Review: Arc Raiders
It is rare that a new game captures my attention. But when one does, it is typically from a franchise that I have history with. I suppose that’s why it has shocked so many of my followers that I have become hopelessly hooked on Arc Raiders, a modern day extraction shooter. Not only is this a brand new game. But it’s also of a genre that’s radically different from almost anything I’ve played before. I admit, I too am a bit surprised at just how much time this game has sucked away from me. But believe me when I tell you that I have enjoyed every second of it. Now, having played over one hundred hours of Arc Raiders, I have a lot of thoughts to share.
I’m not a stranger to shooters. I grew up playing games like Doom and Quake. The big difference here is the fact that instead of being a first-person game, Arc Raiders is presented in the third-person. Also, instead of simply running around and shooting everything that moves, the goal in this game is to seek out items and equipment and bring them back to your subterranean home base. I guess this is where I should talk a bit about the story for the game. This game takes place in a post-apocalyptic setting. More specifically, a futuristic version of Italy after an attack from a legion of intelligent machines. Most of humanity was wiped out during the invasion. However, there are pockets of survivors living in underground communities. In this game, you play as a “raider”, one of the survivors that has volunteered to venture back up to the surface to scavenge for supplies needed to keep your colony of Speranza functioning.
As I mentioned earlier, this game is what is known as an “extraction shooter”. Meaning, the point is go out into the world, collect loot, then “extract” out without being killed. Anything you manage to find while scavenging is yours to keep. These materials can be sold, kept, or used as crafting ingredients. However, if you don’t survive, you lose anything you may have found (including any gear you brought with you). Extraction shooters are a relatively new genre of game. The most famous examples, until now, have been Escape from Tarkov and Hunt: Showdown. Sadly, I have no experience with these games so I’m unable to effectively compare them to this title. But, from what I understand, the formula is relatively the same. Aside from the extraction mechanic, what makes these games different from other shooters, is the fact that they are Player vs Environment vs Player. Meaning, there are computer controlled enemies in the game that hunt players, but it’s also possible to kill (or be killed) by other players as well. And yes, if you kill another player, you can loot their body for any valuables they may have found.
Arc Raiders launched in the fall of 2025. So, at the time of this writing, it’s only a few months old. It was released for the PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. However, the game is cross platform, meaning you are able to play with people on other systems. Alternately, you can elect to only play with other players who are on the same system as you. The choice is yours. Personally, I enjoy the cross platform experience. There is a Deluxe Version of the game that comes with some cosmetic gear and a handful of in-game currency. I should mention that game currency is used to purchase cosmetic items only. There’s absolutely no pay-to-win in Arc Raiders.
As I said earlier, this game was my first extraction shooter. So, it took me a little time to get acquainted with the concept. Thankfully, the in-game tutorial made this very easy. When starting the game for the first time, it guides you through the gameplay basics, sets up the storyline, and allows you to customize your character. However, once you’ve finished this short introduction, the game is wide open and you are thrust out there with everyone else.
Naturally, you start off with very little in terms of gear and equipment. Each time you head out onto the surface, you can choose to either assemble a “loadout”, or roll the dice and let the game give you a random assortment of low level gear. Anything you find on the surface, be it weapons, materials, or even blueprints for crafting, can be brought back with you to be used in the future. Weapons can be upgraded and attachments and modifications can be added to them so that you can customize them to your liking. As you might expect, doing this will require materials. Thus, there’s always a need to go and collect more stuff. As you explore the surface, do battle, and scavenge, you earn experience points that will level up your character. Upon gaining new levels, players can navigate a skill tree to unlock new abilities or improve certain characteristics. Perhaps your main focus is scavenging. In this case, you can groom your character to be more efficient at looting. If combat is more your speed, there’s plenty of skills aimed at that aspect as well.
Whenever you breach a container or enter a new room, you never know what you might find. Certain areas on the game’s various maps are categorized by type. For example, a Research Facility would be a good place to visit if you’re looking for medical supplies. Whereas, the remnants of an apartment complex would be a good place to scour for residential loot. Some areas have more valuable loot than others. So naturally, you’re more likely to run into competition from other players if you go for the high dollar areas.
When the game first starts, players only have access to a single map. However, as you continue to play, more areas become available. Each map has its own unique feel and quirks. Some maps are generally considered to be more dangerous than others. But, these maps typically have more areas that contain high-value loot. One map in particular, Stella Montis, is known for having extremely valuable plunder. But it’s also one of the most dangerous places to visit due to the aggressive enemies.
There’s only a handful of different ARC (the robotic bad guys) in the game. Each one has their own unique method of attack and therefore strategies when dealing with them. The most common are the various drones that patrol the maps by air. However, there are also heavily armored ARC as well as giant monstrosities that will require cooperation to take down. When setting out to go topside, players are able to go solo or team up with other players in groups of two or three. When teaming up, you can assemble groups with your friends or let the game pair you with random players.
