Is Arc Raiders the "Fortnite for Adults"?
I’ve been sinking a lot of time lately into a new game called Arc Raiders. If you haven't heard of it yet, it’s a new third-person extraction shooter from Embark Studios. Those are the same people who made The Finals, so they know how to make a shooter feel good.
The setup is pretty classic sci-fi. Machines called "ARC" have taken over the surface of the earth. We live underground in a colony called Speranza and have to go topside to scavenge for supplies. You fight the machines, maybe fight other players, grab loot, and try to extract before you die and lose everything.
Fun Fact: This was supposed to be a PvE-only game but they pivoted to PvPvE. There is this 3-part documentary that talks about this. Here’s the first part (the latter two parts are not out yet at the time of writing):
Usually, these extraction games are super stressful and toxic. But if you look around online, especially on Reddit, people are describing this one as weirdly... cozy?
There is this "Don't Shoot" emote in the game where you put your hands up. And surprisingly, it actually works. A lot of solo players are using it to make random alliances instead of killing each other on sight. It’s a totally different vibe than what you usually get in this genre.
My experience? I love it.
First off, the devs seem like good guys. They recently lowered the price of cosmetics and actually refunded the difference to people who had already bought them. They are also starting to get known for returning loot to players if they think you lost it due to unfair gaming or cheaters. You just don't see that kind of respect for players these days.
As for the gameplay, the AI is no joke. The ARC machines aren't just cannon fodder. They are smart, aggressive, and will absolutely wipe you out if you underestimate them.
But the coolest part is how different the game feels depending on your squad size.
Solo: It’s almost a stealth game. People are surprisingly nice. You can play so many rounds without firing a shot at another player. It’s mostly people just trying to survive the machines.
Duos: This is a coin flip. It feels like a 50/50 split between friendly encounters and instant gunfights.
Trios: This is war. It’s almost all PvP. If you see another squad, expect a fight.
I love that variety. You never really know what you're going to get.
I honestly think this has the potential to be the "Fortnite for adults" if the developers keep making the right calls. I'm hooked.
If anyone else is playing, let me know. Drop your Embark ID in the comments and maybe we can squad up.
PS: Here are some montages I made from my time playing the game.
