Our ARC Raiders review explores Embark Studios’ new take on the extraction shooter, available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. The game combines player-versus-player and player-versus-environment combat in a post-apocalyptic setting filled with valuable loot and a rich backstory. At $39.99, it’s more affordable than most major releases, but the big question is: is it worth playing? We’ll break it down to help you decide.
ARC Raiders Review – What is ARC Raiders?
ARC Raiders is an online shooter for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC where you team up with up to two other players to battle enemies and extract valuable loot. You can also play the game on your own if you prefer.
Gameplay – ARC Raiders Review
I hadn’t really played an ‘extraction shooter’ game before – though I guess Helldivers 2 has some similarities – but I’ve been interested in the genre ever since I followed the development of Bungie’s Marathon. When that game got delayed, I decided to try ARC Raiders during its recent open test, the ‘Server Slam.’ I enjoyed it so much that I’ve already decided to buy the full game.
ARC Raiders is a third-person shooter where you explore maps to find valuable items and then escape before time runs out. Though the basic idea sounds simple and potentially repetitive, each match feels unique. This is thanks to the game’s blend of player-versus-player and player-versus-environment combat.
In each match, you can play alone or team up with up to three other players. Once the match starts, you’ll have between 20 and 30 minutes to explore and try to survive. Be aware of both computer-controlled enemies and other players while you’re playing.
ARC Raiders features a diverse range of enemies, from small and easily defeated foes like the Tick and Pop, to larger, more dangerous ones such as the Bombardier, Leaper, and Rocketeer. No matter their size or how they attack, every enemy in the game presents a genuine challenge.
To make things even more interesting, you’ll share the game world with other players, and they might be heading for the same places as you. This creates some really thrilling moments and interactions you don’t often find in online games.
I’ve found that most players in this game are really friendly. The game lets you easily talk to people nearby, and my squad and I actually had a fun experience where we met nine other players and all started dancing together! Unfortunately, the party ended quickly when someone jokingly suggested we try to defeat a tough boss, The Queen ARC, even though we weren’t prepared.
Playing ARC Raiders means you’ll inevitably encounter players who might try to steal your equipment – that’s just part of the game. Some players are focused on survival, while others are always ready for a fight, no matter who you are.
While not everyone will enjoy this approach, I really appreciate the suspense it creates. It keeps each playthrough fresh and unique because every encounter with other players feels unpredictable.
ARC Raiders is really enjoyable to play. The controls are a great starting point – they feel snappy and are laid out in a way that makes sense. I especially like the shoulder swap feature, which lets you quickly peek around corners or check your surroundings.
Honestly, one of the best things about this game is how simple the controls are. I can switch to my hammer, bandage, shield recharger, or even just stow my weapon for a speed boost, all super quickly – it’s not clunky at all. I didn’t have to spend ages learning the controls; everything just makes sense right away.
The game’s weapons are really enjoyable to use. I especially like the Ferro at the beginning, and the Arpeggio once I got my hands on it. There are tons of different weapons to discover or create as you play – everything from sniper rifles and machine guns to battle rifles and unique, specialized guns. You’ll never run out of options when scavenging for a new weapon!
It’s not just about finding guns, though! I can scavenge for all sorts of stuff – things like wires, power cells, and even weird things like lemons and apricots. Seriously! But it makes you wonder… what am I even using all this stuff for?
After each successful scavenging run, you’ll return to Speranza, an underground city where people live. Here, you can improve your workshop, trade items with merchants, personalize your Raider character, manage quests, and access other helpful options. Though you can’t freely explore Speranza itself, you’ll spend a lot of time navigating its menus.
While I’m happy with how the game currently works without a central hub, I wouldn’t mind if the developers added one. The most important thing is that the menus remain easy to navigate, even with a hub world included.
As a player, I’ve noticed that everything you find ‘Topside’ – out in the world – actually does something back at the Hub. Seriously, it’s not just random junk! You can use it to craft new stuff, turn it in for quests, or even break it down to get materials you do need. It’s really well designed, because I almost always finish a run feeling like I got something useful, which is awesome.
My only real issue with the game is the limited inventory space. Even after expanding it several times, I constantly find myself running out of room. It’s also hard to manage things since it’s a new game and I’m still figuring out what items are important to keep.
