After Just 1 Week With ARC Raiders, I’m Already Convinced It’s the Next Big Thing

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Fans of games where you scavenge for resources have been eagerly awaiting ARC Raiders, a sci-fi shooter set on a post-apocalyptic Earth. Players venture out to gather supplies for underground human colonies, carefully deciding what to carry because they risk losing everything if a mission goes wrong. The world is overrun with dangerous robotic enemies called ARCs, but they aren’t the only things players need to worry about while exploring the surface.

At its heart, ARC Raiders is a game about interacting with other players. It’s a shared-world shooter where you’ll constantly encounter others while completing missions. You can choose to battle these players, or team up with them to survive. A key feature that makes ARC Raiders different is its use of nearby voice chat, which creates a more lively and engaging experience compared to many online shooters where players often prefer private party chat.

I really enjoyed the ARC Raiders beta and immediately bought the game when it released. I haven’t been able to play as much as I’d like lately, but even in the limited time I’ve had, I’ve already had a lot of fun and created some great memories. After just one week, I’m confident ARC Raiders could become a huge hit with multiplayer fans.

Day 1

Once my brother and a friend finished the ARC Raiders tutorial, we played a few missions together. Every time we met other players, it immediately turned into a firefight – we won some, and lost others. In one memorable run, we all managed to fill our backpacks with loot and headed for the extraction elevator. On the way, we spotted another team battling a huge robotic spider, called a Leaper. We watched as they used up all their resources trying to defeat it, but unfortunately, they didn’t succeed. When we called the elevator, it attracted the Leaper’s attention, so we quickly hid inside a building and shot at it through the window.

I’ve encountered at least six achievements that haven’t unlocked correctly in ARC Raiders, which is frustrating. However, overall the game has been surprisingly smooth and enjoyable.

When the elevator doors opened, we rushed inside and began our escape. We continued firing at the enemy robot as we did, and finally destroyed it. Just before the doors closed, my brother leaped out and ran towards the wrecked robot, hoping to salvage anything useful. My friend and I didn’t follow him, and we’d soon be thankful we hadn’t. We heard his screams as another team arrived and killed him while he was looting the robot’s remains.

Day 2

On the second day, my brother and I joined the queue again and formed a squad. Unfortunately, we were matched with a random player who immediately left to do something else. We were then quickly overwhelmed and killed by flying, drone-like robots called Hornets and Wasps in ARC Raiders. We hoped our teammate would come back to revive us, but it became clear they weren’t coming back as they moved further and further away.

We joined the queue again, and this time I quickly tried to get to know the other players we were paired with. We went through the usual getting-to-know-you motions – crouching and standing repeatedly to break the tension – and then we all started dancing. It felt like a real connection was forming. We began searching the nearby dam for loot and hadn’t encountered much trouble when we heard voices. Suddenly, three other raiders ran into the hallway. We’d had shootouts with other players before, so we were all tense, but the situation quickly calmed down. They promised not to attack, and we agreed to team up and explore together.

We met some new allies who found a key to unlock a sealed room inside the dam – one of the keys needed for ARC Raiders. Even though they were working with us, they insisted we stay behind and refused to share whatever they found inside.

Okay, so this one match was intense. I locked eyes with a random teammate, and we both just…knew. It wasn’t cool, but we ended up shooting our own squad in the back. This random then went around finishing them off with melee attacks while they were yelling at us for the ultimate betrayal! We cleared the area, grabbed all the loot, and managed to get out with a full kit. Definitely a messed up, but successful, extraction.

Day 3

I didn’t get much playtime on Day 3. I attempted a solo game but was quickly eliminated by a robot. Then, I joined a full squad and we were able to successfully gather loot and escape.

Day 4

On the fourth day, we managed to take down a lot of robots, but another player group ambushed and eliminated us. It felt like payback for some things we’d done earlier in the game, so maybe it was just karma.

Day 5

On Day 5, I ventured to the Buried City, marking the first time I’d played a map other than Dam Battleground. While the new environment was a nice change, I didn’t come across any other players or many ARC robots during my time there.

Day 6

So, I jumped into a Night Raid – I heard they’re way more dangerous, but the loot is supposed to be amazing. I told myself I was going full aggro and would mess with anyone I found. It didn’t take long – I spotted a guy hiding behind a tree. We both yelled “Don’t shoot!” at the same time, and he started backing off. Then, I decided to open fire… and completely whiffed every single shot. Seriously, every one. It was embarrassing!

We ran up a hill and ducked behind a rock. Someone threw a grenade at me, so I quickly ran towards where the others were. I managed to get around them and shot them while they were crouching down. They were carrying a lot of gear, and honestly, taking it all felt a little wrong, but I did get some good stuff, which is what really mattered. I found the nearest exit and went to leave, but someone else had already called the elevator.

The commotion and blinking lights drew a Leaper, a creature hunting whoever had summoned the elevator. I stayed out of sight until the doors closed, then rushed inside. I briefly considered abandoning the person who called for the elevator, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave them. Soon after, another raider arrived, which distracted the Leaper and drew its attention to the elevator. Fortunately, we were able to escape.

Day 7

I began a solo match in Dam Battlegrounds. After landing, I quickly searched a couple of nearby apartment buildings for supplies. That’s when I heard someone approaching, and my hopes dropped. I’ve had bad experiences with other players in ARC Raiders before, and I worried this would ruin my run. I didn’t have my microphone ready, so I repeatedly typed “Don’t shoot!” and ran away. Luckily, someone yelled back that they wouldn’t shoot.

I glanced up and noticed someone standing at a window, watching me. He was using an online guide to find items in the game. I started following him, and together we fought off the occasional Hornets and Wasps. Soon, another player joined us, and the three of us teamed up to collect loot, explore, and even do a little dance. Eventually, our new teammate disappeared – whether intentionally or by getting lost, I don’t know – and we had to continue without him.

As time ticked away, I began to panic. I stayed close to my partner, who was a much better player than I was, but I quickly fell behind, and we got separated in the woods. Feeling discouraged, I pulled out my map, hoping to find a way out. Just then, I heard a faint voice in the distance telling me to follow it.

The timer was nearly finished when he came back for me, trying to guide me to safety. It felt like a true act of love. I struggled to keep pace – my character in ARC Raiders clearly wasn’t as strong as his. We were running through the dam when I got hit by a Hornet and fell. I never found out if he made it out okay, but the timer ran out soon after, ending my first week playing ARC Raiders in a really disappointing way.

ARC Raiders is Going to Be My New Multiplayer Obsession

After just one week of playing, I’m confident ARC Raiders will be among my favorite games this year. It offers a really special multiplayer experience, reminiscent of when PUBG first came out. It’s too early to say for sure, but it feels like a game I’ll be playing for a long time.

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2025-11-06 22:07