Extraction shooters have become incredibly popular recently, and the term itself is starting to feel overused. With new games like Marathon on the horizon, even more people will likely be interested in this genre, and they might need help figuring out where to start.
Extraction games share some similarities with typical first- or third-person shooters, but they offer a distinct and often addictive gameplay experience that takes some getting used to. These games usually combine player-versus-player combat with environmental challenges. If you’re new to this genre and want to try it out, here are some good options, varying in price and how they play. The games are listed starting with those that are easiest for beginners.
I left out Helldivers 2 because it’s debatable whether it truly fits the ‘extraction shooter’ category. While it’s a fantastic third-person shooter, it doesn’t really capture what most people expect from that specific genre.
9. Arena Breakout: Infinite
A Simplified Extraction Shooter Before Venturing Into Tarkov
As a fan of hardcore shooters, I’ve been looking for something like Escape From Tarkov that’s a bit more accessible, and Arena Breakout: Infinite really delivers! It feels incredibly similar to Tarkov, but the fact that it’s free-to-play and a little less complicated makes it a perfect stepping stone for anyone wanting to get into that super intense style of gameplay. It’s a great way to ease yourself in!
Arena Breakout: Infinite makes things easier for players in a few ways. The online map clearly shows where everyone is and lets you mark targets for your whole team. Plus, you can customize weapons right away without needing to unlock attachments by leveling up. Although, more powerful weapons still require you to reach higher levels to use them.
8. Incursion Red River
PvE-Only Extraction Shooter For Those Looking To Break Free Of Cheaters
If you’re tired of dealing with cheaters or negative players, Incursion Red River is a fantastic extraction shooter you can enjoy on your own or with friends. The best part? You’ll only face AI opponents. It delivers all the features you’d expect from the genre, like challenging, realistic gun combat.
Incursion Red River is currently in early access, and the developers are actively working to improve it. They’re planning to add more maps, missions, bosses, and challenging weather, as well as refine the AI to make gunfights feel more realistic.
7. Zero Sievert
Top-Down Wasteland Action
Unlike most extraction shooters, Zero Sievert offers a top-down view of a desolate world. With resources extremely limited, players must scavenge and battle both other players and dangerous creatures simply to stay alive.
Currently in development as an early access game, Zero Sievert is already a standout title. It successfully combines an engaging and fast-paced world with the popular ‘extraction shooter’ gameplay style. Players are really enjoying its unique take on the genre, finding it just as thrilling as other similar games while offering a refreshing new perspective – something that’s not often seen.
6. Witchfire
Get Rid Of Doomed Creatures To Finally Reach Salvation
Witchfire is essentially a role-playing shooter, similar to Destiny 2, but it plays more like an extraction shooter – making it a good fit for this list. While still in early access, the game already offers plenty of content for players to enjoy.
In Witchfire, you explore a dangerous, dungeon-like world where you fight cursed enemies and gather materials. You can choose how far to go, but dying means losing everything you’ve collected, so you’ll need to use those resources to improve your weapons and skills before heading back out.
Witchfire offers exciting and fast-paced shooting, and lets you customize your weapons and abilities – much like in Destiny 2 – to create powerful combinations and improve your chances of success. What makes it unique is that it’s a single-player experience you can play offline, a feature that’s becoming increasingly rare in this type of game.
5. Escape From Tarkov
Corporate Russian War
Escape From Tarkov is a leading game in the ‘extraction shooter’ genre. Set in a fictional warzone between two military companies, players enter challenging maps with the goal of safely escaping. They can attempt to reach the main extraction point on the opposite side of the map, or risk using secondary points located in more dangerous areas, which require better skills and combat ability.
In Escape From Tarkov, players compete against both other players and computer-controlled characters to collect valuable loot. While players can bring items into a raid, death means losing everything – both the items they brought with them and anything they found during the raid, creating a high-stakes experience. With up to fourteen players per map and raids lasting a maximum of 45 minutes, the game blends elements of massively multiplayer online games for a compelling and popular experience. This makes Escape From Tarkov accessible, particularly for those already familiar with MMOs, as many of its features will feel intuitive.
Although Escape From Tarkov has been in development for almost ten years, it only officially launched at the end of 2025, making now a pretty good time to start playing.
4. Delta Force
Extraction Shooter With The Addition Of Heroes
Delta Force is a very popular free-to-play shooting game with different ways to play, including a unique ‘extraction’ mode. What sets it apart from other similar games, like Escape From Tarkov, is that its extraction mode is more relaxed and less intense.
The relaxed gameplay style and balanced progression have brought a lot more players to Delta Force. Plus, the Battle Pass offers cool character skins, giving players even more incentive to keep playing.
This game is really fun to play, but there’s a significant cheating problem on PC. It almost kept it off this list! I’m including it because the basic gameplay is easy to pick up, but be careful if you’re playing on a computer instead of a console.
3. Deep Rock Galactic
Space Dwarf Action
Many recent shooting games feature imaginative, fantastical worlds, and Deep Rock Galactic is no exception. The game takes place on the distant planet Hoxxes 4, where players explore caves to mine resources while fighting off hordes of alien creatures. It can be challenging for newcomers, so a little preparation is helpful.
As a fan, I think Deep Rock Galactic is an awesome entry point into the extraction shooter world, especially if you’re new to the genre. It’s class-based and really focuses on playing with your team against the environment, which is way less stressful than constantly battling other players. Plus, the caves are all randomly generated and super different, so it’s a great way to get used to navigating all sorts of map layouts before jumping into games where you’re facing off against other players.
2. Hunt: Showdown 1896
Deadly Bounty Hunting
If you’re new to extraction shooter games, Hunt: Showdown 1896 is a fantastic place to start. You play as a hunter tasked with tracking down and defeating dangerous mythical creatures. However, you’re not the only hunter – you’ll compete against other players to claim bounties and escape the game area. While teaming up with others can make things easier, many players enjoy the challenge of going it alone.
Hunt: Showdown 1896 offers a uniquely stylish gameplay experience that expertly blends player-versus-player and player-versus-environment elements, featuring five distinct monster types. Players must first investigate the environment for clues to pinpoint the monsters’ locations, all while contending with both rival hunters and smaller creatures. With its accessible and consistently engaging gameplay loop, Hunt: Showdown is an excellent entry point for those new to the genre.
1. Arc Raiders
Most Popular And The Best Extraction Shooter For Everyone
It might sound simple, but Arc Raiders is the best extraction shooter for new players because it’s currently the most popular one. While popularity doesn’t always mean quality, extraction shooters thrive on having a strong community, so it’s smart to choose a game that’s likely to stay active for a while. Plus, Arc Raiders is easier to pick up than many others, largely because it focuses more on cooperative play against AI enemies than on player-versus-player combat. While PvP is still present, players generally handle it themselves and tend to prioritize being helpful over being overly competitive.
Like many games in this style, Arc Raiders has you dropping onto maps with pre-selected or customized equipment. The aim is to gather as much loot as possible and then call in a beacon to escape. It’s a straightforward concept, but losing all your collected items – and any custom gear you brought – if you die creates a lot of excitement. The standard equipment is consistent and great for new players learning the ropes and the different maps. It’s best to hold off on using custom gear until you’re comfortable with how the game works. Beyond finding better items, Arc Raiders also lets you improve your character with skills that fall into different categories.
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2026-01-22 01:36