ARC Raiders

About

ARC Raiders is a single player and multiplayer shooter game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Embark Studios and was released on November 22, 2021. It received positive reviews from players.

ARC Raiders is a third-person action game where players scavenge a machine-overrun surface and thrive in the vibrant underground society of Speranza. Craft, upgrade gear, and face deadly threats while exploring four distinct maps solo or in teams up to three. Your choices shape the type of Raider you become in this dynamic survival experience.

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87%

Audience ScoreBased on 206,837 reviews

gameplay6.3k positive mentions

grinding1.8k negative mentions

The gameplay loop is engaging and addictive, offering a satisfying blend of PvE and PvP elements that keeps players coming back for more.
The graphics and sound design are exceptional, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
The game is well-optimized, running smoothly across a range of hardware, which is a notable achievement for a title built on Unreal Engine 5.

Many players find the gameplay repetitive and the matchmaking system frustrating, leading to a less enjoyable experience over time.
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including bugs, glitches, and exploits that can detract from the overall enjoyment.
The monetization practices are seen as aggressive and disappointing for a paid game, leading to perceptions of a cash grab.

gameplay
14,332 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
51%
5%
The gameplay of "Arc Raiders" has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its engaging mechanics, smooth controls, and immersive atmosphere. The core gameplay loop—scavenging, combat, and extraction—offers a satisfying blend of PvE and PvP elements, though some players find it repetitive over time. While the game excels in visuals and sound design, issues such as aggressive matchmaking, player toxicity, and balance problems have led to frustrations, particularly for those seeking a more cooperative experience. Overall, the game is seen as fun and addictive, especially when played with friends, but it may not appeal to everyone due to its current PvP focus and gameplay dynamics.
- “The gameplay is fantastic, the gunplay is tight, the world bosses and co-op teamwork are some of the most fantastic and cinematic experiences I've ever had.”
- “The gameplay loop is addictive, and even after 70 hours, every raid feels different and worth jumping back into.”
- “Arc Raiders nails the balance between tension, atmosphere, and rewarding gameplay.”
- “1) It's boring, repetitive gameplay and matchmaking is beyond terrible since January.”
- “The gameplay loop is a masterclass in tedium.”
- “The core gameplay loop is boring and gets old after an hour.”
story
7,803 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
76%
7%
The story aspect of "Arc Raiders" has received mixed feedback from players. While some appreciate the game's intriguing premise and environmental storytelling, many criticize the quests as repetitive and lacking depth, often reduced to simple fetch tasks that do not significantly enhance the narrative. Players express frustration with the PvP elements, which can overshadow the intended cooperative experience, making it difficult to complete missions and enjoy the story. Overall, while the game has potential for rich storytelling, the current execution leaves much to be desired, with calls for more engaging quests and a clearer narrative direction.
- “Arc Raiders is an incredible story generator of a game.”
- “The story unfolds naturally as you play and pay attention to the lore, and the codex system ties everything together really well.”
- “The world feels alive, the sound design is incredible, and the atmosphere pulls you in from the first mission.”
- “The quests are completely pointless and unrewarding.”
- “The story is boring and unengaging, almost nonexistent.”
- “The quests are very odd and over simple at times.”
graphics
7,403 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
34%
1%
The graphics of "Arc Raiders" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and immersive retro-futuristic aesthetic, often compared to high-quality titles like "Red Dead Redemption 2." Players appreciate the game's detailed environments, vibrant colors, and smooth performance, even on lower-end hardware. However, some users have reported graphical glitches and optimization issues, particularly with AMD graphics cards, which can detract from the overall experience.
- “The graphics immediately stand out — great lighting, detailed environments, and a world that feels both beautiful and dangerous.”
- “The graphics are stunning, the sound design is immersive, and the gameplay feels incredibly smooth and satisfying.”
- “The visuals are stunning — not just technically, but artistically. The retro-futuristic aesthetic gives the world a distinctive identity, and the sound design immerses you in the experience.”
- “Every update seems to destabilize the graphics.”
- “There is a shuddering/graphical glitch issue when inside buildings and looking at objects close up.”
- “The graphics are dull and washed out, generic in almost every conceivable way.”
atmosphere
3,292 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
39%
1%
The atmosphere in "Arc Raiders" is widely praised for its immersive and engaging qualities, combining stunning visuals, exceptional sound design, and a unique retro-futuristic aesthetic. Players appreciate the game's ability to create tension and excitement through its atmospheric environments, which enhance the overall experience of exploration and combat. Many reviews highlight the game's capacity to evoke a sense of danger and unpredictability, making each encounter feel meaningful and memorable, whether in cooperative or competitive scenarios.
- “Great atmosphere, smooth gameplay, and constant 'one more run' energy.”
- “The atmosphere does a lot of the heavy lifting.”
