Arc Raiders Review – Is It Worth Playing in 2026?
Arc Raiders Review (2026)
Is Arc Raiders worth your time? Here is our honest assessment after hundreds of hours.
The Verdict: Yes, Especially for Free
Arc Raiders is one of the best extraction shooters available in 2026. It is completely free to play with no pay-to-win mechanics, features full crossplay, and receives regular updates.
What We Love
- The ARC enemies are fantastic — Fighting robots feels fresh compared to other extraction shooters
- Third-person perspective — Unique in the genre and feels great
- Deep skill system — The 30-point skill tree adds meaningful build diversity
- Excellent gunplay — Every weapon feels distinct and satisfying
- Fair monetization — Cosmetics only, zero gameplay advantage for paying
- Regular updates — New zones, weapons, and quests every 6-8 weeks
- 8 diverse zones — Each expedition zone plays differently
What Could Improve
- End-game content can feel repetitive after 100+ hours
- Some quests are fetch-quest heavy
- Server performance dips during Server Slam events
- Inventory management needs QoL improvements (confirmed on roadmap)
Who Should Play
- Fans of extraction shooters (Tarkov, DMZ, Hunt) — This is the best free option
- PvE players — The PvE mode is excellent solo content
- Build theorycrafters — The skill tree and loadout system are deep
- Casual players — Easy zones and beginner-friendly onboarding
Scores
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Gameplay | 9/10 |
| Content | 8/10 |
| Monetization | 10/10 |
| Performance | 8/10 |
| Community | 8/10 |
| Overall | 8.5/10 |
PS5 and Xbox performance is solid at 60 FPS. PC runs great on mid-range hardware (system requirements). Even Steam Deck is playable.