PEAK is not your typical multiplayer co-op experience. Developed by Landcrab and published by Aggro Crab and Landfall, it’s a physics-driven climbing survival game that drops you into the shoes of a stranded nature scout. Your one goal? Escape the island by reaching the summit of a deadly mountain. Whether you’re playing solo or with friends, the climb is brutal, hilarious, and full of surprises. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the game, from gameplay fundamentals and item rarities to hidden achievements and essential climbing strategies.

Part 1: What You Actually Do in PEAK

Part 2: How Many People Can Play PEAK?

Part 3: How Much Does PEAK Cost on Steam?

Part 4: How to Play PEAK: Beginner Tips and Optimization

Part 5: PEAK Item Guide

Part 6: PEAK Achievement Guide: How to Earn Every Badge in PEAK

Part 1: What You Actually Do in PEAK

At its core, PEAK is about vertical exploration and cooperation. The gameplay loop is deceptively simple: climb the mountain. However, the journey is filled with challenges like poisonous berries, hidden traps, shifting terrain, injuries, freezing temperatures, and scarce resources.

Here’s a breakdown of typical activities:

• Climbing using ropes, pitons, and makeshift traversal tools.
• Surviving by eating, healing, and managing stamina in real-time.
• Scavenging for items like food, lanterns, and even magical artifacts.
• Reviving teammates using ancient statues or rare items.
• Dodging hazards such as explosive plants, slippery terrain, or bee swarms.
• Unlocking achievements that double as character customization unlocks.

Every climb is procedurally generated and refreshes daily, ensuring that no two expeditions are the same. In other words, your survival instincts and teamwork matter more than memorization.

Part 2: How Many People Can Play PEAK?

PEAK supports up to 4 players in co-op mode. Multiplayer is invite-only and Steam-based, meaning you’ll need to have friends added to your Steam account to play together. It’s perfect for chaotic fun with a close-knit group, though solo play is also possible and comes with its own unique tension, especially since you can’t rely on others to revive you.

Multiplayer features:

• Proximity chat, for immersion and coordination.
• Shared resources and progress, meaning collaboration is key.
• Badges and achievements that reflect your group's accomplishments.

It’s worth noting that multiplayer adds both advantages (revives, shared knowledge) and chaos (pushing each other off cliffs, whether intentional or not).

Part 3: How Much Does PEAK Cost on Steam?

As of now, PEAK is priced at $7.99 USD on Steam. It is a paid title with no free trial version available. Occasionally, introductory discounts may drop the price, such as the 38% off launch promo that brought it down to $4.95. Keep an eye on Steam sales if you're looking to save.

Despite its modest price, the game offers strong value due to its replayability, daily map changes, and sheer volume of collectible items and achievements. Given its "Very Positive" user rating, PEAK is well worth the investment for fans of indie survival games.

Part 4: How to Play PEAK: Beginner Tips and Optimization

Surviving in PEAK is not just about skill; it’s about preparation. At the start of each expedition, you crash-land with almost nothing. From there, you must scavenge, climb, and strategize your way to the summit. Let’s break down the basics:

Core Gameplay Mechanics:

• Stamina is Everything: Every movement drains it. Hunger reduces your maximum reserve. Replenishing it through food or rest is vital.
• Heat and Cold: Stay near flames or use restorative items to avoid frostbite.
• Inventory Management: You only have limited space. Prioritize survival tools and food.
• Revival System: Use statues to revive teammates. Expect them to return slightly weakened.
• Permadeath is Real: Once you’re unconscious and alone, it’s game over unless you brought revival items.

Pro Tip—Use LagoFast for Smooth Gameplay

PEAK is highly physics-dependent and latency-sensitive. If you’re experiencing input lag, rubberbanding, or disconnections—especially when playing with international friends—LagoFast is an essential tool to optimize your connection and elevate your gameplay. Beyond network stability, LagoFast also lets you explore and play mod-supported versions of PEAK and many other popular games, unlocking deeper customization and more fun. By intelligently routing your connection through low-latency servers, it significantly reduces ping spikes, boosts FPS, and ensures smoother performance during critical climbs or revives.

