ARC RAIDERS: THE EXTRACTION SHOOTER THAT LET EVERYONE IN
8.0 of 10 bananas. Embark's extraction shooter became the friendliest in the genre: approachable combat, terrifying ARC machines, and a community that talks before it shoots. A year on, a PvE mode helped, but recent Steam reviews sit at Mixed and the AI voice use still costs it.
By the Alpha. Full review. Updated Nov 14 2026.
Honest note: This is not a fresh hands-on playtest. I built this verdict from critic reviews, player reviews, the store listing, and the official game pages linked below. If I put real hours in on stream, I will update the score and say so.
Platforms: PC via Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, released October 30 2025. Developed and published by Embark Studios. The button goes to Steam because I have not verified a fair US Amazon listing yet. At my Nov 14 2026 check Steam listed it at 39.99 dollars. It is a paid game, not free-to-play.
Get ARC Raiders on SteamStore check, Nov 14 2026: Steam listed it at 39.99 dollars. This is not an affiliate link. Prices change, so look before you pay.
Sit with me a moment. Most extraction shooters feel like walking into a room full of campers holding your lunch. ARC Raiders made the troop say hello first. A year after launch, it is still one of the most talked about shooters on Steam, and the talk is no longer all love.
What It Wants To Be
A third person PvPvE extraction shooter on a ruined future Earth. You drop topside with a squad or solo, scavenge loot, fight or dodge the mechanized ARC threat and other players, and try to extract before you lose everything you carried. Between raids you build up your hideout, skills, and gear.
What Works
Metacritic sits at 86 for PC at my check, with 54 of 57 critic reviews positive. TechRadar gave it full marks and called it the first extraction shooter that truly feels built for everyone. Shacknews praised approachable combat with a gnarled edge. Everyeye said it runs flawlessly on consoles. Overall Steam reviews sit at Very Positive, 81 percent of over 205,000 English reviews. Players also credit a newer PvE mode for smoothing the grind.
What Breaks
Listen well. Recent Steam reviews are Mixed, 69 percent of 6,355 in the last 30 days, and the Metacritic user score is 7.3. Eurogamer scored it 40, citing Embark's continued use of AI voice generation. Player complaints include ratting, teams in solo lobbies, slow development, and PC performance. The PvE mode does not hold all of the game's content, per player reports. Losing your gear still hurts, by design.
Who Should Play
Play it if you want to try extraction shooters without the sweatiest crowds, or you love tense co-op raids. Skip it if AI voice work is a dealbreaker for you, or if losing a full bag to another player ruins your night.
STRENGTHS
- Friendliest extraction shooter
- Terrifying ARC machines
- Great audio and atmosphere
- PvE mode now available
HONEST COSTS
- Recent Steam reviews Mixed
- AI voice generation
- Ratting and griefing
- No Amazon link yet
Store note: this is a Steam PC game link. The troop still needs an Amazon referral for this one, so this store button is the only link until a fair new Amazon listing is verified. This is not an affiliate link.