In the future, robots have dominated the world, leaving humans to live in underground shelters, scavenging for survival much like rats do. A few brave individuals venture above ground, risking their lives to bring back supplies. On the surface, ARC Raiders seems to combine elements from the Matrix movies and the Metro series, but with a vibrant, futuristic retro style.
Initially unveiled towards the end of 2021 by Embark Studios, who would later gain recognition for The Finals, ARC Raiders was initially conceived as a free-to-play cooperative shooter. However, during its development process, it underwent significant changes and eventually morphed into a paid extraction shooter.
I’ve been closely watching this game ever since it was turned into an extraction shooter. While initial reactions to these types of announcements often lean towards skepticism (“not another one”), I believe there aren’t many extraction shooters that are genuinely enjoyable to play.
I was thrilled at the prospect of playing the game, not only due to its visually appealing nature, but primarily because it could provide an answer to a question that has been on my mind: could we possibly expect another excellent extract-and-shoot title in the near future?
The discussion on games in recent times has a tendency to lean towards the belief that a game’s business model dictates its success or failure. For instance, “This game will fail because it’s free-to-play as it will be filled with microtransactions.” Or, “The reason this game will fail is that it’s paid, since people prefer free-to-play games over paid ones.” Similarly, “Why are all games shooters? It’ll fail due to its genre.
As an enthusiastic gamer, I have a strong feeling ARC Raiders has the potential to become a massive success. However, this depends crucially on how well Embark Studios handles certain elements that might be unfamiliar in the gaming experience.
Immaculate Aesthetics
It’s important to clarify upfront: I find ARC Raider to be the top-tier extraction shooter in the current wave, but it’s not alone in impressing with its visuals. In today’s market, it appears that having a unique and original aesthetic is practically essential for a game to even compete within this genre.
Bungie has been tirelessly developing Marathon, set to debut in September 2025, and it’s known for its sleek, futuristic style. On the other hand, Fun Dog Studios released The Forever Winter towards the end of last year, a game that leans heavily into a more dystopian, dark-futuristic aesthetic. Yes, both games are futuristic in nature, but The Forever Winter presents a stunningly grim and beautiful vision of the future.
Let’s focus more on our game, as Riloe already covers other visual aspects quite well in their YouTube videos.
Upon starting the preview, I was curious about how ARC Raiders would measure up against these giants, and I must say, its performance left me astonished. Similarly, ARC Raiders takes a futuristic approach, but with a vintage flavor that delights me immensely. The technology shown in ARC Raiders subtly reminds me of the past, serving as a stepping stone to the more bizarre elements of this perilous new realm.
I hadn’t experienced such pure, youthful delight from examining costumes and intricate details in a created universe since playing the video game version of The Invincible. And just so you know, I highly recommend giving it a try if you haven’t yet.
In the game ARC Raiders, it’s almost as if humanity has been reduced drastically due to robots that hail from outer space. These mechanical threats vary in appearance, but one thing is certain – they’re always prepared to cause trouble for any careless raider.
Construct a realm that’s both oppressive yet intertwined with a sense of optimism and excitement – The resilient human spirit encapsulated. As mankind takes refuge within the subterranean city of Speranza, adventurers such as you venture forth in quest for riches and renown.
The Rust Belt’s surface is strewn with remnants of the post-World War 2 dreamed-of future, evoking a sense of familiarity akin to the Jetsons’ era. These are the remains of a once thriving civilization, yet in ARC Raiders, you find tranquil moments to appreciate the world around you.
Fight For Your Right
As a die-hard fan, I’d put it this way: ARC Raiders is an adrenaline-pumping looter shooter where each adventure below ground requires careful navigation and strategic gear management. Essentially, you dive into the world, gather valuable items, and make a safe return to base without taking any lethal damage. If you don’t make it back alive, not only do you lose the fresh loot, but also essential tools for your next expedition above ground.
As a gamer, I found that the city wasn’t making me slaughter other raiders, but only the one delivering goods was getting paid. From what I’ve witnessed, it didn’t take long before the law of the jungle kicked in and everyone turned savage.
Initially, our excursions to the surface were tentative, mainly aimed at familiarizing ourselves with the layout of the map and the mechanics of the game, consciously steering clear of conflicts.
Following a few operations, I began concocting reasons for not continuing.
After a couple of missions, I started coming up with explanations to avoid further action.
After several raids, I started inventing alibis, such as “If they’re not aware I’m here now, they might recognize me during the extraction and come after me.
Without a doubt, ARC Raiders didn’t take long to teach me a lesson. Chasing after another raider for a few moments and taking them down stealthily, I couldn’t help but dash excitedly towards my prey to gather the loot… only to receive a fatal bullet from a third player in the heat of the moment.
Instead of booting you back to the main screen, ARC Raiders temporarily incapacitates you. Crawling around might help you escape, but beware as enemies could sneak up on you and knock you unconscious for them to steal your belongings.
Despite any issues with your microphone, it functions well throughout this situation, fostering engaging discussions even while negotiating with a potential assassin. Injured raiders can escape with the loot as long as they reach one of Speranza’s elevators. Occasionally, you encounter individuals who are compassionate enough to allow you to join them since you no longer pose a threat.
After each mission in ARC Raiders, you’ll receive a useful debriefing summary that encourages self-reflection as you prepare for your next adventure.
The harmony of design in this case is so compelling it could stir emotions, from the compact report map to the supplier menus and the main interface following, each element within the game maintains your engagement with the realm you’ve almost re-entered.
Mostly Sound Business
Over the past eight months since it was revealed that ARC Raiders would be a paid title, there has been much debate among players about whether this approach is more desirable compared to a free-to-play model. Embark intends to retail the game at a price of $39.99.
Based solely on my encounter with Tech Test 2, I’d suggest this to anyone seeking a game that offers an exciting blend of a fluid third-person shooting experience and artistic mastery. It’s been quite some time since I felt the post-preview blues after testing a game, and although ARC Raiders isn’t flawless, it certainly stands out in its uniqueness.
It seems that ARC Raiders isn’t as straightforward when it comes to its appeal. The stylish wardrobe options I talked about earlier are linked with the game’s battle pass system. However, managing three different types of currency feels a bit tricky, which makes me question if this could be a hidden method for additional monetization. I find it strange since the idea behind making the game paid was to avoid such practices, wasn’t it?
During the trial run, we didn’t have enough time to gauge the game’s economy in the long run. It’s quite possible that Embark is still making adjustments to the entire system.
As a gamer, let me tell you, I splurged on a camouflaged outfit using my in-game earnings. It wasn’t for its aesthetics, but because it blended better with the foliage compared to my default yellow attire. Contrary to some assumptions, this didn’t reduce my chances of getting ‘game over’.
To date, ARC Raiders’ release date has been under wraps by Embark Studios, however, rumors and hints suggest it may be arriving sooner as opposed to later. I was fortunate enough to try it on a PC, a platform I firmly believe is ideal for shooter games, but the game is also set for launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S consoles.
ARC Raiders has the potential to demonstrate that extraction shooter games aren’t just repetitive copies of Escape From Tarkov. What remains is for Embark Studios to release it and ensure players understand that their long-term business strategy aligns with the desires of the gaming community.
Read More
2025-05-17 19:39