Arc Raiders Is the Best Shooter in a Long Time (Review)

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From the moment I first saw Arc Raiders, I was drawn in by its cool, cinematic style and emphasis on teamwork and creating a strong atmosphere. Even when the developers shifted from a traditional player-versus-environment game to an extraction shooter, that initial appeal remained. In a year already filled with new Call of Duty and Battlefield games, Arc Raiders really stands out – it’s both the most original and the most impressive shooter I’ve played this year. I was particularly impressed by the game’s community, which is one of the most welcoming I’ve encountered. After many hours spent exploring the abandoned landscapes, fighting off AI enemies, and making daring escapes under pressure, I’m confident in saying that Arc Raiders is truly something special.

Arc Raiders creates a beautifully realized world with a genuine sense of threat, and its combat system is satisfying for both strategic thinkers and skilled players. It feels like a fresh take on the extraction shooter genre, offering a more focused and considered experience than typical battle royales. While not perfect, its flaws are small. Any fan of shooter games should definitely give Embark Studios’ new title a try.

Rating: 4.5/5

Pros Cons
Exceptionally solo-friendly and rewarding. UI feels clunky and could use refinement.
Gorgeous retro-futuristic atmosphere. Some systems and items need clearer explanation.
Clever, challenging AI that keeps you on your toes. Limited character customization and cosmetic flexibility.
Deeply satisfying gunplay and gameplay loop. Premium currency grind feels steep.
Immersive world design that encourages exploration.

A World That Feels Dangerous and Beautiful

From the start, it’s clear Embark Studios has a strong sense of atmosphere in Arc Raiders. The game’s environments beautifully combine a retro-futuristic sci-fi style with the feel of a world after a disaster. You’ll see lots of cold metal, old technology, and feel a constant sense of mechanical threat. The world is incredibly well-designed and feels lived-in, even though civilization has fallen. Broken buildings, deserted facilities, and strange energy storms hint at what happened without needing lengthy explanations, creating a compelling story through the environment itself.

What truly makes Arc Raiders stand out is its immersive atmosphere. The sound design is fantastic, creating a realistic and engaging experience. The game’s world is both beautiful and unsettling, which makes even simple missions feel exciting despite the constant threat. This atmosphere isn’t just for show – it’s woven into the gameplay itself. Each match, raid, and encounter is filled with tension, as you might begin by simply gathering supplies only to be caught in a firefight with robots or another player team. Because valuable rewards are always on the line, every decision feels important and the stakes remain consistently high.

What’s really great about Arc Raiders is that you don’t need to play with a team, even though it’s fun when you do. It’s surprisingly enjoyable to play by yourself, which makes each moment feel more tense and personal. During my time with the game, even when playing solo, I often found myself interacting with or teaming up with other players. In fact, Arc Raiders is the first game that’s made me want to use voice and proximity chat.

The game has created some really memorable experiences. I’ve teamed up with others to take down enemy vehicles like Bombadiers and Bastions, and I’ve also rushed in to help fellow raiders when they were under attack. While not every encounter ended peacefully, Arc Raiders showed me a different side of gaming than I’m used to. Player-versus-player combat is available, but I was surprised to find that most players prefer to cooperate and focus on the player-versus-environment challenges.

Gunplay, AI, and the Addictive Loop That Keeps You Coming Back

As a shooter fan, I have to say the gunplay in Arc Raiders is fantastic. Every gun just feels right – powerful, satisfying, and totally different from the others. You really notice it – the sharp report of a rifle, the heavy boom of a shotgun, or the cool energy burst from the futuristic weapons. It’s not just about shooting; it feels good. Plus, they’ve made it so certain weapons and grenades work better against the Arcs and other enemies, which adds a lot of strategy. But honestly, what really makes the combat shine is how smart the enemies are!

The robots in Arc Raiders are smart and work together well, making them difficult to fight. They don’t just rush in – they try to surround you, keep you pinned down, and change their tactics based on what you do. I was caught off guard when I thought I’d defeated one robot, only to have another appear behind me. They quickly trapped me and eliminated me before moving on to the next target. I’m constantly impressed by how intelligent the AI is and how effectively it follows me, even when I’m trying to escape.

Honestly, the way this game plays is just so addictive. It’s a great mix of finding stuff, fighting, and then trying to escape with it all, and it feels really well balanced. When you actually pull off a successful run, it feels like a real accomplishment. I always want to push a little further for better gear, but you have to weigh that against staying alive! It’s such a rush when you finally get out. And even when you don’t make it, it rarely feels cheap. I always learn something new from each run – what I did wrong, or how I could have survived. It just makes you want to try again.

While this system is generally excellent, the interface could be improved. It sometimes feels awkward to use, and I occasionally had trouble with the cursor not responding. Some of the game’s features and how they work aren’t explained well enough, which was a little frustrating and broke my focus a few times.

Progression, Customization, and the Grind for Credits

Similar to many popular shooting games today, Arc Raiders keeps players hooked by letting them customize their gear and steadily improve their abilities, and it does this very well. Earning new equipment, weapons, and perks feels great, and the constant stream of upgrades gives every play session a clear goal. The game offers a satisfying sense of progress without feeling too complicated. I was always focused on collecting loot to improve my crafting stations and unlock new items. Each time I played, I got better gear, which kept me wanting to play just one more round.

One of the few weaknesses of Arc Raiders is its character customization. It feels surprisingly restrictive for a game that looks so good. You can’t mix and match individual clothing items – you have to choose from complete outfits. Considering how stylish the game’s world is, it’s disappointing that you have so few options for personalizing your character. Hopefully, the developers at Embark Studios will improve this in a future update.

Okay, so the way Arc Raiders handles its in-game currency is a bit of a pain point for me. You can either grind for ages to unlock cool cosmetic stuff with the Raider Deck, or just buy bundles directly. Honestly, the grind is really tough, and the bundles are super expensive. It’s not like you can pay to win or anything, but the economy definitely needs some tweaking. But honestly, even with that, it’s not a huge deal because the gameplay itself is just so good! It’s one of those shooters that just feels right, you know? I’ve played for hours and I still can’t put the controller down – it’s seriously addictive.

Arc Raiders is a standout live-service shooter – it genuinely feels dynamic and successfully blends exciting action with suspenseful moments, all wrapped in beautiful artistry. While not flawless, it comes remarkably close. Any minor issues don’t hinder the engaging gameplay, resulting in a truly impressive experience. Embark Studios has created one of the best shooters of the year, a strong contender for Game of the Year despite tough competition.

Arc Raiders launched on October 30th for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. We received a PlayStation 5 code from the publisher to use for this review.

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2025-11-11 18:14