The Golden Caravan Permanent Upgrades: Progression Basics

What Persists Between Runs

The Steam store description lists permanent upgrades as part of the game and says allies provide unlocks and upgrades. That establishes a layer of progress outside individual fights. It is the part of the game you keep working on across attempts.

An independent Steam review of the Demo describes progression through vendors and unlock requirements. Together, the store page and the review give two sources for the same idea. The details, however, differ by version.

Run Effects vs Permanent Unlocks

Not everything you gain is permanent. Trinkets come from slot machines during a run and are described by the developer as run modifiers. That means they last for the run, not across deaths.

Permanent upgrades are bought or unlocked between runs. Keep the two apart when you plan. A strong trinket should not be confused with a lasting account upgrade.

The Three Demo Progression Shops

The official Demo listing advertises three progression shops. That number applies to the Demo, not necessarily the full game. Their exact names and full stock have not been verified.

An official screenshot shows a vendor menu with options labelled HP Upgrade, Skill Slot and New Weapon. It confirms that shops can offer upgrades of these kinds in the build shown. Costs and effects should be read from the tooltips in your own version.

Why Older Advice May Be Wrong

Progression changed during development. A June 2026 developer post described redesigning progression and shops based on player feedback. A September 2026 playtest then added pre-run loadouts and changed equipment.

Any upgrade order written for an earlier Demo may not match the current game. Check the version before following a guide. We label every fact on this page with its source for that reason.

How to Choose Upgrades for Now

Without a verified best order, choose upgrades by how they fix your current problems. If you keep running out of health, survival upgrades make sense. If your runs lack options, upgrades that unlock new equipment add variety.

• Read each upgrade's tooltip and cost before buying.
• Note which problem ended your last few runs.
• Prefer upgrades that help every run over narrow ones.
• Record what you bought and how the next runs changed.

Weapon Unlocks and Progress Notices

The earlier “New Rules in the City” devlog describes weapon-unlock progress notifications. These tell you when you are moving toward a new weapon. They are not a complete list of unlock requirements.

Exact challenge thresholds have not been cross-verified. Watch the in-game notices to see what counts in your version. Our weapons page covers what is known about weapons themselves.

Demo Saves and Early Access

No official statement confirming that Demo progress carries over to the Early Access game was found. Plan as if you will start fresh. If the developer announces a transfer, we will update this page.

The Early Access build is planned for October 30, 2026. See the release date page for the latest status. The full game may also add more shops or upgrades than the Demo.

Progression Across the Timeline

Progression has been described at several stages of development. The earlier devlog mentioned weapon-unlock progress notifications. A June 2026 Demo review described vendors with unlock requirements, and a June developer post described reworking progression and shops.

The September 9, 2026 playtest added pre-run loadouts and changed equipment. That likely affects what you prepare before a run, though the exact flow is not documented. The Early Access version, planned for October 30, 2026, may differ again.

Upgrade Types Seen in Screenshots

An official Steam screenshot shows a vendor menu with three options: HP Upgrade, Skill Slot and New Weapon. The HP Upgrade panel says it permanently increases your maximum health points. Prices in the screenshot are shown in a gem-style currency.

These show the kinds of upgrades that existed in the build shown. They do not confirm the current list, prices or limits. Use them as a guide to what to look for in your own version.

Planning Across Several Runs

Permanent progress is a long-term plan rather than a single purchase. Decide what you want your next few runs to feel like, then buy toward that. If you want more variety, unlocks matter; if you keep dying early, survival matters.

Review your plan after each session. As new options appear, your priorities may change. Keep notes so you can see which purchases made the most difference.

Common Mistakes With Upgrades

The most common mistake is treating run rewards as permanent progress. Trinkets and other run pickups end with the run, while shop upgrades stay. Mixing the two leads to plans that fall apart after the first death.

Another mistake is following an upgrade order written for an older Demo. Shops were redesigned in 2026, so costs and options may have changed. Always check the shop in your own version first.

Official Trailer

▶ Official Trailer

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