Co-op Guide — Team Roles & Strategy
Anomaly Cafe supports up to 24 players per server, but your active crew is usually 2–5. Uncoordinated teams serve anomalies by mistake more often than they die to them directly. Assign roles before each shift starts.
Recommended Role Split
CCTV Watcher
Monitors every customer on camera before anyone serves. Calls out anomaly types by name.
Required from Day 3 onward when Eye Ghost appears.
Cook
Prepares orders from the Order Board. Keeps the kitchen running during events.
Best for Pyro or King — characters with cook speed bonuses.
Server / Runner
Delivers food, clears tables, handles front-of-house. Never serves without CCTV clearance.
Jim-Jam excels here with extra sanity and banana topping utility.
Maintenance
Handles fuse box, power breaker, fire extinguisher, and plate cleaning during kitchen events.
Rotate this role — it is stressful and sanity-draining.
Callout Rules
Reddit and YouTube communities agree: clear callouts prevent most team wipes. Use these phrases consistently:
- "Clear on cam" — Customer verified safe, server may deliver
- "Reject — [anomaly name]" — Do not serve; name the type (Meat Man, Hollow Eyes, etc.)
- "Camera looking" — Close CCTV immediately; critical threat on Day 7+
- "Event — fuse/power" — Maintenance role breaks away to handle kitchen event
- "Sanity low" — Player needs a break from high-stress role rotation
Solo vs Duo vs Full Lobby
2 Players
Alternate CCTV and cooking. One person watches cam while the other serves — never both leave the camera unchecked.
3–5 Players (Ideal)
Dedicated CCTV, cook, server, and rotating maintenance. This is the setup most Day 7–10 walkthrough videos use.
Large Lobbies (10–24)
Use Quick Play to find active crews. Assign one CCTV lead and avoid duplicate servers rushing the same table. Extra players help with events but add callout noise — keep comms short.
Character Synergies for Co-op
- King + Pyro — Fast cooking duo; King's starter cash helps early upgrades
- Jim-Jam as runner — 200 starting sanity absorbs front-of-house stress
- Mr. Wolfgang on coffee breaks — 15% cook speed boost after drinking coffee
- Lemon (Robux) — Peace Offering can pacify anomalies; best for experienced CCTV leads