ARC Raiders Review—The Most Refreshing Extraction Shooter Ever Made

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After years in development at Embark Studios, ARC Raiders is now available. The team behind this new game also created The Finals and, previously, the Battlefield series. It’s a visually striking, post-apocalyptic shooter with a retro-futuristic style that’s been generating a lot of buzz, and it’s quickly becoming very popular with players.

As someone who really enjoys extraction-based games, I was excited to try ARC Raiders. I waited for the official launch to make sure I had the best possible experience, and I wasn’t disappointed – the game is fantastic!

ARC Raiders is easily one of the most fun and engaging extraction shooters I’ve played. Here’s my complete review.

ARC Raiders is Accessible but Remains Challenging

ARC Raiders stands out as one of the easiest extraction shooters to pick up and play. This genre can often be quite difficult and intimidating, but ARC Raiders simplifies things with a more fast-paced, arcade-like style. It’s still challenging enough to keep experienced players interested, but it’s much more welcoming to newcomers.

As a fan, I think the game’s balance is just perfect. I usually avoid games that are difficult just to be difficult, but ARC Raiders is different. It keeps you hooked even when you’re getting beaten, and it’s cleverly designed so you can always find a way to keep fighting, even when things look really bad!

Because ARC Raiders is launching on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, it has an advantage over many competitors that primarily focus on PC. A prime example is Escape from Tarkov, a leading game in the extraction genre, which has been available on PC through its own launcher for nearly ten years and is only now becoming available on Steam.

Spending around $30 on ARC Raiders could give you a fantastic first experience with the extraction shooter genre.

Extraction Redefined

ARC Raiders is set in a world devastated by a robotic invasion known as the ARC. Humanity has been forced to live underground in a settlement called Speranza. Only the bravest – or most reckless – scavengers, known as Raiders, venture to the surface in search of valuable resources.

This game is an action-packed, third-person shooter with elements of role-playing and survival. You’ll explore sizable environments and experience exciting combat against both people and robots, making every fight rewarding.

I’ve said it’s effectively Fortnite crossed with Fallout, and fused with Escape from Tarkov.

The game features a third-person view, fast-paced action, and customization options like skins and emotes. All of this takes place in a devastated, war-ravaged world, and the core gameplay involves entering, scavenging, and then escaping with your loot.

ARC Raiders stands out because it gently guides you without making the game too easy. If you’re struggling, you can easily get new gear, and you’ll have a helpful chicken companion named Scrappy who gathers resources for crafting. The beginning missions also act as tutorials, teaching you how the game works.

The initial missions in this game forced me to quickly learn all its core systems – like trading, crafting, gathering resources, and healing – within just an hour. That’s a much faster learning curve than you’d find in a game like Escape from Tarkov!

However, ARC Raiders can become quite challenging, depending on the situation. The ARC enemies are known for being very difficult, and defeating a Queen is nearly impossible without a coordinated team, good equipment, and a solid plan.

As you might expect, supplies are limited. Weapons are mostly makeshift, similar to the crude, cobbled-together firearms seen in the Fallout games. You won’t find traditional armor; instead, you’ll rely on energy shields and, unfortunately, the protection offered by other Raiders.

The Social Extraction Shooter That Marathon Couldn’t Be

Bungie has emphasized that their new game, Marathon, will be a unique ‘social’ extraction shooter. After facing some negative attention earlier this year, Bungie is positioning Marathon as a more approachable game that focuses on teamwork and cooperation rather than just fast-paced combat.

ARC Raiders stands out because my experiences with other players have been surprisingly good. In the raids I’ve played, I’ve had more helpful and positive interactions than in games like extraction shooters or battle royales. I’ve worked with others to get into the escape areas – the elevators that return you to the base – and even received apologies from opponents before they defeated me and sent me back to the starting point.

Even when I’m in a fight, it usually feels fair. The game’s RPG elements, where you improve skills over time, do create a situation where experienced players can be stronger, but that’s how these games work. New players might feel at a disadvantage initially, but you just need to learn and adapt.

With consistent effort, you’ll eventually succeed in ARC Raiders. Unlike some games, there are no full game resets or wipes – except for optional, high-level challenges after level 20. This means you can play at your own speed, enjoy the world, make friends, and not worry about losing your hard-earned progress every few months.

Everything I Wanted

I hesitated to form an opinion about ARC Raiders, but I have to say, it’s exactly the kind of game I enjoy in an extraction shooter.

The game offers lots of interesting areas to explore and gather resources, and its central idea is really captivating. I especially enjoy the combat system – it encourages experimentation with different ways to fight. Plus, it’s easy to pick up and play, making it fun for both newcomers and experienced gamers.

Embark Studios has created a really impressive game with ARC Raiders. It’s visually stunning, performs well, and offers a lot to do with its variety of maps, enemies, and 63 quests. Plus, the developers have shared their plans for the future, promising even more content is on the way.

The release of Escape from Tarkov’s full version on November 15th, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 on November 14th, could potentially impact ARC Raider’s player base. However, I believe the game has enough compelling content and staying power to maintain a dedicated community and remain popular.

If I could request just one feature, it would be a player-versus-environment mode without the difficulty of player-versus-player combat. I’d enjoy playing with friends or exploring the game world on my own, facing only computer-controlled enemies, but I suspect that’s already in the works.

Verdict: 4.5/5 – Excellent

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2025-11-01 10:49