at the base hub using Energy Credits earned from evidence collection, or unlocked by upgrading the base using surplus Enticine.
