Can a PvPvE extraction shooter actually be worth your time if what you really want is PvE? That is the awkward question sitting at the heart of ARC Raiders, and I am going to answer it honestly rather than sell it to you.
Let me set the scene first. ARC Raiders is Embark Studios’ post-apocalyptic extraction shooter, released on 30 October 2025. You drop into a ruined surface world, scavenge loot, fight off hulking AI machines called the ARC, and try to extract before something kills you. The “something” can be those machines, or it can be another squad of players. That last part matters, so hold onto it.
The numbers are genuinely silly, and I mean that as a compliment. By mid-2026 the game had sold somewhere between 14 and 16 million copies, peaked near 960,000 concurrent players on Steam, and walked off with awards including Best Multiplayer at The Game Awards. More telling than any sales figure: it held its players. Where rival extraction shooters tend to spike on launch and then quietly bleed out, over half of the ARC Raiders player base has put 100 plus hours in. That is not a hype curve. That is a game people actually keep playing.
Now the honest caveat, because I promised you one. ARC Raiders is PvPvE, not pure PvE. Other players can and will kill you. If your dream is a co-op survival sandbox where the only threat is the environment and the AI, this is not quite that game, and I would be doing you a disservice to pretend otherwise. There are sweaty lobbies. There are moments where you have done everything right, your bag is full, the extraction is fifty metres away, and a three-stack ruins your evening.
Here is why I still rate it for a PvE-leaning crowd, though. Of every extraction shooter I have played, this is comfortably the most accessible and the most solo-viable. It is far less hostile than Tarkov, which by comparison feels like it is actively trying to make you uninstall. The shooting is forgiving, the loop is readable, gear loss stings less, and a lot of your tension comes from the ARC machines rather than from human ambushes. You can play it cagily, avoid fights, treat other squads as a hazard to dodge rather than a fight to win, and still have a brilliant time. If you want the solo specifics, can you play Arc Raiders solo or PvE only goes deeper.
So, is it worth it in 2026? Yes. If a bit of PvP does not put you off, this is the most polished and welcoming entry the genre has, full stop. The only people I would steer away are the ones who hear “another player can kill me” and feel their stomach drop. If that is you, be honest with yourself, because no amount of polish changes the genre’s DNA.
If you are still on the fence, two things might help. I keep a running list of the best solo and PvE-friendly extraction shooters for 2026, so you can see where ARC Raiders sits against the field. And if you want a quick personalised steer, run my which extraction shooter quiz. It will tell you in about a minute whether this is your game or whether you would be happier somewhere else entirely.
The verdict
ARC Raidersextraction shooterPvEPvPvEEmbark Studiosis it worth it
FAQ
Is ARC Raiders worth it in 2026?
Yes. If a bit of PvP does not put you off, it is the most polished and welcoming entry the genre has. The only people to steer away are those who cannot stand another player being able to kill them.
Is ARC Raiders PvE or PvPvE?
It is PvPvE, not pure PvE. Other players can and will kill you, so it is not a co-op survival sandbox where the only threat is the environment and the AI.
Is ARC Raiders good for solo or PvE-leaning players?
It is comfortably the most accessible and solo-viable extraction shooter, far less hostile than Tarkov. You can play cagily, avoid fights and treat other squads as a hazard to dodge rather than a fight to win.
When did ARC Raiders release and who made it?
It is Embark Studios' post-apocalyptic extraction shooter, released on 30 October 2025. You scavenge a ruined surface world, fight hulking AI machines called the ARC, and try to extract.
How well has ARC Raiders actually sold?
By mid-2026 it had sold somewhere between fourteen and sixteen million copies, peaked near 960,000 concurrent players on Steam, and won Best Multiplayer at The Game Awards. More telling, over half its players have put a hundred plus hours in.
Is ARC Raiders easier than Escape from Tarkov?
Far easier. ARC Raiders is comfortably the most accessible and solo-viable extraction shooter, while Tarkov by comparison feels like it is actively trying to make you uninstall.
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