- “The atmosphere is tense from the first match; you’re constantly on edge knowing machines and other players are out there.”
- “The casual atmosphere the devs are trying to give us is brutally butchered by its poor choices that cannot make a stable gameplay loop for many types of play.”
- “However, the recent shift in direction—leaning heavily into a 'tarkov-lite' pvp mindset—is systematically dismantling the atmosphere and camaraderie that made the game unique.”
- “The game has turned into a stupid shooter where more and more players just kill you from behind, which completely ruins the cooperative atmosphere and makes it just another generic, run-of-the-mill arcade shooter.”
optimization
3,119 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
38%
7%
The optimization of "Arc Raiders" has received widespread praise, with many players noting its impressive performance across a range of hardware, including older systems. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to run smoothly without significant stuttering or crashes, even on high settings, which is a notable achievement for a title built on Unreal Engine 5. However, some users have reported occasional performance issues, particularly after updates, indicating that while the game is generally well-optimized, there are still areas for improvement. Overall, it stands out as one of the best-optimized games in recent years, offering a visually stunning experience without sacrificing performance.
- “Might honestly be the most well-optimized game in existence, everything at max with epic ray tracing on an AMD GPU and on Linux, no FSR, DLSS, or upscaling of any kind, and it's performing like an old Valve game (the most well-performing games ever) while looking and actually being Unreal Engine 5.”
- “The graphics of this game and its optimization are phenomenal.”
- “Amazing game, well optimized, great sound design, addictive gameplay loop.”
- “The game is very poorly optimized.”
- “The optimization is disastrous.”
- “Genuinely one of the most poorly optimized games I have ever played.”
grinding
1,943 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
92%
The grinding aspect of "Arc Raiders" has received mixed feedback from players. Many find the repetitive nature of crafting, resource gathering, and upgrading gear tedious, often feeling like a chore rather than an engaging gameplay loop. While some players appreciate the sense of progression and the thrill of looting, others express frustration over losing hard-earned gear to ambushes or glitches, leading to a perception that the game can be excessively grindy and punishing, especially for casual players. Overall, the experience varies widely, with some enjoying the grind while others feel it detracts from the fun.
- “Progression feels earned, not grindy, and upgrades genuinely matter.”
- “The game isn't grindy; in comparison to a lot of its counterparts, it's fluid. The movement makes a great influence in combat, and utility pieces are very smartly thought out and mostly, if not all, have a great use when the time is right.”
- “The loot loop feels meaningful and not grindy.”
- “Rebuilding gear sets and crafting things over and over again is tedious.”
- “What’s the point of grinding for gear, planning routes, winning fights, and taking real risks if someone with nothing to lose can sit in a dark spot for 20 minutes and delete you in two seconds?”
- “You can spend hours grinding for materials and crafting better weapons and shields, only to die in two or three shots because PvP players are waiting around corners and instantly shoot you in the head.”
humor
1,630 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in "Arc Raiders" is a standout feature, with players frequently highlighting the game's chaotic and unpredictable nature that leads to hilarious moments. The proximity chat enhances interactions, allowing for both comedic exchanges and unexpected betrayals, creating a lively and engaging atmosphere. Overall, the community is described as friendly and funny, contributing to a memorable gaming experience filled with laughter and camaraderie.
- “It's chaos but it's funny.”
- “The in-game voice chat creates some hilarious moments; I found myself crying with laughter many times.”
- “The unpredictability of human behavior also creates some genuinely funny moments.”
- “This game is the reason why stress was made; AI do so much damage it's not funny. Nerf AI!”
- “It is definitely not PvP and more like Among Us, except it's not funny in the slightest.”
- “The clinic is the worst one because Lance is the most arrogant and unfunny character, which is a waste, because having an AI doctor in Speranza has potential, but all he has is one-liners.”
stability
1,507 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
77%
The stability of the game has received mixed feedback from users, with many reporting a significant number of bugs, glitches, and exploits that detract from the overall experience. While some players note that the game runs smoothly and is visually impressive, others express frustration over frequent crashes, desync issues, and game-breaking glitches that can lead to lost progress and gear. Overall, while the game shows potential, its current state is marred by stability issues that need urgent attention from the developers.
- “The game runs great, looks good, sounds good, and is relatively easy to learn compared to the rest of the games in the space.”
- “The game is properly coded, runs great on NVIDIA 50-series GPU.”
- “The game runs great, looks fantastic, and feels like a complete product, which is extremely rare nowadays.”
- “The amount of game-shattering bugs, glitches, and exploits that exist is absurd.”
- “Too many glitches and cheaters/exploiters to the point it's unplayable.”
- “This game is a buggy mess, I don't know why people say the audio is the best in this game because it's not, it's the worst audio, you won't be able to tell who is up or down.”
music
1,485 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
50%
1%
