How licenses work in ReStory: the system that gates device categories, the tier achievements (Official Partner to Platinum), and the best unlock order.
ReStory Licenses — The Real Progression System
In ReStory: Chill Electronics Repairs, licenses aren't cosmetic — they're the progression system. Each license unlocks a device category you can repair, and higher tiers open the devices that pay the most. The community guide consensus (echoed by Into Indie Games' deep-dive) calls licenses "the real progression system" of the game. This guide explains how they work, the tiers, and a sensible unlock order. For the catalog they unlock, see the devices guide.
Here's what you'll learn:
- What licenses actually do
- The license tiers and achievements
- The best unlock order
What Licenses Do
Licenses are your permission slip to repair categories of hardware:
- Each license unlocks a device category — phones, handhelds, music players, cameras, consoles
- Higher licenses unlock higher-paying devices — the console tier (including the Atari hardware) is where the money is
- Licenses are bought with yen — the cost scales with tier, so they double as an economy check
Without the right license, a customer's device sits on the bench unrepaired — you physically cannot disassemble what you're not licensed for.
The License Tiers
The achievement line maps the tiers:
| Achievement | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Official Partner | Get any license |
| Golden Partner | Get five licenses |
| Are You Serious? This Is Absurd | Get the most expensive license |
| Platinum Partner | Get all available licenses |
Full achievement details in the achievements guide.
The Best Unlock Order
The practical order, per the community guides:
- Follow customer demand first — unlock the categories your customers keep bringing in; that's your steady income
- Don't rush the expensive licenses — a category you can't yet stock parts for is a license that sits idle
- Console licenses last but biggest — the Atari tier pays the best but requires the parts economy to support it
- License upgrades beat tool upgrades after the pro screwdriver — once you have the professional screwdriver, licenses are the better yen investment (the tips guide covers the priority order)
Early game: the professional screwdriver first (it accelerates everything). Mid-game: licenses dominate — each one opens a whole income category. Late game: the expensive tool tiers (ultrasonic bath, shredder) plus the top licenses.
Common License Questions
- How many licenses are there? The exact count isn't published, but the achievement line tracks four milestones — any license, five licenses, the most expensive one, and owning all of them (Platinum Partner). The achievements guide has the full list.
- Are licenses permanent? Yes — a license is a one-time purchase that permanently unlocks its category; no upkeep or renewal cost is reported in the community guides.
- What's the most expensive license? The top console-tier license — the "Are You Serious? This Is Absurd" achievement specifically requires buying it, so it's the late-game yen sink the community guides warn about.
FAQ
What do licenses do in ReStory? They unlock device categories for repair — without the license you can't disassemble that category's devices. They're the game's real progression system and the main yen sink.
How do I get licenses in ReStory? Buy them with yen. Each license opens a category; costs scale with tier. The achievement line tracks the milestones: Official Partner (any), Golden Partner (5), Platinum Partner (all).
What is the best license order in ReStory? Follow customer demand first, don't buy licenses for categories you can't stock parts for yet, and save the console/Atari tier for when the parts economy can support it. Pro screwdriver first, then licenses.
Do I need every license for 100%? Yes — the Platinum Partner achievement requires owning all available licenses, so completionists end up buying the whole set eventually.
Related Guides
- ReStory Repair Mechanics — Tools & Process
- ReStory Tips and Tricks
- ReStory Walkthrough — Day-by-Day Flow
- Does ReStory Use AI Art? The Facts Behind the Controversy
- ReStory Mods — Trainers, Cheats & Custom Content
Official resources: Steam store page · Steam news hub · IGN game page · GOG store page Last Updated: August 13, 2026
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