ARC Raiders

The online third-person extraction-shooter ARC Raiders combines arcade gameplay with a post-apocalyptic setting of the "rise of machines." Players are sent from an underground shelter to the surface in search of valuable loot and other resources. Each sortie is time-limited, and moreover — it’s a race for survival. Battles with aggressive robots and other players threaten to make you lose everything collected if you die, so the main goal is to evacuate together with the loot.

The story of ARC Raiders takes place on Earth in the distant future. In 2180, there was a "Collapse" — a series of disasters (floods, fires, earthquakes) that destroyed civilization. Part of the population of the Polito region (analogous to Italy) evacuated into space on ships as part of the "Exodus" operation, while the remaining survivors hid deep within the planet. After generations, the "Era of the Sun" began — a period of returning to the surface and attempts to restore the planet using new technologies.

Suddenly, Arks — combat robots whose origin remains a mystery — started falling from the sky. The first war lasted ten years and ended with the Raiders' triumph over Baron — a titanic Ark terrorizing the planet. However, peace was short-lived. The beginning of the Second War was marked by an invasion of even more advanced and larger machines. Humanity was forced to retreat underground again, establishing Speranza — the last bastion with a network of tunnels for risky sorties to the surface.

The events of ARC Raiders unfold during the height of the Second War. You are a nameless Raider from Speranza, a blank slate without a biography. The training introduces the basics of survival and PvPvE, after which the main gameplay cycle begins: sorties to the surface for resources and technology. Assisting in this is a manual bot Plushkin (Scrappy) — a mechanical rooster that supplies the owner with basic supplies after each raid (regardless of the outcome).

The game offers a nonlinear story campaign. The plot and lore are conveyed through the environment, entries in the Codec, and conversations in the hub, but its main part is revealed through completing missions, which unlock new videos, cutscenes, items, and locations. Five key characters not only immerse players through dialogues but also support the economy by selling everything necessary:

More than 60 missions serve as the main tool for progression. The tasks are simple ("fetch and carry," "find and kill," activating points), but their variety keeps things interesting: from hunting specific robots for rare parts to using enemy cores as weapons.

The world of ARC Raiders is not a single open space, but a collection of isolated map-arenas scattered across different regions, loosely connected to Sperance, the central game hub. The design of locations does not copy reality but is a fantasy theme: recognizable landscapes coexist with ruins of civilization and machines. Movement is also based on game logic: raiders use a network of tunnels and ascend to the surface via elevators. These serve as evacuation points.

Maps feature a variety of biomes: from snowy peaks and Alpine forests to swamps and toxic industrial wastelands. Many areas on the map have a high degree of "verticality." Loot distribution on the maps is tied to zones with unique resource value parameters. The higher the zone level (for example, "pink" or "red"), the greater the chance to find expensive and rare loot, while low-level zones (such as "gray" or "orange") offer medium-value resources. The resource class (weapons, medicine, electronics) is not strictly tied, and even in specialized locations, players can find basic materials.

Maps are unlocked gradually as experience (number of raids) is accumulated; at launch, there were four (Dam, Buried City, Spaceport, and Blue Gates), but the developers added more later. For easier loot collection, zones are marked by resource type and wealth level (gray, yellow, red). Special interest is attracted by locked rooms with keys (guaranteed loot), hidden "black locations" with random events, and "red zones" with rare exotic items.

To prevent raids from becoming routine, modifiers are applied to maps, radically changing conditions. For example, night increases robot strength and reduces exit points but grants more loot behind locked doors. Nature comes alive, rewarding participants with more raw materials. Electromagnetic storms disable electronics, disrupt machine operation, and cause damage with lightning.

ARC Raiders emphasizes mobility and verticality. The character can run freely, jump, slide, use rolls, and parkour elements. They can pull themselves up, cling to ledges, and maneuver easily — a feeling that other extraction games lacked. Over long distances, the protagonist sheaths their weapon behind their back, significantly increasing speed.

Parkour opens up alternative routes: climbing ledges, jumping between rooftops, using ziplines, and descending to any point on the map.Height and proper use of the environment expand tactical options and allow you to fire at enemies from advantageous, unexpected points.

Interaction with the world is based on actively working with objects: you need to hack crates and doors, activate mechanisms, call in air drops, open and block passages. Sounds play a key role: making noise attracts the attention of Ark and other players. All found junk goes into the inventory and has weight — overload directly reduces your total stamina, which is tied to all progress. Even weapons have to be manually put away when running long distances to save energy.

