Arc Raiders Launches to Rave Reviews—And It’s Surprisingly Fun for Everyone

| October 30, 2025

Big win for gamers today: Arc Raiders, the new third-person shooter from Embark Studios, has officially launched—and critics are loving it.

Available now on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, the game dropped at 10:30 AM CET with a standard price of $39.99 (or $59.99 for the deluxe edition). Set in a post-apocalyptic version of Italy’s “Rust Belt,” it puts you in the boots of a “Raider” fighting AI robots, scavenging supplies, and trying to escape alive.

But what’s really turning heads? It’s actually fun—even if you’ve never played a hardcore shooter before.

 

Why Critics Are So Excited

Arc Raiders belongs to the “extraction shooter” genre—a type of game known for being super tough (think Escape from Tarkov). But unlike those, Arc Raiders is designed to be welcoming.

Reviewers are calling it:

• “The best extraction shooter I’ve ever played” – CNET

• “Built on fun and ferocity” – Beebom

• “Genuinely enjoyable” – PC Gamer

The secret? It keeps the high-stakes tension—you still risk losing gear if you die—but makes the gameplay smoother, clearer, and more rewarding for new players.

A World That Feels Alive (and Hopeful)

You play in a ruined Italy, where deadly AI robots called ARCs have driven humans underground. Your job: sneak to the surface, grab supplies, and make it back alive—while fighting robots and other players.

At launch, there are four maps to explore:

• Dam Battlegrounds

• Buried City

• Spaceport

• Blue Gate

Each has unique look, dangers, and escape routes.

Surprisingly, many reviewers noted the game has a “hopeful” tone—not just doom and gloom. And thanks to proximity voice chat, players are actually teaming up, sharing tips, and creating cool moments together.

As GameSpot put it: “It made me feel like the main character.”

Huge Hype Before Launch

The buzz wasn’t just from critics. During its “Server Slam” beta on October 17, nearly 190,000 players jumped in on Steam alone—making it the biggest extraction shooter ever on the platform. That hype pushed it to #3 on Steam’s most-wishlisted games before launch.

Now that it’s out, early signs suggest Arc Raiders might just bring this tough genre to a much wider audience.

So if you’ve ever wanted to try an extraction shooter—but were too scared to start—this might be your perfect entry point.

Welcome to the Rust Belt, Raider. Try not to get turned into scrap.