The release of ARC Raiders is upon us. It’s a new contender for the crown of the extraction shooter genre, which is very popular these days. So, who’s the competition? What are the best extraction shooters available on the market? Let’s take a peek.
What are extraction shooters anyway? In case you’re unfamiliar with this term, it’s generally a sub-genre of first-person shooters where teams of players explore a map, complete objectives, gather loot, fight AI-controlled enemies and other players, and proceed to the extraction point.
If they make it out alive, good for them. They get to keep their stuff, including the gear they managed to obtain during the mission. This means that next time they’ll be prepared to handle the challenges much better.
If they don’t, this means they lose everything. The gear they started with and the loot they acquired.
As you can see, the extraction shooter genre borrows certain elements from looter shooters and battle royales, but its core is deeply rooted in tactical shooters, and the setup is PvPvE (player vs. player vs. environment). These games are also usually about realistic military scenarios.
However, there are some deviations from the formula.
Some titles offer PvE instead of competing with other players, which might be a nice change of pace if you love the idea behind the genre, but don’t really want to interact with other human beings unless they’re your teammates (removing PvP = cheater problem solved).
Some titles are set in science fiction or fantasy realms, which means these might also be good options for you if this gritty military realism isn’t your thing, either.
Anyway, let’s take a look at some of the best games the extraction shooter genre has to offer. If you’re interested in getting any of these, be sure to check out digital marketplaces like G2A.COM for interesting deals.
Escape from Tarkov
Let’s start with the one that started it all.
Set in a fictional region somewhere in Russia, Escape from Tarkov tells the story of an ongoing war between two private military companies: USEC and BEAR. Each faction offers different bonuses and perks, so choose wisely. Once that’s done, you get to enter the fray via five different modes.
However, the gameplay at its core is as follows: you enter the map, either solo or with other teammates, and then fight to get as much valuable loot and then extract within a certain time limit. You need to avoid hostile NPCs – the Scavengers – and other players who are not on your team. If you die, you lose all your progress.
Escape from Tarkov is known for its gritty realism and punishing difficulty, so it may not be the best choice for beginners. Also, the game suffers from cheater problems. Still, it’s one of the best extraction shooters out there and the one that started it all.
However, if it doesn’t seem like your cup of tea, try other games on this list.
Incursion Red River
This one is basically Tarkov, but without the PvP element.
This means you can either go solo against AI or recruit your friends to join you on your quest. There are no enemy players to bug you and no cheaters, hooray!
Incursion Red River is set in modern-day Vietnam, where there’s a new war going on, perpetuated by various PMCs who profit from the bloodshed. So, you get dropped on one of the maps and then embark on a mission to complete various objectives, acquire as much loot as possible, and get out in one piece. Otherwise, you’ll lose everything.
The game is still in the Early Access phase, meaning it’s unfinished. More content is on its way. Incursion Red River is a great choice for those who want to play a realistic extraction shooter, but don’t care for the whole player vs. player aspect. It’s just you versus bots.
Gray Zone Warfare
Here’s something that you might want to try if you’d like to trade Russia for Asia.
Gray Zone Warfare is basically Incursion Red River, but with PvP (though it’s optional) and even more focus on hardcore realism. Each raid means different objectives to complete, interesting loot to secure, and more lore to uncover. Plus plenty of tactical engagements and firefights, which can involve other players and AI.
Definitely one of the biggest contenders for the extraction shooter crown right now, even though it’s still in early access.
Hunt: Showdown 1896
It’s the first game on our list that does not conform to the whole "hardcore PMC sim." Instead, it transports us to this gritty dark fantasy universe of sorts, where you hunt twisted monstrosities and prevent other Hunters from interfering with your plans.
Hunt: Showdown 1896 is great if you’re up for some gory horror instead. With a robust progression system and an "all in" attitude, it’s something you totally shouldn’t miss, especially if you’re into this kind of world and universe.
The Forever Winter
And here we have a post-apocalyptic sci-fi shooter where you’re a small fish in a big apocalypse, as the developers put it.
Here you have a futuristic war between two factions. But you’re part of neither. You’re just a scavenger who wants to profit off the destruction left behind by the warring armies. At first, they’ll probably ignore you, but this will change over time.
This unpredictability and memorable style make The Forever Winter one of the most unique and exciting extraction shooters on the market. How far can you go without attracting the attention of warring superpowers? That’s up to you to find out.
The Forever Winter is available through Early Access.
ARC Raiders
This one’s not out yet, but the latest playtest – the Server Slam – showed it’s shaping up to become something BIG.
The premise is similar to the one in The Forever Winter. You have a future Earth, ravaged by a conflict with the titular ARC threat. You play as one of the scavengers who go to the surface to loot the destroyed world. However, the machines are not your only problem here. Other Raiders – players, that is – might make choices that may not exactly be conducive to your survival, to say the least.
ARC Raiders looks fantastic and looks to be an original take on the extraction shooter formula. Will it claim the genre’s crown? We’ll see.
Best Extraction Shooters Compared
Theme | Difficulty | PvP? | Early Access? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Escape from Tarkov | Military | Punishingly difficult due to hardcore realism and opposing players | Yes | No |
Incursion Red River | Military | Incursion Red River Military Hardcore realism, but no opposing players | No | Yes |
Gray Zone Warfare | Military | Punishingly difficult due to hardcore realism and opposing players | Yes | Yes |
Hunt: Showdown 1896 | Supernatural dark fantasy mixed with a historical setting (1890s Louisiana) | Difficult, but the gameplay loop is easier to grasp than in other titles | Yes | No |
The Forever Winter | Post-apocalyptic/science fiction | Difficult, but gets easier with your progression, plus there’s no PvP | No | Yes |
ARC Raiders | Post-apocalyptic/science fiction | More casual friendly | Yes | No |
Honorable Mentions
If you’re looking for something a bit out of left field, be sure to check out Escape from Duckov and Zero Sievert.
The former is a light-hearted parody of Escape from Tarkov, where you play as ducks and other birds. It’s a single-player PVE game presented from a top-down perspective. Very popular as of recently and not without a reason.
Zero Sievert also does things differently, though it’s serious this time. It’s a single-player extraction shooter, but it boasts pixel art and a top-down perspective. Other than that, it’s pretty hardcore – though it helps beginners to have a fun time, which makes it super fun to play.
You can also try Sand, which is a steampunk-style extraction shooter that seemingly draws inspiration from Wild Wild West and Mortal Engines. You get to build massive walking bases and explore a desolate wasteland in search of artifacts and other stuff. Other players will surely be a source of major headaches.
Sand is definitely one of the most interesting extraction shooters out there.
Interested in grabbing any of these? Be sure to give marketplaces like G2A.COM a shot if you want great deals and great savings.