ARC Raiders

A PvPvE extraction shooter where you scavenge alien technology and fight rival squads to reach the extraction point.

Last reviewed: May 1, 2026

Released Oct 2025 Multiplayer / Atmospheric / Family Sharing

Embark's prettiest and friendliest extraction shooter — ARC Raiders trades Tarkov's hardcore detail for cleaner combat and a real sci-fi world to fight over.

8.0 /10

Strong

Previously an Editor's pick

For you if

You bounced off Escape from Tarkov's complexity but still want extraction-shooter tension.
Embark's gunfeel from The Finals worked for you — the company's signature weight and recoil carry over.
Co-op trios with map-wide objectives in a single PvPvE world is the multiplayer shape you want.

Not for you if

You don't have a regular trio or duo — solo extraction is steeper here than the genre average.
Free-to-play extraction shooters spoiled you — ARC Raiders' $40 buy-in is real, and DLC/season pass posture is uncertain.
You hate losing gear on death — this is a full-loot extraction game, no gear-protection mode.

What players love

The tense PvPvE loop and emergent community dynamics, like rat hunters, keep high-hour players returning for more.

What frustrates them

Persistent third-party ambushes after fights, combined with cheaters and a lack of a PvE-only mode, frustrate long-time players.

See the reviews behind this →

What critics say

9/10IGN
ARC Raiders raises the bar for extraction shooters with an incredibly gripping progression grind and tense fights that make for memorable matches.
Travis Northup Read review →
2/5Eurogamer
Rich PvE combat and an unusually friendly community make Arc Raiders more approachable, but AI voice generation is a black mark.
Rick Lane Read review →
86/100PC Gamer
Arc Raiders is a genuinely enjoyable extraction shooter thanks to interesting weapons, beautiful maps, and unpredictable action-packed encounters.
Elie Gould Read review →

Before You Play

Refreshed monthly

Can ARC Raiders be played solo, or do you need a squad?

Both work, but solo is significantly harder. Matchmaking attempts to pair solo queuers against other solos, but you'll regularly run into squads of 2-3 — and the post-apocalyptic Rust Belt is unforgiving when you're alone (ARC robots, environmental hazards, and rival raiders all hunt you). Solo play teaches positioning and stealth fast; group play forgives mistakes through revives and coordinated extractions. New players should run squads of 2-3 for their first 10-20 hours, then solo if they want a pure stealth/PvE-evasion challenge.

Source: Game Rant ARC Raiders FAQ

Does ARC Raiders support cross-play between PC and console?

Yes. ARC Raiders has full cross-play across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S — you can squad up with friends regardless of platform. Cross-progression is also supported, so your progress carries forward whether you switch platforms or play different sessions on different devices. There's no opt-out cross-play option for PC-vs-console parity, so console players will sometimes face PC mouse-and-keyboard accuracy.

Source: GameSpot Cross-Play Guide

How many players does ARC Raiders best support?

Three players is the standard squad size and the size the game is balanced around — coordination on extraction routes, crossfire angles, and revives. Two players also works well; solo is viable but harder. Larger groups aren't supported (no 4+ squads). Unlike Helldivers 2 or Deep Rock Galactic, this is a player-vs-player-vs-environment extraction shooter, so squad size affects both how aggressive you can be and how juicy a target you are to other squads.

Source: Wikipedia

How punishing is ARC Raiders for new players?

Honest answer: rough. Every raid risks losing your loadout — die, and your gear stays on the map for someone else to grab. Rival players can ambush you mid-extraction, ARC robot patrols escalate by zone, and there's no in-raid matchmaking adjustment for skill. The first 10-15 hours are mostly losses, and the learning curve is real. New players survive longer in squads, focus on quick stash runs over deep-zone raids, and should expect to lose gear regularly — that's the genre's design, not a bug.

Source: Escapist ARC Raiders Guide

Does ARC Raiders have meaningful progression beyond the core extraction loop?

Yes — character levels, skills, and a stash-and-craft economy that mirrors Escape from Tarkov but with friendlier UI. Notably, ARC Raiders doesn't do involuntary wipes the way Tarkov does; instead, completing Expedition Projects in specific timeframes resets character progression and rewards new cosmetics, while purchased items and cosmetics are persistent. Long-term goals include weapon mastery, blueprint unlocks, and faction reputation. Cosmetics and battle-pass-style cosmetic rewards live outside the wipe-resettable progression layer.

Source: Game Rant ARC Raiders FAQ