ArcRunner

ArcRunner is a great roguelite and shooter, with style and substance to keep you coming back for more.

Starting at $17.29Buy now

"ArcRunner is a co-op Sci-Fi Hack and Slash roguelite game, where up to 4 players join forces to defeat a rogue AI on a futuristic space station. Experience thrilling gun fights, diverse levels, and unique character-specific combat styles. Utilize augmentations and a wide range of firepower to save 'The Arc', with each run offering a new, challenging experience."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

74%

Audience ScoreBased on 141 reviews

gameplay18 positive mentions

grinding7 negative mentions

The game features stunning visuals and a captivating cyberpunk aesthetic that immerses players in its world.
Gameplay is fast-paced and engaging, with a variety of weapons and build options that keep runs fresh and exciting.
The developers are responsive to community feedback, frequently releasing updates that improve gameplay and address issues.

The game suffers from repetitive level design and a lack of variety in environments, making runs feel similar over time.
Progression can feel slow and punishing, with significant resets after completing the game, which can be frustrating for players.
Some mechanics, such as weapon swapping and hit detection, feel clunky and unrefined, detracting from the overall experience.

gameplay
44 mentions
41 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally fast, smooth, and enjoyable, with varied enemies and solid gunplay mechanics, making it particularly fun when played with friends. However, some players feel it lacks depth and variety, with limited gameplay combinations and an abrupt difficulty curve that can hinder progression. While the core mechanics are satisfying, there are calls for more diverse builds and additional gameplay features to enhance the overall experience.
- “The gameplay is still really fast, smooth, and fun. The enemies are engaging and varied, there is excellent build variety, and while there are only three classes, each plays quite differently and is very fun.”
- “Immensely fun with friends, great to kill some time when alone, smooth gameplay from release, many different weapons to fit your playstyle.”
- “Satisfying gunplay, deep upgrade system, not the most content by the looks of things, but I'm going to be getting my money's worth, and this has significant graphical fidelity and solid mechanical gameplay.”
- “I mean, those are pretty standard mechanics for a roguelike, but damn, they feel overstretched here.”
- “Between level design, annoying enemy mechanics, and lack of variety, it can get tedious to get rid of them all, and I mean that quite literally.”
- “Unfortunately, it falls short in terms of depth and gameplay mechanics, especially when compared to the creative freedom offered by Risk of Rain 2.”
graphics
27 mentions
74 % positive mentions
15 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning cyberpunk aesthetics, featuring vibrant neon lights, detailed environments, and a cohesive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. While some reviewers noted that the level design could be lacking, the visual fidelity and artistic style are consistently highlighted as standout elements that contribute to the game's appeal. The combination of impressive visuals and a fitting soundtrack creates an immersive experience that resonates well with fans of the genre.
- “The visuals are absolutely stunning; they're well stylized but still have outstanding graphical fidelity.”
- “The cyberpunk aesthetics are captured perfectly, and all the perpetual rainfall combined with the oppressive buildings and neon lights reflecting in the wet ground create a perfect vibe.”
- “Aesthetically, the game is gorgeous and blends together well with its soundtrack and sound effects.”
- “Their only purpose is to carry the aesthetic of the game as they are badly designed arenas in the first place.”
- “Satisfying gunplay, deep upgrade system, not the most content by the looks of things but I'm going to be getting my money's worth and this has significant graphical fidelity and solid mechanical gameplay.”
- “The aesthetic at first”
music
19 mentions
42 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its fitting, atmospheric quality, featuring a nostalgic 80s synth sound that complements the visuals and overall aesthetic. While some players find the soundtrack stellar and immersive, others note a lack of variety, leading to repetitiveness over time. Overall, the music enhances the sci-fi cyberpunk experience, though players may opt to substitute their own tracks after repeated play.
- “The soundtrack is also absolutely stellar and it complements these awesome visuals perfectly.”
- “The music has the new-age 80s synth sound to it, and each of the weapons have their fun distinctive 'pew-pews' and 'bang-bangs'.”
- “Aesthetically the game is gorgeous, and blends together well with its soundtrack and sound effects.”
