ARC Raiders

ARC Raiders is a visually stunning and immersive third-person extraction shooter that blends PvPvE gameplay with a unique sci-fi setting. Players praise its accessible yet challenging mechanics, smart AI enemies, and the dynamic tension between cooperation and conflict among players. The game supports solo, duo, and trio playstyles, with a generally friendly community in solo modes but more intense PvP in group play. Its sound design, atmospheric world-building, and smooth gunplay receive high marks for creating a compelling experience. The progression system and quests offer a satisfying loop, although some find them repetitive over time.

However, the game faces criticism for its aggressive monetization in a paid title, including overpriced cosmetics and limited free premium currency. Matchmaking issues, such as mixing duos with trios and late spawning, frustrate players. PvP can feel unrewarding and sometimes toxic, overshadowing the PvE elements, leading to calls for a dedicated PvE mode. Minor bugs and UI/quality-of-life improvements are also noted. Overall, ARC Raiders is praised as a polished, promising game with room to refine its balance and monetization.

Highlights

Players widely commend ARC Raiders' visually beautiful graphics and exceptional sound design, which greatly enhance immersion. The AI enemies (ARCs) are intelligently designed, providing challenging and engaging combat that requires strategy. The game's gunplay is smooth and satisfying, with a balanced time-to-kill. The world-building and lore create a distinct atmosphere appreciated by many. The gameplay loop is addictive, blending PvP and PvE elements with meaningful progression and exploration incentives. The community, especially in solo play, is often friendly, encouraging cooperative moments. The game runs well on a range of hardware, and developers demonstrate strong ongoing support.

Criticisms

Common criticisms include the overly aggressive monetization for a $40 game, with cosmetics costing nearly half the base price and limited ways to earn premium currency in-game. Matchmaking flaws, such as mixing duos and trios and late player spawns, create unfair situations. PvP is often seen as toxic and unrewarding, with little incentive to engage and frequent griefing, which clashes with the PvE focus. Players desire a dedicated PvE mode to avoid forced PvP encounters. Some UI and quality-of-life issues, like cumbersome inventory management and buggy stat tracking, detract from the experience. While bugs are generally minor, occasional glitches and audio balancing issues are noted.