That’s not even the biggest issue, though. The good news is, the game always rewards you when you come back from the surface. Your trusty Rooster, Scrappy, will always have something for you, no matter how your trip goes. You’ll always get something for your efforts, whether you win or lose.
A key feature of ARC Raiders is that anything you lose while exploring the surface is permanently lost. This includes all your items like health kits, weapons, supplies, and any loot you’ve collected. However, you can designate one item as safe, ensuring it won’t be lost when you return to base.
Choosing your gear, or ‘loadout,’ is a key part of each match. Before you start, you can create a custom loadout with the equipment you prefer, or you can quickly select a pre-made, free loadout that includes a weapon, ammunition, and health items. Keep in mind that the free loadout doesn’t guarantee you’ll keep all your items if you’re eliminated, which is a reasonable trade-off for using it.
I’ve seen some players complain about the free starting loadout, but I actually like it. It’s helpful if you’re short on weapons or playing with people you don’t fully trust, as it lets you quickly jump into a match. Plus, since you begin with only a basic Level 1 weapon, you’re not immediately powerful and won’t be able to dominate on the more challenging maps.
ARC Raiders currently has six maps to play, with a new one recently added through an update. Each map is enjoyable to explore and offers plenty of interesting areas to discover.
Each map has unique, temporary events that change gameplay. For example, the Dam Battlegrounds might experience a night raid, making it darker, or a Lush Bloom event could occur, increasing the availability of natural resources.
Every map has a different difficulty setting. I especially enjoy playing the harder maps because it feels rewarding after all the effort I put in to reach that point – upgrading my weapons, building a strong set of gear, and improving my skills.
One of the best things about ARC Raiders is how satisfying it feels to get better, even without a traditional story. Building up powerful weapons and having plenty of healing items makes you feel much more capable than when you first start playing. However, it also keeps things tense, because you always know other players are out there trying to take what you’ve earned.
Speaking of progression, there’s a lot of it in ARC Raiders. Overall, you can upgrade:
- Your Workshop Crafting Stations, which consists of a:
- Medical Lab
- Gunsmith
- Refiner
- Gear Bench
- Explosives Station
- Utility Station
- Your Raider, including their
- Mobility
- Survival
- Conditioning
- Your Weapons, including their
- Level
- Attachments
- & more
You can also improve Scrappy, and with each upgrade, he’ll gather even more materials. It takes a lot of effort to fully maximize everything in the game.
ARC Raiders offers more than just gathering resources. You can embark on expeditions, which are like a way to advance your character’s status. These reset your inventory, but you keep your maps, tokens, currency, and workshop. Completing expeditions rewards you with benefits like increased inventory space and better resource gathering.
Before you continue, you might want to tackle the challenging Blue Gate and its boss, the ARC Queen. Alternatively, you could head to the SpacePort to search for specific items. Or, if you prefer, you can simply jump right into combat. It’s all up to you!
You can also take on optional side quests, or test out your weapons with friends at the practice range.
The game launched really smoothly online, which is great because new games often have problems with their online features. Embark did a fantastic job getting it ready, and their Server Slam test clearly helped them find and fix any bugs. I barely experienced any lag or connection problems while playing.
You don’t have to play with a full team! ARC Raiders is fun whether you’re going solo or teaming up with just one friend. Playing alone lets you try strategies like luring enemies into traps. However you choose to play, there are plenty of options available in ARC Raiders.
It’s worth noting the game includes microtransactions. While they’re primarily cosmetic and the game was reasonably priced at $40, I’m generally not a fan of this practice. As you may know from my other reviews, I dislike microtransactions in any game, no matter what they offer.
I’m having a blast playing ARC Raiders! Honestly, teaming up with other players has been the most fun I’ve had with an online game in ages. I usually prefer playing by myself or with a close friend, but I’m really enjoying the way the game mixes player-versus-player and player-versus-environment action. It all feels great thanks to the responsive controls, awesome weapons, and the beautiful maps they’ve created.
It’s great being able to play however you want – whether you’re on your own, teaming up with friends, and using any gear you choose. This flexibility really enhances the overall experience.
Story – ARC Raiders
ARC Raiders takes place on Earth after a catastrophic event, where giant mechanical creatures called ARC now dominate the surface. To survive, people have built settlements far underground. The game quickly moves you to Speranza, which acts as the main hub where you can interact with merchants, manage your equipment, and prepare for missions.
