ARC Raiders First Impressions: Solid Extraction Experience, Less Flashy Marketing

I’ve spent years playing shooter games, looters, extraction shooters, tactical FPS, you name it. After putting over 24 hours into ARC Raiders, I can confidently say it’s one of the more promising entries in the genre. It makes no effort to be fancy. Rather, it concentrates on providing players with a satisfying, atmospheric, and tight experience.

It is immediately apparent that Embark Studios, the mind behind ARC Raiders, understood the task at hand: to create a post-apocalyptic environment that is terrifying, thrilling, and enjoyable. And it delivers. The abandoned cities, broken tech, and hauntingly quiet forests all scream the best Fallout game vibes. But this time, it’s wrapped in fast-paced, co-op gunplay and addictive extraction mechanics. So, before the game fully releases, here are my first impressions of ARC Raiders after playing the game in the playtest.

Crafting and Looting Feel Meaningful

ARC Raiders doesn’t waste your time with unnecessary fluff. Crafting here is streamlined, yet satisfying. You gather parts from robotic enemies, scavenge forgotten bunkers, and collect rare tech scattered across the world. These materials go into crafting everything from new weapons and health equipment to armor and special gadgets. You can also make different workbenches using the loot that will help you upgrade your arsenal.

Weapons feel unique, too. Instead of crafting a basic AR, you can make some old-school weapons with high-tech attachments. I get it; it’s not that neon-drenched; everyone wants to be GTA 6. Plus, finding a gun among other loot is rarer, which makes the expediting part more fun. ARC Raiders takes a different approach to the materials you loot to craft weapons. Or else, you can simply sell your loot and buy a shotgun from a trader. I swear they won’t charge you extra.

Looting in ARC Raiders doesn’t feel like a grind either. This is one reason why playing the game with friends is more exciting. Every building you enter, every battlefield you cross, has something useful. But to loot them, you will need some cover. Well, you also just use your pet at the base that keeps giving you a lot of materials. Just make sure you upgrade it over time.

But that’s just ideal for passive farming. The fun and nervousness arise when you enter the Topside. There’s that classic extraction risk-reward loop: do you bail with what you’ve found, or push deeper for a shot at legendary gear? It keeps the tension high. Dying means you lose your haul, and the world is brutal enough to punish bad decisions. That thrill never gets old.

Responsive Gunplay and Atmospheric Sound Design

In my personal experience with ARC Raiders, this is where the game really shines. The gunplay is crisp. Every weapon has weight, recoil, and power that feels just right. Whether you’re sniping from a rooftop or unloading an LMG into an ARC horde, the controls are snappy and responsive. Movement matters. Cover matters. You’re constantly dancing between fights, using verticality, sliding into cover, and coordinating with your squad.

What really pulls you into the world, though, is the sound design. It’s phenomenal. The distant whirr of a scout drone, tick, or the mechanical roar of a boss unit creates real tension. The score knows when to get quiet, letting the ambient sounds carry that eerie post-apocalyptic vibe and when to kick in with heavy synths during shootouts. But when it is time, explosions echo across the ruined Rustbelt. And of course, when you shoot the bots, the gunfire cracks with a satisfying punch.

It’s got that Fallout meets Blade Runner kind of feel. If you’ve played old-school atmospheric shooters, it’ll hit you right in the nostalgia. And that armor crack effect when you hit a human enemy, ooh I love me some Apex Legends vibe in an extraction game.

Skill Trees, Mastery, and Squad Play: All Matters

ARC Raiders has a clean and easy-to-follow skill tree that focuses on enhancing playstyles rather than forcing weird builds. Whether you’re a looter, a runner, or a damage dealer, the tree lets you tailor your character without getting overwhelmed.

There is a perk called ‘a little extra’ in the skill tree that basically guarantees resource generation upon breach. On the other hand, some skills let you increase stamina or reveal loot faster. With each level up, you get a skill point that you can invest to upgrade your skills. This exciting skill tree makes progressing through the game more fun. On top of that, there is a mastery system that rewards.

What’s great is that the mastery system ties into how you actually play. To level up, you must complete certain tasks that involve different approaches. With each mastery level completed, you unlock special rewards. Just complete the goals from the mastery list and level it up with higher points. But apart from solo skills and mastery, team combination matters the most in ARC Raiders.

Going in solo is always an option, and trust me, I never succeeded even going two blocks from my spawn without getting knocked down. ARC Raiders feels best when you’re coordinating as a group, as most of the gameplay requires it.

Essential elements to safe exfiling include timing extractions, keeping an eye on one another, and utilizing complementary skills to outlive more formidable enemies. It takes strategy, awareness, and timing, along with the best aim, to work with the team.

Verdict: ARC Raiders Is What Other Extractions Should’ve Been

There’s a quiet confidence in ARC Raiders. It’s not loud. It’s not desperate for your attention. But it knows what it is, and that’s a solid extraction shooter with a strong core loop and an unforgettable setting. It balances immersive storytelling through world design, crisp mechanics, and just the right amount of challenge.

And now, let’s be honest. Bungie’s upcoming Marathon tried to sell itself like the next big thing. Flashy trailers. Cryptic viral marketing. That cool-looking sci-fi aesthetic. But when you dig into the gameplay shown so far, it feels… meh. Overdesigned visuals, undercooked gameplay. All style, very little substance. On top of that, Marathon PC’s aim assist sours the deal further.

Overall, Marathon seems like it’s banking on nostalgia and hype of Bungie’s previous creations. ARC Raiders, on the other hand, actually plays well. No gimmicks. No “live service” fluff clogging the core loop. Yes, there is a battle pass, but trust me, it barely matters when the option is hidden miles away. Just clean, satisfying extraction gameplay backed by an atmosphere that sticks with you.

So by all intents and purposes, ARC Raiders is the real shooter you should be keeping your eyes on.