How ARC Raiders Became the Decade’s Top Multiplayer Hit

ARC Raiders, a third-person extraction shooter released on October 30, 2025, has captivated gamers and critics alike, earning a Metascore of 87, the highest for a multiplayer-only shooter in almost 10 years. Developed by Embark Studios, a relatively young company, ARC Raiders has quickly risen to the top across platforms, distinguishing itself amidst a crowded shooter market and revitalizing the extraction genre.

The Extraction Shooter Renaissance

ARC Raiders sits just behind Blizzard’s 2016 Overwatch (Metascore 91) in the list of top-rated multiplayer shooters. It surpasses well-known shooters in the competition like Halo 2, Battlefield Bad Company 2, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare in critical acclaim, and competes with heavyweight titles such as Ghost of Tsushima and Batman: Arkham Knight in broader gaming circles. Its user score of 8.8 aligns with classics like Metal Gear Solid and Portal 2. 

Extraction shooters blend high-risk, tactical PvPvE gameplay with survival elements, where players scavenge valuable loot in hostile environments and must extract safely, all while contending with enemy AI and rival players. The intense risk of losing all inventory upon death makes for electrifying gameplay, but has historically polarized audiences due to its punishing nature. ARC Raiders innovates by balancing this tension with accessibility and social mechanics.

Several design decisions set ARC Raiders apart within the extraction shooter category:

• Social Interaction: Proximity chat fosters spontaneous encounters, allowing moments of cooperation or conflict beyond pure combat. Unlike more punishing titles, this promotes an emergent social layer, making each match unpredictable and dynamic.
• Shield Mechanics: A fully charged shield prevents instant kills, encouraging exploration and bold play rather than cautious camping.
• Extraction Drama: Extraction is noisy and risky, triggering potential ambushes while offering dramatic high-stakes moments. Even downed players can extract with teammates, reducing frustration and promoting teamwork.
• Strategic Quests: Missions like hunting the elusive Surveyor ARC infuse narrative and objective-driven gameplay, balancing skill, timing, and risk-reward mechanics.
• Loadout Accessibility: Free loadouts allow new or returning players to jump in without the burden of endless grinding, reducing entry barriers while retaining depth for veterans.
• Companion System: The feathered companion, Scrappy, collects materials post-death, helping mitigate losses and sustain player progression. Players don’t have to waste time collecting basic materials to get back into the fight. 

Embark Studios has committed to supporting ARC Raiders for the next decade, signaling long-term content plans and community engagement. This approach follows the footsteps of enduring multiplayer franchises but with a fresh take that prioritizes approachable gameplay despite being from the niche extraction shooter genre.