Arc Raiders is a cooperative action game that brings a futuristic twist to scavenging and survival gameplay. Unlike high-octane PvP shooters or traditional looter-shooters, this title focuses on exploration, resource collection, and strategic combat against AI-controlled enemies and other raiders, mostly friendly. From the moment you land on its mysterious, abandoned sci-fi worlds, it becomes clear that patience, planning, and careful observation are your best tools.
Gameplay Loop: Scavenge, Survive, Upgrade
The heart of Arc Raiders lies in scavenging metals, components, and other valuable resources scattered across dangerous surfaces. Your journey is filled with smaller Arc enemies—these are manageable foes that provide combat practice and items that can be salvaged—but lurking around are the larger, more intimidating Arc enemies that can wipe out unprepared players in seconds.
The tension often comes from avoiding these massive threats, rather than engaging and most likely getting your butt handed to you on a plate.
Most of Arc Raiders is designed around cooperative play, though you can tackle it solo if you prefer—it’s just a tougher and less rewarding experience. Players band together to complete objectives, defend salvage zones, and gather valuable resources while navigating hostile environments teeming with Arc enemies. Unlike many multiplayer shooters, PvP isn’t the main attraction here.
It exists, sure, but most Raiders you encounter are simply scavenging, exploring, or trying to make it home alive rather than looking for a fight. The real tension lies in the constant balance between risk and reward—venturing into high-threat “Red Zones” can score you rare loot, but one wrong move, an unexpected AI ambush, or a run-in with a less-than-friendly player can turn success into disaster in seconds.
Combat and Enemy Design
Combat in Arc Raiders is tactical rather than explosive. Smaller Arc enemies are straightforward to handle, and you’ll often find yourself alternating between fighting and hiding. The larger foes, however, force you to use strategy, environmental cover, and teamwork to survive. Encounters can be tense, especially when multiple enemies converge while you’re carrying valuable loot. Each enemy type has unique behaviours, keeping players on their toes and requiring adaptive strategies.
While the combat is satisfying in its own way, it won’t deliver the same adrenaline rush as traditional PvP shooters. Instead, it rewards careful planning, skilful positioning, and proper use of your upgraded gear.
Progression and Upgrades
One of the most satisfying aspects of Arc Raiders is progression. Players can level up characters, unlock new abilities, and upgrade weapons and equipment. Crafting and resource management are key, as they allow you to tailor your loadout for specific missions or enemy types. The sense of growth is gradual but rewarding—each scavenging run feels meaningful because it contributes directly to your team’s strength and capabilities.
There’s also an element of strategic decision-making: do you risk venturing further for rarer components, or play it safe and slowly build your resources? These choices create a subtle but engaging tension throughout the game.
Exploration and World Design
The environments in Arc Raiders are a mix of desolate wastelands, industrial ruins, and scrapyard-style zones. The level design encourages exploration, rewarding those who thoroughly search for hidden loot or alternative paths. Interactive and destructible environments add depth to encounters, letting players use the terrain to their advantage. The art direction gives the world a believable futuristic vibe, combining grit with an eerie sense of abandonment.
While the world isn’t as sprawling or story-driven as some other RPGs or looter-shooters, the atmosphere and careful attention to detail make each mission visually compelling and immersive.
Who Will Enjoy Arc Raiders?
Arc Raiders isn’t for everyone. If you’re looking for constant PvP action, explosive battles, or a narrative-heavy adventure, you might find it underwhelming. The game shines for players who enjoy:
- Cooperative gameplay with friends or online teammates
- Methodical scavenging and resource management
- Gradual progression and upgrades
- Tactical encounters and AI-focused combat
- Exploring sci-fi worlds for hidden loot
If you loved Helldivers 2 for its cooperative strategy and slow-build progression, Arc Raiders offers a similar satisfaction—but on a more focused scale. The reward comes not from flashy action, but from surviving, growing stronger, and seeing your efforts pay off over multiple missions.
Final Thoughts
In summary, Arc Raiders is a tactical scavenger’s dream set in a futuristic, AI-infested world. It trades fast-paced PvP for careful planning, strategic combat, and rewarding progression. Every mission emphasises risk versus reward, team coordination, and smart use of resources. While it may not be a must-play for adrenaline junkies, fans of methodical cooperative gameplay, looter-shooters, and sci-fi exploration will find plenty to enjoy.
Now, Arc Raiders is a good game—don’t get me wrong. It has moments that genuinely shine and plenty of potential. But for me, the lack of adrenaline-pumping action holds it back. I can already see a problem on the horizon: eventually, some trigger-happy players will start camping extraction points, taking out Raiders just trying to make it home—and when that happens, it could really ruin the experience.
What could make the game truly shine is a way to earn store credit while exploring the world, similar to Helldivers 2. You wouldn’t have to spend real money—you could just grind in-game for a few hours to get what you need. And as I mentioned before, more high-intensity moments would help. Right now, running around announcing you’re friendly and meeting other players is fun, and you do encounter some great people—but for me, it’s hard to fully get immersed like many others clearly do.
Arc Raiders Trailer
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Game code was provided to us for the express purpose of reviewing.
The review was written by me and edited by my partner.
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