The music in "Arc Raiders" has received widespread acclaim for its immersive and atmospheric qualities, with many players praising its retro-futuristic synth soundtrack that enhances the game's tension and emotional moments. The sound design complements the gameplay effectively, creating a cinematic experience that resonates with players, whether during intense combat or quieter exploration. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and atmosphere.
- “The soundtrack complements the experience without overpowering it, enhancing emotional moments and intense encounters.”
- “From the moment you drop into the desolate, sci-fi world, it’s clear Embark Studios has nailed the tone — the retro-futuristic aesthetic, pulsing synth soundtrack, and cinematic lighting make every encounter feel like it’s ripped from a 1980s sci-fi epic.”
- “The music enhances every moment—quiet, tense, or action-packed—and lingers with you long after you stop playing.”
- “The music is constant and oppressive.”
- “The soundtrack is mostly forgettable.”
- “The music is very loud, so watch out if you’re using headphones (not sure why it’s mixed that way), but both the soundtrack and sound effects are incredible.”
emotional
913 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Arc Raiders" is a complex tapestry of highs and lows, with players experiencing everything from heartwarming camaraderie to gut-wrenching betrayal. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke strong feelings through player interactions, where moments of cooperation can quickly turn into emotional turmoil due to unexpected PvP encounters. While the community is often described as wholesome, the tension of potential betrayal adds a unique emotional weight to each gameplay session, making it a rollercoaster of feelings that keeps players engaged and invested.
- “But what truly keeps me playing is the emotional rollercoaster.”
- “Every run feels like an emotional rollercoaster — one moment you’re scraping by with nothing, the next you’re hauling riches back home, only to risk it all again.”
- “The community is surprisingly wholesome too, solo runs feel good, and randoms are more 'good luck out there, soldier' than 'get gud scrub.' it’s a nice change of pace.”
monetization
724 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
60%
31%
The monetization in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing frustration over the high prices of cosmetic items in a $40 game, often likening it to free-to-play models. While some appreciate that the microtransactions are purely cosmetic and not pay-to-win, others feel that the aggressive pricing and presence of microtransactions detract from the overall experience, leading to perceptions of a cash grab. Overall, players are divided on whether the monetization is fair or excessively greedy, with calls for more reasonable pricing and better in-game rewards.
- “Great devs, deploying content quickly, fixing bugs fast and using fair monetization.”
- “They’ve managed to make something rare and special here in that it provides a fun extraction shooter for a reasonable price that is not infested with monetization.”
- “The monetization is fair and it feels like the devs respect the player.”
- “The monetization is so aggressive it makes free-to-play titles look generous.”
- “The only downside right now is that for a $60 game, the monetization is far too aggressive.”
- “Disappointing monetization practices in a $40 game.”
replayability
444 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
47%
3%
Overall, "Arc Raiders" is praised for its high replayability, with many players highlighting the dynamic gameplay, diverse maps, and engaging PvP/PvE elements that keep each session feeling fresh and unpredictable. While some users express concerns about potential long-term boredom and the need for more endgame content, the game's mechanics and community interactions contribute to a compelling replay value that many find addictive. Despite some criticisms regarding balance and AI challenges, the consensus is that the game offers a rich and enjoyable experience that encourages repeated play.
- “It's an exceptionally good game with some of the most replayable gameplay loops that I've experienced in a video game before.”
- “The amount of content and replayability for this game is magnificent.”
- “The replayability loop of shooting people in solos who don't want to fight has to be pretty thin even for the biggest d-bags out there.”
- “The game is pretty replayable, but it can 100% get old after a while though.”
- “Currently there is zero replay value after you reach level 75, and finish your expedition.”
- “The biggest downfall of this game is the people playing, and lack of replayability.”
character development
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
63%
15%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing the character designs as uninspired or unattractive, often describing them as generic or "ugly." While some appreciate the customization options and the unique atmosphere, others feel that the lack of depth in character backstories and personality detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the character development aspect seems to be overshadowed by design choices that do not resonate well with a significant portion of the player base.
- “Insane character development arc during the past 7 days of playing.”
- “With better refinement in character design and progression, Arc Raiders has the potential to become something truly special.”
- “The atmosphere and character designs are nice to look at, and make for a lot of tension from trying to look out for foes, both human (PvP) & arc (PvE).”
- “Character development is an illusion, there's no 'role-playing' really, it's just go out and scavenge.”
- “The character design is beyond terrible (terrible options and just terrible visually).”
- “The only criticism I would bring is that the character design is very soft, uninspired, and lackluster… same with the skins and cosmetics but I’m sure this could improve in the long run.”