ARC Raiders is the perfect extraction shooter and 2025’s best multiplayer game

I recall when Embark Studios first gained attention a few years back. They had two main projects underway at the time: a fast-paced, competitive shooter known as The Finals, and another that ultimately evolved into ARC Raiders.

When ARC Raiders was first being developed, the game’s final form wasn’t fully decided. It was the team’s first project, originally planned to launch in 2022. However, they shifted focus and decided to invest more effort into a new player-versus-player mode they were experimenting with before release.

As a researcher following the gaming industry, I was surprised when ARC Raiders didn’t launch in 2023 as originally expected. Embark made a significant shift, moving away from their planned player-versus-environment focus and instead diving into the extraction shooter genre. It’s a gamble that clearly paid off – the game quickly became a top seller on Steam, and it’s now firmly in my running for game of the year.

ARC Raiders: What is it?

Escape from Tarkov is often the first game people think of when discussing extraction shooters. It’s incredibly realistic and demanding, truly testing a player’s skill and how much time they’re willing to invest. It’s not just a game you play – it’s an experience you fully immerse yourself in.

Players spend countless hours perfecting their skills in this game, striving to reduce their kill time by even the smallest fractions of a second.

What barrel is compatible with the Molot Arms Simonov OP-SKS 7.62×39 carbine? And out of the 25 available pistol grips, which one performs best with the Kalashnikov AK-74M 5.45×39 assault rifle?

ARC Raiders explores the idea of combining the exciting elements of extraction shooter games into an experience that’s enjoyable for both hardcore and casual players.

Not to say that ARC Raiders is just a casual Tarkov, as that’s a disservice to the game to say so.

This game offers a uniquely fast-paced experience, similar to Escape from Tarkov in its challenging mechanics, but it also forces players to make difficult moral choices. Will you cooperate with others or eliminate them to achieve your goals?

ARC Raiders became available on October 20, 2025, for Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5.

ARC Raiders: PvPvE Gameplay perfected

Embark Studios has expertly combined player-versus-environment and player-versus-player combat, creating a dynamic experience that changes with every game. The way you play – whether alone or with a team – unlocks different storylines. When you team up, each player feels more powerful thanks to the support of others, and you’ll never have to face challenges completely on your own.

Honestly, when I’m playing solo, the feeling of being truly vulnerable really hits me. It’s one thing to be in a raid, where someone *might* be able to revive you if you fall, especially if you’ve teamed up with another player. But when you’re out on your own, the stakes feel so much higher – there’s no safety net, and that adds a real edge to the experience.

ARC Raiders focuses on the fight between humans and robots, not people against each other. Earth is threatened with destruction by the ARC, a robotic force that has taken over the planet’s surface. Players take on the role of Raiders, venturing onto the surface to find parts, weapons, and supplies to bring back to their underground base, called Speranza.

The constant danger of the ARC robots has surprisingly created a new way players interact. You’re often faced with a quick decision: attack another player for their gear, or team up to survive the robots? I often chose to trust other players, immediately calling out “Friendly!” or “Don’t shoot!” This usually led to cooperation, and I frequently found myself working with groups of up to seven people.

This game’s difficulty has created some of my most memorable gaming experiences. I’ll never forget finally defeating my first Leaper with basic equipment, or the satisfaction of solving a tricky environmental puzzle to unlock a room full of valuable rewards.

As my character became stronger and I got better equipment, I didn’t need help from other players as much anymore. I could quickly defeat most enemies with a well-aimed explosive, except for the Queen boss. I was able to handle things on my own.

This caused me to worry about losing my equipment, so I started carrying grenades specifically to collect useful parts from defeated players. Others would see me win these fights and try to steal those parts, hoping to get something for themselves. They rarely succeeded, but they certainly kept trying!

ARC Raiders: A masterfully crafted gameplay loop

The game’s progression and crafting systems are also incredibly engaging. Players can constantly improve by getting new gear from raids and then using it to create even better items, keeping them hooked for hours.

You can earn rewards like money, items, and weapons by completing quests. If you prefer not to fight enemies for loot, or find it challenging, quests are a great way to get equipped. These quests involve different tasks, such as hunting ARC creatures, collecting items, or gathering information for people who offer them.

These quests aren’t groundbreaking, but they provide players with engaging goals to pursue, both on their own and with others. Initially, they’ve encouraged players who usually play alone to team up and cooperate.

What really stands out is how much variety there is on each map. Blue Ridge, currently the most visually appealing map, is a great example. It features several spots where you can request supply drops, solve puzzles for better loot, unlock secret doors, and explore other areas with open-ended rewards.

The game offers something for everyone, and it’s so dynamic that I often change my strategy based on where we land. While each teammate can focus on looting nearby areas, you might stumble upon another team already fighting a tough enemy, giving you a chance to attack from the side and help out.

No matter your preferences, shooter fans are likely to find a lot to enjoy in this game – it’s consistently popular on Steam, regularly attracting more players than ever before.

