D5's Review on Arc Raiders
An extraction shooter by embark studios.
Hey everyone! D5 here for a game review! Lets jump into it!
🎮 Arc Raiders
Embark Studios — Released October 30th, 2025
🧠 TL;DR
Arc Raiders is new extraction shooter with its core being PvPvE. You launch topside to plunder the goods left on the surface. Arcs roam and attack any raiders they find. To make matters more intense, the competition between raiders is just as fierce. You never know when someone is going to shoot you from behind.
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👁 **First Impressions**
I kept seeing videos on tiktok and other platforms where people complained about extraction campers and PvP. The competitive nature in me decided to take a look and see what it was all about. For $40 bucks this game feels worth it in an ocean of games that cost $70+ on average. The first 30 minutes are quick and sometimes painful. Arcs are ruthless and you can’t trust anyone. Although the game was quick, it captured the elements that make it fun. Lots of loot, then even better loot. All of this under the threat of Arcs and Raiders. When you successfully evac on an elevator, you feel accomplished. Immediate hook.
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🧟 **Atmosphere & Horror Design**
The atmosphere is post apocalyptic with humans underground. A survival game with risk everywhere you go. The intensity of this game starts the moment you lock in. You load into your pod and launch. Once you hit surface, you are now looking for any and all threats. Tension is built through battle with players and arc. Especially when you are down to your last couple of minutes while trying to race to the last evac elevator. This game relies on tropes of looter shooter and extract but they do it well with a bountiful map.
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🕹 **Gameplay Mechanics**
Core gameplay consists of Stealth, combat and then resource management. You only have so much room. Picking what you need most challenges you to select your loot wisely. Stealth is everything. If you can’t be seen you can’t be shot. Noises will reveal your direction and combat is even worse. Not everyone wants to fight and those who do will let you know once you find them. Resource management. You have a stamina bar and it really sucks to hit empty when you need it the most. Every choice you make impacts this and adds a nice icing to all the mechanics this game provides.
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🧬 **Story, Lore & Narrative**
The world was pummeled with catastrophic events. Floods, Earthquakes and fires berated the surface attempting to annihilate humanity. Fortunately, there were survivors that began to rebuild and start again. Just as the world recovered, machines began to rain from the sky. This was known as the 1st wave. The machines eradicated any progress the world made in its recovery forcing them under ground and making the group known as raiders.
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🎨 **Visual & Audio Design**
Sound design is great! You hear everything that happens and its exciting and damning. The visuals are great, realistic graphics with buildings and the environment to go with it from rain to sun and night time.
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🤝 **Co-Op Factor**
This game is 100% coop. You can run in a solo, duo or trio of raiders and work together.
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🧨 **Final Verdict**
I would absolutely recommend this game! For $40 you absolutely have enough content and challenges to last a while.
Score: 8/10
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**D5 Shop talk**
Is this a game you would play? if not, why? If this happened in real life what would you do?
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