Yes, ARC Raiders is worth your time in 2026 even if what you really want is PvE, provided a bit of PvP does not put you off. I would rather keep that caveat in the answer than sell you a co-op sandbox where the only threat is the environment and the AI. ARC Raiders is Embark Studios’ post-apocalyptic extraction shooter, released on 30 October 2025, where 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. That something can be those machines, or it can be another squad of players, and the second half of that sentence is the part I need you to keep hold of.
The numbers, which are silly in the complimentary way
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. That is a genuinely silly set of numbers, and I mean it as a compliment, though the more telling figure is that 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, which is a game people keep playing rather than a hype curve.
Still PvPvE, and other players can still kill you
ARC Raiders is PvPvE rather than pure PvE, and other players can and will kill you, which is the caveat that sits under the sales numbers. If your dream is a co-op survival sandbox where the only threat is the environment and the AI, I would be doing you a disservice to pretend this is quite that game. There are sweaty lobbies, and 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.
Of every extraction shooter I have played, this is comfortably the most accessible and the most solo-viable, and 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, and it is the page I would read before you decide the caveat does not apply to you.
Why I would still hand it to someone who leans PvE
So yes, it is worth it in 2026, and if a bit of PvP does not put you off, this is the most polished and welcoming entry the genre has. The only people I would steer away are the ones who hear that another player can kill them and feel their stomach drop, and 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, 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. If you want a quick personalised steer, my which extraction shooter quiz will tell you in about a minute whether this is your game or whether you would be happier somewhere else. If you plan to bounce between a console and a PC, is Arc Raiders cross-platform and crossplay covers how your save and matchmaking carry across, which is the practical question once the verdict has already landed.
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, and the only people I would steer away are those who cannot stand another player being able to kill them. The polish is real, and it does not change the fact that the raid still contains other people with guns.
Is ARC Raiders PvE or PvPvE?
It is PvPvE, not pure PvE, because 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. The machines are a huge part of the tension, and they do not cancel the squad that was already watching the extract.
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, and you can play cagily, avoid fights and treat other squads as a hazard to dodge rather than a fight to win. I would still hand it to a PvE-leaning player who can tolerate the odd ruined extract, and I would not hand it to someone whose stomach drops at the idea.
When did ARC Raiders release and who made it?
It is Embark Studios' post-apocalyptic extraction shooter, released on 30 October 2025, where you scavenge a ruined surface world, fight hulking AI machines called the ARC, and try to extract. The something that kills you can be those machines or another squad, and both of those threats are in the design on purpose.
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, which is already a silly set of numbers. More telling, over half its players have put a hundred plus hours in, so the audience stayed rather than passing through on a launch weekend.
Is ARC Raiders easier than Escape from Tarkov?
Far easier, because 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. The shooting is more forgiving, the loop is more readable, and gear loss stings less, which is why a PvE-leaning player can have a brilliant time here and still bounce off Tarkov.
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