Tutorial to Use LagoFast to Ensure a Smooth Gaming Experience on PC:

Download and install LagoFast via the free trial button

Free Trial

Launch the app, search "PEAK", and select the game result

Choose your preferred server node and click "Smart Boost" to start optimize

Verify real-time performance metrics and launch PEAK with optimized settings

Part 5: PEAK Item Guide

Surviving the climb means managing a wide variety of resources. Items in PEAK are found in luggage, on the ground, or gifted at certain milestones. Here’s a categorized breakdown of what to look for:

Food Items

• Basic: Berries, coconuts, mushrooms (watch for poison).
• High Stamina: Trail mix, granola bars, energy drinks, scout cookies.
• Status Effects: Marshmallows remove frost, winterberries heal injuries.
• Risky Buffs: Pandora’s Lunchbox grants random effects—could help or hurt.
• Infinite Stamina: Big Lollipop, Bugle of Friendship (grants burst to nearby players).
• Cooking any food near an open flame greatly improves its effects and reduces negative outcomes.

Restoratives

• Bandages: Heal injuries.
• Medkits: Stronger version, some poison relief.
• Antidotes: Clear poison.
• Heat Packs: Counteract frostbite.
• Cure-Alls: Handle multiple ailments, but are rare.

Traversal Tools

• Ropes (Standard & Anti-Gravity): Basic climbing necessity.
• Cannons (Rope, Anti, Chain): Launch ropes for long-distance climbs.
• Pitons: Place mid-wall as rest stops. Break after extended use.
• Shelf Shrooms: Create platforms by tossing on a wall.
• Magic Bean: Grows a beanstalk when thrown on terrain.

Miscellaneous Gear

• Portable Stove: Essential for cooking or warming up.
• Lanterns: Prevent frost and offer vision.
• Flares: Signal teammates or mark paths.
• Compasses: Directional aid; Pirate’s Compass points to unopened loot.
• Bugles: Vary from humorous to incredibly helpful. Some heal, others summon chaos.

Item Rarities

Items have rarities ranging from common to legendary. Legendary items like the Fairy Lantern or Scoutmaster’s Bugle can drastically turn the tide of a run, but don’t rely solely on them. Basics like rope and cooked food will always be your foundation.

Part 6: PEAK Achievement Guide: How to Earn Every Badge in PEAK

Achievements in PEAK are stylized as Accolade Badges. These unlock new cosmetics and serve as in-game trophies on your sash. Some are straightforward, while others require clever strategy or rare events.

Progression-Based Badges:

• Trailblazer / Alpinist / Volcanologist / Peak: Reaching end-of-zone campfires and ultimately the summit.
• Happy Camper: Receive morale boosts at five different campfires.
• High Altitude: Accumulate 5000m total climb distance.

Skill-Based Badges:

• Emergency Preparedness: Save a teammate from death using an item.
• Endurance: Climb 50m without touching ground.
• Speed Climber: Escape the island in under one hour.
• Survivalist: Finish without ever fainting.
• Leave No Trace: No item placements. Pure, unassisted climb.

Exploration & Collection:

• Foraging / Mycology / Gourmand: Eat multiple unique foods, some cooked, some raw.
• Plunderer: Open 15 luggage in one expedition.
• Bookworm: Collect Scoutmaster Myres’s journal pages at each campfire.

Hidden or Quirky:

• Animal Serenading: Use a Bugle near a capybara hot spring.
• Mentorship: Survive the Scoutmaster’s wrath.
• Bing Bong: Carry the stuffed animal from the crash site to the summit.
• Participation Badge: Have a friend reach the summit without you.
• Lone Wolf: Finish the game entirely solo.
• Balloon Badge: Take no fall damage the entire run.

For the more demanding ones, consider using Tenderfoot difficulty, which gives you extra stamina and more lenient mechanics without affecting achievements.

Conclusion

PEAK delivers a truly standout indie survival experience, blending physics-based climbing, unpredictable challenges, and charming co-op gameplay into an ever-changing adventure. With a daily rotating mountain map, diverse items, and a rewarding achievement system, it offers both depth and replayability. Whether you're planning careful rope routes with friends or attempting a solo summit with just a bugle in hand, PEAK consistently keeps you on your toes. No two climbs are ever the same, and success always hinges on your choices. So gear up, launch LagoFast for a smoother run, and begin your journey.