- “The music is repetitive but very good, and I don't really get tired of it, though I'm certain you can turn it off if desired.”
- “I suggest listening to each track once or twice, then subbing in your own music.”
- “The music might be in loop for each level, but it just works!”
grinding
7 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and demoralizing, particularly due to repetitive level design and enemy mechanics that hinder enjoyment. The roguelite structure leads to significant loss of progress, as upgrades and talents are wiped upon death, making the grind feel unrewarding and discouraging. Many reviewers express a desire for more variety and meaningful progression to enhance the overall experience.
- “Due to the roguelite nature of the game, there is some upfront grinding in the first few levels, and I feel there could be more opportunity for variety in level assets and design, as it can get repetitive in a way that some other roguelites have avoided.”
- “Upgrades get wiped, augments 'rewards' wiped on death with a low chance of having the same choices next run, and your entire progress (hours and hours of grinding the same few levels at a time to build up nanites) gets wiped upon the end.”
- “Everything that will help you progress in the game and enjoy the roguelike mechanics is blocked by 'grinding'.”
atmosphere
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised as its strongest feature, with reviewers highlighting its captivating lore, beautiful aesthetics, and immersive cyberpunk elements. The environmental details, such as floor reflections and sound design, contribute to a pleasing overall presentation, although some feel the gameplay does not match the atmospheric quality.
- “The biggest strength of this game lies in the atmosphere.”
- “For the lore, atmosphere, and aesthetics alone, this game is a thoroughly enjoyable experience.”
- “The reflections in the floor, the environmental atmosphere, and the cyberpunk elements are all beautiful.”
- “That would be acceptable if the gameplay rocks or there's some kind of atmosphere... but this is stiff and dead in both cases.”
- “Music, atmosphere, and sound effects are pleasing; nothing stands out particularly, but overall the presentation is great.”
- “You like the neon-dystopian-pseudo-Tokyo atmosphere and art style that is cyberpunk?”
optimization
4 mentions
25 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while some players report smooth performance on both older and newer rigs, others experience significant performance issues. There is a desire for better optimization, particularly for platforms like the Steam Deck, but these concerns do not seem to deter players from enjoying the game.
- “Performance: ran like a charm on my previous rig, still runs like a charm on the new one.”
- “Game suffers from extremely low performance.”
- “I do wish it was optimized a tad better, but far from any type of reason to avoid the game; it's good.”
- “It does everything right, and I would really love to see it optimized for Steam Deck.”
replayability
4 mentions
25 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is noted to be less extensive than the ROR series due to a smaller character roster, but it still offers a compelling experience that encourages players to engage in multiple runs for the thrill of gameplay. Overall, while it may not have the depth of some other titles, it successfully creates excitement that keeps players returning.
- “Super replayable.”
- “Though, don't expect it to have as much replayability as the ROR series due to a smaller roster.”
- “The replayability of this game simply comes from whether or not you have the urge to blast your way through another run or not.”
- “This creates a sense of excitement and replayability that keeps players coming back for more.”
story
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The story is considered secondary to the gameplay, featuring a simplified narrative set in a captivating cyberpunk world reminiscent of Hades.
- “A brilliant cyberpunk version of Hades, with a simplified storyline though.”
- “The story is not why you're here.”
- “A brilliant cyberpunk version of Hades, but with a simplified storyline.”
stability
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is criticized for being somewhat buggy, with players experiencing issues such as unresponsive melee weapons and glitches. While some users find the gameplay enjoyable, the overall execution leaves room for improvement, leading some to consider refunds until updates are made.
- “I like these types of games, but as cool as the levels and all the neon are, the guns and moves are just so bland. Some of the augments are kind of useless, and why do the melee weapons suck so much? When you swing the hammer, you're locked in place. I refunded it, but if I see updates and fixes for the glitches, then I might get it again. For now, I would avoid it.”
- “Kinda buggy, not that bad.”