Embark is a relatively new studio that has made quite a name for itself in recent years by trying to innovate within genres that many consider oversaturated. Formed by former Ubisoft and DICE developers, the team shows both expertise and ambition in what they do best. With the release of Arc Raiders, their second project, the studio makes a clear statement: they’re here to compete seriously.
Originally, Arc Raiders was conceived as a game similar to The Division, offering a cooperative experience with a mission-based narrative. However, Embark later changed course, transforming the project into an Extraction Shooter a subgenre also explored within The Division. The final result exceeds expectations, delivering a more dynamic and satisfying experience.
Gameplay revolves around exploring an open map to gather resources and extract them successfully while facing or avoiding other players and AI-controlled robots. If you manage to extract, you can use your collected weapons and materials in future matches or sell them for new accessories and upgrades. However, if you’re eliminated before extraction, you lose everything you’ve gathered. This creates constant tension, where taking risks can lead to great rewards or complete loss.
You can play solo or with a team, with everyone sharing the same objective. What sets Arc Raiders apart from other titles in the genre is that, regardless of whether you win or lose, you’re always rewarded with experience. This experience can be used to unlock permanent abilities such as increased damage resistance, enemy detection, or silent movement ensuring a constant sense of progression.
The game currently features four maps, each with its own level of difficulty and resource variety, plus a fifth location that has yet to be released. The world of Arc Raiders presents a post-apocalyptic setting reminiscent of Terminator, where machines rule the surface and humans survive underground. The robotic enemies, while not humanoid, have unique designs such as mechanical spiders, drones, and explosive spheres that make combat diverse and challenging.
In terms of gameplay, Arc Raiders offers a deeply satisfying experience. Even if you fail an extraction, progress still feels meaningful. However, its main weakness lies in its lack of narrative: aside from an introductory cinematic and a few NPC conversations, the story is practically nonexistent. This can be disappointing for players seeking a strong narrative reason to keep playing. Additionally, after exploring the initial four maps, the game can become repetitive, with the grind feeling a bit excessive.
That said, the experience shines brightest when played with friends. Cooperative play adds excitement, tension, and chaotic fun in equal measure.
Visually, Arc Raiders is stunning. The environments are detailed, with beautiful lighting and reflections, and the performance remains stable with no noticeable frame drops. The only downside is the character models and their limited customization options. As for the audio, it’s outstanding the balance between environmental sounds and footsteps makes it easy to locate opponents, while the proximity chat allows for unexpected player interactions and team-ups.
In summary, Arc Raiders takes the Extraction Shooter formula and reshapes it into something more accessible and rewarding for all kinds of players. Its progression system and cooperative focus make it a perfect game to enjoy with friends, though solo players might not find the same level of satisfaction. With a solid foundation and room to grow, Embark proves it knows exactly what it’s doing and this title might just be the start of something big.
Final Score: 4/5
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