The interface is minimalist and does not distract from what is happening. There is a marker system that allows you to mark enemies, points of interest, and directions for teammates. Important items for upgrading are highlighted, making it faster to pick out what you need from defeated enemies or containers. Management of consumables is done through quick access slots: grenades, health packs, shield repairs — everything is at hand. Voice communication includes both regional (proximity) chat (heard by those nearby — yellow indicator) and a team channel (white microphone).

Battles in ARC Raiders are divided into fights with Ark and encounters with players. Weapon effectiveness varies depending on the target: damage to energy shields, armor, or unprotected body. Experienced fighters often combine weapons: for example, they take one large-caliber gun for powerful single shots, and a second — a rapid-fire and low-recoil one for control at close range.

Ark are usually assigned to specific zones: some patrol rooms, others control streets, although in the heat of battle they can aggressively pursue players. Each robot has vulnerable zones — turbines, engines, stabilizers. There are 11 types of Ark in the game: from reconnaissance drones and arachnid spheres to heavy machines at Queen’s level.

In PvP, accuracy and smart positioning decide everything: it’s important to take cover in time and use height advantages where appropriate. TTK (time to kill) here is specific: it generally allows reacting to a sudden attack (unless it’s a close-range shotgun shot), but the cost of a mistake is high. Healing and shield restoration take a lot of time, so losing armor in open combat often becomes fatal without teammates’ cover.

There are 8 weapon categories available, differing by purpose and ammunition types, covering all firing ranges. Each unit has rarity levels (five types, from gray to legendary) and upgrade levels that improve basic parameters and make even starter models more competitive. Ammunition is plentiful, but players often prefer heavy ammo — they are more effective and take up less space.

Shields are a separate element of tactics. They differ in capacity and impact on equipment: for example, a medium shield won't allow you to carry a large backpack for loot, and a heavy one will provide maximum protection in a firefight but limit mobility. It is important to remember that no shield blocks 100% of damage, allowing some health (HP) to pass through. When HP is low, strong "interference" can cover the interface, but a shield depleted to zero can be replaced with a spare, and some gadgets automatically deploy a smoke screen when breached.

Gadgets provide significant tactical advantages: distract and lure Ark, direct them towards enemy players, create cover, or activate unmarked evacuation points outside standard routes.

All loot obtained during a raid is broken down into basic materials: metal, plastic, chemicals, electronics, etc. These are needed constantly — for repairing weapons, crafting ammunition and consumables, upgrading workbenches, and more. Since inventory is limited, it makes sense to break down some of the loot during the raid.

The backpack size depends on the upgrades. For example, the "Extraction" module expands the inventory and unlocks a hidden pocket (saving items upon death), but limits shields to light. Players constantly have to choose between capacity and survivability. Inventory management is simplified: no "Tetris," each item takes exactly one slot.

Working with the stash is familiar to the genre: loot is unloaded automatically, and if there is not enough space, it remains in the inventory. Storage capacity can be upgraded, but the cost of each level increases. Thanks to dynamic spawning, checking containers is worthwhile even where other players have already been. Rare military and medical boxes, as well as trophies from fallen Arks and opponents, are especially valuable.

The economy is built on two currencies. The main one — money (for buying gear and expanding the stash), the secondary — seeds. Trading is unified: prices are the same with all NPCs, there is no in-game auction, but direct item barter is available.

Character development in ARC Raiders is tied to activities during the raid: experience is gained for any damage dealt, loot collection, and exploration of the world up to level 75. Skill points are distributed across three branches — Endurance (health and stamina), Mobility (reduces stamina consumption), and Survival (maximum weight, item find chance, crafting during raid) — and this choice is final, as redistribution is not possible.

The crafting system is based on an ecosystem of seven workbenches: from simple weapon and medical stations to purifiers and gadget tables. Upgrading one station often requires components produced at another, creating a deep processing chain. When working with the arsenal, it is important to remember the golden rule of economy: modify weapons only after fully repairing them, otherwise the cost of upgrades increases significantly. Expanding the list of available recipes is helped by quests, the progress of which is counted for all group members at the same time.

For players who have reached the development cap, a voluntary wipe system is provided through the "Expedition" project. A character can be sent on a 60-day mission, which effectively resets current level, skills, and workbenches, but preserves all cosmetics. In return, the next raider receives global account enhancements: an expanded stash, bonus skill points, and accelerated experience gain.

The competitive aspect is revealed in seasonal ranked races lasting about 38 days. Progress in the leaderboards is only counted upon successful evacuation, with night raids and special events doubling the points earned. The most successful players, capable of surviving and completing tasks, by the end of the season earn the title of "Local Legend" and unique visual rewards.