You can also get quests from the various merchants in the game. Initially, these missions are straightforward and help you understand how to play. However, as you progress, the quests become more challenging and reveal more about the game’s story.
I enjoy the world and basic idea behind ARC Raiders, but the story isn’t the most important part of the game. Don’t expect a detailed campaign with lots of cutscenes. However, I’m happy with how things are.
I think some mysteries are best left unsolved. I don’t need to know the origins of the ARC or exactly how humanity fell. It makes things feel more mysterious. While those exploring the surface are slowly piecing together the past, we still don’t know what really happened.
Over time, we’ll likely learn more about the game’s story through updates and new maps. While it would be nice to have all the answers, I also really enjoy how Embark keeps some of the world’s mysteries hidden, especially given how dangerous it is.
ARC Raiders isn’t primarily about its story, but it has a really interesting world and concept that works well with how you play the game. I’m excited to see what the developers do with it going forward.
Graphics – ARC Raiders Review
ARC Raiders looks fantastic, thanks to both its high-quality graphics and striking art style. It has a retro-futuristic feel, similar to the original Star Wars films and sci-fi classics like Alien.
I especially appreciate the diverse environments in each map. Whether you’re fighting on battlefields, space stations, or in ancient cities, the game always looks fresh. Embark started with five maps, and they’ve recently added a sixth, Stella Montis. While that might not sound like a lot, each map is so large and detailed that it more than compensates for the quantity.
Honestly, every map in this game feels totally different and really immersive. There’s just so much to see! It’s not just about playing, either – I often find myself just wandering around, taking it all in. It’s a really chill experience when you need a break from the action.
The game isn’t just beautiful to look at; it really makes you want to explore everything. I once went looking for olives at The Blue Gate, but ended up checking out a Ruined Homestead and then an Ancient Fort first. And surprisingly, getting distracted like that helped me find useful items I’d need later on.
I really enjoyed the art style and graphics in ARC Raiders. The game’s blend of retro and futuristic design, along with its interesting environments, were key factors in keeping me engaged.
Audio – ARC Raiders Review
ARC Raiders’ music matches the game’s overall look and feel. While the soundtrack is good, I personally found the game more immersive with just the ambient sounds. If you like retro-futuristic music with a cinematic quality, you’ll probably enjoy the audio in ARC Raiders.
The noises of aged equipment and footsteps – whether on decaying floors or open fields – are incredibly immersive. I especially enjoy the sound of distant gunfire, as it means the ARC are pursuing someone other than myself.
The ARC sounds incredible – and a little scary – when it comes near. Its designs are fantastic, but it’s the sounds that really get to you. They’re unsettling and creepy, which perfectly matches the feeling of being attacked by a Leaper.
Seriously, Embark really nailed the proximity chat in this game. It’s so cool hearing someone shout “friendly!” from way off in the distance – it actually feels pretty real. Plus, you can mess around with your voice too, choosing from ten different filters to change how you sound to other players.
Beyond the core gameplay, ARC Raiders really shines thanks to its impressive visuals and sound design. While these elements might seem secondary to how the game plays, they actually add a lot to the overall experience, making it feel much more immersive.
Verdict: Is ARC Raiders Worth Your Time & Money?
ARC Raiders is a really engaging game with plenty to do right from the start. It’s a lot of fun to play, and if the developers keep adding new content, it has the potential to become even more popular.
The shooting mechanics are satisfying, and the mix of player-versus-player and player-versus-environment combat is exciting and new. Excellent graphics and sound really enhance the game. A big part of its success is the active player community, but Embark deserves a lot of praise for delivering such a polished and refined experience.
Honestly, playing this game just feels good. Everything flows so smoothly, and it’s super rewarding to play. The controls are tight, the gameplay loop is seriously addictive – I just keep wanting to play more – and the maps are gorgeous. They really nailed almost everything with this one.
The only downsides I found were the in-game purchases and the way items are organized. I’m used to seeing in-game purchases these days, but the inventory system could definitely be improved with a future update.
Despite a few minor issues, I thoroughly enjoyed ARC Raiders. It’s currently the best extraction shooter available, and if you’re curious about the genre, its price and enjoyable gameplay make it a great place to start!
ARC Raiders shows the way forward for extraction shooter games. Congratulations to the team at Embark on a great launch!
That wraps up our ARC Raiders Review. We’ll see you Topside!
Score: 9/10
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2025-11-13 23:43