ARC Raiders Is the Highest Rated Multiplayer Shooter in Almost a Decade

Mihaela KicevskiNovember 6, 2025

33 1 minute read

ARC Raiders landed on October 30 and, right out of the gate, is sitting near the top of Metacritic with a Metascore of 87. That score places ARC Raiders as the highest-rated multiplayer-only shooter released in almost a decade, behind only Overwatch from 2016, which has a Metascore of 91. The game is a third-person extraction shooter that blends cooperative combat with exploration and looting, and players have responded well so far.

Metacritic also shows a User Score of 8.9 for ARC Raiders, which is a strong sign that players and critics are aligned on its strengths. The combined reception has pushed the new IP into territory usually occupied by long-established franchises. It helps to remember that many top-scoring shooters on Metacritic include single-player campaigns or are not multiplayer-only. ARC Raiders stands out for focusing exclusively on multiplayer extraction mechanics while still earning high marks.

We recently ran a playtest that looked at how the extraction loop and cooperative combat feel in practice, and our hands-on impressions align with the positive reception on Metacritic. The studio has also said it intends long-term support; Embark called ARC Raiders a 10-year project and plans sustained updates and live operations, which may keep the player base engaged over time. See our coverage of that plan here.

A Metascore of 87 puts ARC Raiders alongside a diverse list of critically loved games, even though many are single-player or hybrid titles. The score is notable for a studio on its second major release, and it suggests ARC Raiders resonated both mechanically and thematically with critics and players. Have you dropped into ARC Raiders yet? Share impressions and squad builds with other readers, and check our earlier play test if you want a quick sense of the loop and loadouts.

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ARC Raiders is a multiplayer extraction adventure, set in a lethal future earth, ravaged by a mysterious mechanized threat known as ARC. Enlist as a Raider and scavenge the surface to thrive in a desolate world. But beware of the machines. Beware of Raiders preying on others.

ARC Raiders blends the tension from extraction shooters with atmospheric settings from the adventure genre. Lurking threats—from deadly machines to other Raiders—create a constant ebb and flow of intensity, where every moment is charged with the thrill of high stakes. Extract valuable loot and explore the unfolding mysteries of a vibrant, lethal world.

ARC Raiders supports seamless social play across PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. Play with your squad and thrive as a team, or rise in the ranks as a lone ranger.