Deal | First discount ever: One of the biggest surprise hits of the year drops to record-low price during Steam Winter Sale

In ARC Raiders, players explore a post-apocalyptic world where the Earth’s surface is dominated by the so-called ARC machines. Rather than following a traditional narrative, the game tells its story through fragments, strong environmental storytelling and moments that emerge naturally during play. Risky decisions, sudden encounters with other players and the constant threat posed by powerful robotic enemies turn every expedition into a unique experience. This is why the developers describe ARC Raiders not as a typical extraction shooter, but as an “extraction adventure.” GameStar captures the idea perfectly: “Hardly any shooter tells stories this well without having a story.”

In terms of gameplay, ARC Raiders blends classic extraction mechanics with a strong PvPvE focus. Players venture to the surface either solo or in teams of up to three, with every expedition built around a clear risk-and-reward structure: die, and all collected loot is lost. This constant threat keeps tension high and gives real weight to every tactical decision. At any moment, players can choose to sneak, fight, retreat or even negotiate with others. The latter is enabled by an integrated proximity chat, allowing for spontaneous alliances as well as unexpected betrayal. Unlike genre staples such as Escape from Tarkov, ARC Raiders is played from a third-person perspective.

Matches are time-limited, extraction points are scarce and the ARC machines pose a constant threat. Dynamic weather, shifting times of day and the unpredictable behavior of both AI and other players ensure that even familiar maps always feel fresh. The four large environments range from a spaceport to a desert city and a massive dam, each divided into multiple zones with increasing levels of risk.

German gaming magazine PC Games awarded ARC Raiders a strong score of 8.5 out of 10, praising its dense atmosphere, outstanding sound design and the constant tension created by its uncompromising extraction gameplay. At the same time, the editors criticized an occasionally confusing inventory, the limited scope and a lack of long-term motivation. The developers, however, emphasize that ARC Raiders is designed as a long-term project shaped by player feedback, which could put at least the latter two points of criticism into perspective over time.

ARC Raiders is also performing strongly in international ratings. On Metacritic, the shooter holds a Metascore of 86 alongside a User Score of 7.9. Feedback from the Steam community is equally positive, with 88% of more than 240,000 user reviews recommending the game. Nearly two months after launch, ARC Raiders continues to rank at the top of Steam’s bestseller charts.

Discounted for the first time as part of the Winter Sale

ARC Raiders was developed by Embark Studios, launched on October 30, 2025 and typically sells for around $40 on Steam. As part of the Steam Winter Sale, however, the extraction adventure is discounted by 20% until January 5 and is currently available for just under $32. According to SteamDB, this marks the first discount the game has ever received, making it cheaper than ever before. Handheld players are also in luck: ARC Raiders is rated “Verified” for the Steam Deck (available for $785 on Amazon) and runs smoothly on the device.

Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.