It’s worth noting that ARC Raiders doesn’t have a traditional player-versus-environment mode. While some players might not like this, I personally appreciate that the game focuses on a mix of player-versus-player and player-versus-environment combat, and I hope the developers maintain this approach in the future.

ARC Raiders: A gorgeous game that runs beyond expectations

Unreal Engine 5 has faced criticism recently, with some blaming it for issues in games like the upcoming Outer Worlds 2 and Borderlands 4, particularly performance problems. However, games like ARC Raiders, along with others, demonstrate that the engine isn’t necessarily the cause of these setbacks.

Although ARC Raiders is built using a specific version of Unreal Engine 5 called NvRTX, it really showcases what the engine is capable of when developers prioritize quality. Many games seem to rely on quick fixes and overuse features like Lumen, Nanite, and level streaming, leading to performance issues. ARC Raiders took a different approach, focusing on smooth performance while still delivering stunning visuals – it’s easily one of the most beautiful and engaging shooters I’ve played in a long time.

I’m getting amazing performance in this game! With my powerful 5080 GPU and 9800X3D processor, I can consistently hit around 200 frames per second at 1440p with all the graphics settings maxed out. Even with a less powerful 4060, I’m getting over 144 frames per second at 1080p without needing to use any upscaling technology. It’s clear the game is incredibly well optimized.

The sound design in ARC Raiders is fantastic. I can clearly hear all the details around me, like footsteps and distant gunfire. It’s honestly some of the best audio I’ve experienced in an online multiplayer game, and I haven’t seen a single person ask for it to be adjusted.

ARC Raiders: What’s not so great?

Every game has some flaws, and there are usually a few things developers could improve. ARC Raiders is no exception, but thankfully, the issues I’ve encountered aren’t major and seem fixable.

ARC Raiders really needs a mode for two-player teams. Right now, if you play with just one friend, you’ll frequently face off against groups of three, which isn’t fair.

Although it’s still possible to win, teams that work well together have a significant advantage. If you’re stuck in a building, beating three players of similar skill often relies on chance instead of good strategy and teamwork.

One thing that bothers me is how games handle graphics settings for competitive play. Many players turn down visual quality to get smoother performance, but if someone is already achieving a high frame rate – like 200 frames per second – it doesn’t make sense to force them to compromise on how good the game looks. The problem is, keeping the graphics high can actually put you at a disadvantage.

Reducing the detail of trees and bushes can improve game performance, but it also makes it easier to spot players who are trying to hide. This creates an unfair advantage, as it’s like making players visible even when they should be concealed. In a competitive game, everyone needs to see the environment the same way – no one should be able to see through objects that others can’t.

Please, if you can’t require all players to use high settings, try to find a compromise that makes the game look consistent for everyone. Don’t penalize players who want to enjoy the game with the best possible graphics.

ARC Raiders: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if…

You love extraction shooters

ARC Raiders really sets the standard for extraction shooters. It’s currently the best example of the genre, unless you prefer the incredibly realistic and gritty experience of Escape from Tarkov.

You enjoy mental warfare

I’m really excited about ARC Raiders! It looks like it’ll be intense whether you’re playing by yourself or with a small team. Playing solo seems especially nerve-wracking – one wrong move, like bragging about good loot, and you instantly become someone else’s target. It’s going to be a real test of skill and awareness!

❌You should not buy this if…

You don’t like third-person shooters

It’s disappointing to hear some people won’t play simply because the game is played from a third-person perspective. While everyone has their preferences, if you really dislike being able to see around corners before your opponents do, this game probably isn’t for you.

You want a pure PvE game mode.

Many players are disappointed that ARC Raiders doesn’t offer a dedicated player-versus-environment mode. The game focuses heavily on player-versus-player combat alongside environmental challenges, and some are choosing not to buy or play it because of this. If you dislike the risk of losing items and the frustration that comes with it, this probably isn’t the game for you.

ARC Raiders ended up being exactly what I imagined. After playing through all the early versions and test servers over the years, I had a very specific idea of what the game would be like, and I honestly didn’t think the developers, Embark, could actually achieve it.

Have you ever really wanted a game, anticipated it for years, only to be slightly disappointed when it finally came out? That’s usually my experience. But with ARC Raiders, that didn’t happen. It actually lived up to all the excitement and expectations – it completely delivered.

ARC Raiders isn’t likely to win Game of the Year – multiplayer shooters rarely do. However, it’s easily the best player-versus-player multiplayer game we’ve seen in a long time. I say this after spending a significant amount of time playing Battlefield 6, which I really enjoy.

This game takes a well-established genre and adds just enough innovation to make it stand out. I’m really optimistic about the direction Embark Studios is taking with ARC Raiders, both now and in the future. Here’s to that!

2025-11-10 15:42

ARC Raiders is the perfect extraction shooter and 2025’s best multiplayer game — Nothing else compares