Every now and again, a shooter comes along that changes the game. Half-Life 2 did it, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare did it, and so did Fortnite. That’s exactly what ARC Raiders does too. It’s that good.
Embark Studios, founded by veteran Battlefield devs, has already proved it knows its way around a good shooter with the criminally underrated The Finals. But with ARC Raiders, we’re talking about their crowning achievement.
Thanks to high-stakes gunfights where literally every bullet counts, terrifying mechanical enemies that are a constant threat, and a gameplay loop that produces unforgettable moments by the minute, it’ll have you saying “one more run” until the sun rises.
ARC Raiders screenshots
What is ARC Raiders?
ARC Raiders is an extraction shooter where you, a Raider, must leave the underground city of Speranza to scavenge supplies from the surface. However, the planet has been occupied by the ARC, mysterious robots that attack and kill humans on sight.
Each journey topside lasts no longer than 30 minutes, giving you limited time to find rare items, complete Quests, and extract safely. Fail to return before the time runs out, or get knocked out by an ARC or fellow Raider, and all of your loot is lost.
If you do make it home, you can use those scavenged resources to craft better weapons or upgrade your Workbenches to make valuable heals or throwables for the next run.
Ask questions first, shoot later
If you’ve ever played an extraction shooter like Escape from Tarkov, you’ll be immediately familiar with ARC Raiders’ loop of heading out into a map, desperately scavenging for loot, and trying to escape before it’s taken from you.
This formula makes every single decision feel vital. Do you play it safe and take your haul home with you, or do you explore one more building, knowing full well that you could lose everything?
It can be brutal, especially when you’re mercilessly gunned down just seconds before the elevator arrives to take you to safety, and your only good weapons fall into another player’s hands. But, whether it’s the highest of highs or a crushing low point, every single fight gets your blood pumping, and it’s a testament to how fun the gunplay is that it never stops me from going back for more.
Especially when playing solo, this fear of losing everything also leads to many memorable moments. Although some are eager for blood, many Raiders will call out “don’t shoot” when they spot you, and even work with you to defeat a common enemy.
In just one week with ARC Raiders, I’ve experienced more unforgettable moments than most games manage in a year. I stopped and had a lengthy discussion with a fellow Raider about where to complete the next Quest, banded together with two other players to help a newcomer fend off an angry robot, and even turned heel by betraying someone after they agreed not to shoot me. Their guns are still with me now.
No two runs ever feel the same, and it’s this unpredictability that will keep ARC Raiders going strong long after the initial hype dies down.
Not your average bots
It’s not just the real players that make the four launch maps feel alive, though. Each one is dominated by the ARC – from the drone-like Hornet with a minigun on the front to the Leaper, which jumps through the sky like The Incredible Hulk before smashing down on you.
Even the most straightforward enemy can be deadly if you don’t approach it properly, as they all deal a ton of damage and have remarkably smart AI that punish you if you don’t have a plan. They’re formidable, even in a squad, and it really sells the feeling that you’re trespassing on their land, not the other way around.
Although this difficulty might be off-putting to some players, constantly being on the back foot means that you have to weigh up every action. While there’s plenty of strategy in shooters like Warzone or even Overwatch, it’s easy to settle into a groove and use the same tactics that you know will work.
ARC Raiders gives you no such comfort. Figuring out how to get around the rocket-flinging drone guarding the extraction point without attracting the attention of other players, but before the time expires, is like playing 4D chess – but with much sweatier hands.
The maps themselves also mix things up, as each one has several different events or conditions to contend with. An electromagnetic storm forces you to remain indoors to avoid lightning strikes, while a night raid turns the game into a complete horror movie.
Verdict
ARC Raiders is truly special. In a multiplayer shooter landscape that’s growing increasingly stale, this is the pick-me-up shot in the arm the genre needed.
Every run is an emotional rollercoaster as you go from rags to riches and back again, but the highs are so high that the next run is impossible to resist. Its brutal enemies and hilarious player interactions consistently conjure up water cooler moments at a rapid pace.
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