When dealing with teammates, you don’t have to worry about friendly fire. But, when encountering other raiders in the world, you never know if that player is friendly or dangerous. The developers of the game use an algorithm-based matching-making system that generally pairs you with other players of the same play style. Meaning, if you don’t take shots at other players, you are more likely to be put in instances with other friendly types. However, nothing is set in stone. I’ve met my share of hostile players who like to shoot first and ask questions later. I’ve even observed some players setting booby traps up at extractions points and then hiding in the shadows to wait for other players to fall victim. Heck, I may have even engaged in such nefarious activities myself a time or two. You know, just to see what would happen…
At the base level, this game does an excellent job of creating exciting and compelling areas for players to explore. The encounters with ARC are also lots of fun (even if they can be pretty frustrating when they gang up on you). Still, for me, the best part about this game is the experiences you share with other players. When I team up with friends, we never run out of things to try. One time, we decided to see what would happen if we snagged a grappling hook on to a flying arc. Would it pull us into the sky or would we be able to lead it around like a dog on leash? What happens if we fill a room with explosive materials only to detonate it the minute another player walks by? All of these questions are things that we’ve tried – often to hysterical results.
Arc Raiders, even though it’s an extraction shooter, has a certain sandbox element to it that makes it an absolute blast to play. Experimenting in this sandbox with friends is the real key to this game’s success in my opinion. I’ve had more fun with the multiplayer aspect of this game than I have had with any other online game in a very long time. Even the times when we’ve wiped and lost valuable gear, we’ve usually had a blast doing it.
One thing I really appreciate about the game is the way that everyone is on a level playing field. Sure, big guns can deal big damage. But at the end of the day, even a player with the most basic equipment can take out someone who is decked out with rare, expensive gear if they are playing smart. For me, this game was a breath of fresh air and it has reminded me not to sleep on all of these new games coming out. Yes, I love my retro titles. But there’s also plenty of great new games coming out every day. Arc Raiders is one of them.
Version Reviewed: PC
Difficulty: Hard – Being a PvEvP game, it’s somewhat difficult to gauge the difficulty level. There are some matches where things just go your way. You drop in, find good loot, and extract without ever having an issue. Other times, you drop in only to be immediately swarmed by three or four drones. It all just depends. Experience with the game does make things go a bit smoother, but nothing is ever set in stone. No matter how good you might be, it’s always possible that some sneaky player is going to get the drop on you. With this in mind, I would have to say that Arc Raiders is a pretty challenging game. But even so, it’s the constant threat of losing everything that makes it so rewarding when you manage to escape with that rare bit of loot.
Multiplayer: Yes. Cross platform.
Story: The storyline here is more detailed than one might expect. While the origin of the ARC are still a mystery, there’s plenty of hints in the game as from where they actually come from. These details are hidden in the nooks and crannies of the game. Other story elements are revealed through quests and by listening to the chatter of NPCs. As time goes on, and more is added to the game, I expect the lore to develop even more.
Originality: Extraction shooters are still a relatively new genre and Arc Raiders didn’t invent this type of gameplay. But, I can’t help but feel that the developers of this game have really defined the future of this genre. The AI of the ARC, combined with the algorithm-based match making is pretty groundbreaking stuff. This is probably the first game I’ve ever played that used actual AI in the development process, and I’m glad to see it was done in the right way.
Soundtrack: The music in this game is alien and catchy. Heavy synth, but very groovy. It mostly appears in between matches. However, occasionally, as the game timer starts to run down, the music will slowly swell into existence – adding a sense of tension. It’s very well done.
Fun: I have had a blast playing this game. I’ve paired up with both random players and real life friends. Naturally, I’ve enjoyed my time playing with friends more. But, I’ve also met some interesting people through the matchmaking system. Combine these interactions with the gameplay and you’re almost always guaranteed to have some kind of story to tell when the match has ended. This is the most fun I’ve had with a multiplayer shooter in a very long time.
Graphics: This game was built using the Unreal 5 Engine. But unlike other modern UE games, I this one seems extremely optimized. The graphics are nothing short of breathtaking and they manage to stay that way without a huge performance impact. When I say breathtaking, I mean it. This is probably the best looking game I have ever played in terms of visual quality. Sure, it’s not as “color pretty” as a fantasy game, or something like that. But it captures a photorealistic look that’s unmatched.
Playcontrol: This game uses the standard WSAD control scheme on the PC, with a few variances. It makes sense and works well. Naturally, you can also customize the key bindings, which I’ve done for a few things. I’ve not tried playing with a controller, but several of my PC friends actually prefer to do so. Of course, console players default to using a controller. When using a controller, there is an aim assist function to help smooth the skill curve against those using a keyboard and mouse. My friends who do use a controller have advised me that everything feels natural and works as you might expect. I’ve heard that the PS5 controller seems to feel a bit more natural than the Xbox controller, however. Still, as is the case with most games, you get used to whatever controller you’re using.
Downloadable Content: Yes. Cosmetic items.
Mature Content: Violence
Value: Arc Raiders retails for $40. This is a great price for a game of this quality. I should point out, this is a buy and play price. There’s no monthly fee. The cash shop in the game is for cosmetic items only. At the time of this writing, there’s no “additional content DLC”. Any future updates to the game, including new maps, are planned to be released for free to existing owners.
Overall score (1-100): 95 – This game has been like a breath of fresh air for me. It really is that good. I’ve had more fun playing this than almost anything else I’ve played in the last few years. My only complaint is the constant amount of “friend request spam” that I get from gold sellers. I wish there were better privacy options to prevent that sort of thing. Also, I’ve encountered a bit of obvious cheating from other players. But, this sort of thing seems to get addressed rather quickly. The game itself is beautiful, exciting, and fun to play. The online matchmaking and the machine-learning AI of the robotic enemies feels like the future of gaming.
Original System: PC
Available today on: PC, PS5, Xbox X/S – (Updated as of Early Winter 2026)
Best Modern Experience: PC – (Updated as of Early Winter 2026)
