By I’m a huge fan of extraction shooters. But I hate PVP.
So when Arc Raiders launched, I was devastated.
Because the game looked so good. It has great graphics, an addictive looting system, and a rewarding progression system. But having to deal with PVP, kept me away from trying the game.
I just don’t like to deal with campers and pro-level players who snipe you out just when you’re about to extract with the loot you’ve collected in the past thirty minutes.
I know PVP is the whole point of extraction shooters and I should try and get good at it. But as you get older, you just don’t have too much time.
I’m just totally addicted to the aspect of going on a raid, looting around, and extracting with all the goodies. So I went looking for games that offer just that.
In this list, you’ll find some of my favorite PVE extraction shooters and games similar to Arc Raiders.
I have ranked these games based on the looting and progression system. The further down you go, the more great games you will discover, but they might not be very similar to Arc Raiders.
1. The Division 2
The Division 2 is the closest thing that comes to an Arc Raiders alternative. In retrospect, The Division is arguably the first game ever to introduce the extraction-style gameplay in video games so it fits the category well.
The Division 2 is another third-person looter-shooter with very addictive gameplay mechanics. It features a massive open world, an engaging campaign mode, boss battles, and a lot of build variety to match every play style.
The game also features PVP combat sections called The Dark Zones, this is where the extraction-style gameplay happens. In these areas, you will discover PVP players and if you die before getting to a safe zone, you will lose any looted items.
Other than the Dark Zone areas, every other part of the map is PVE-only. And you don’t lose your gear or loot if you die in the open world map, you only lose your progress.
I have been playing The Division 2 since its release and I’ve covered the game quite a bit here on the website. Just recently, the game received a massive Anniversary update with lots of improvements. So it’s definitely worth checking out the game right now.
2. The Forever Winter
I had a hard time deciding to feature this game on the list because the game’s community is split between players who enjoy it and those who hate it.
The Forever Winter is a unique extraction-shooter style PVE-only game that’s still in early access. The game takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where you play as scavengers who loot the dead and extract the goodies.
You are not a hero in this game. Your job is to avoid battles as much as you can and just get out with good loot to upgrade your base and buy gear.
The premise and the gameplay of this game are really good. The aesthetics of the world, along with visuals and audio, are impressive. But it still lacks a good gameplay loop to keep players hooked. And it also has performance issues. Keep those in mind if you do decide to try it out.
3. Marathon
Marathon is the newest extraction shooter that all the exiles from Arc Raiders are jumping into these days.
This game is actually a PVPVE game that has forced PVP. And similar to Arc Raiders, it also features sweaty campers and snipers who hide around extraction spots.
However, the game also features very satisfying loot and progression that will keep you coming back for more. And it’s the closest thing you can get to a decent Arc Raiders alternative right now.
If you don’t mind occasional PVP, you can play this game as a rat or in stealth mode to avoid fights and just grind for gear and loot.
4. Gray Zone Warfare
Gray Zone Warfare is a lot different from Arc Raiders because in GZW, you are not in a fantasy world; you are playing as a military operative in a realistic combat environment.
In this game, you get to gear up as a military agent and do missions in a vast open world map. If you die, you lose your gear. But you get one opportunity to go back and loot your dead body.
GZW is also an early access game. The past couple of updates have made this game quite perfect, and it now performs well. It features both PVE and PVP game modes. As well as deep gun modification, survival elements, and lots of gear and loot to grind for.
5. Incursion: Red River
Incursion: Red River is another military-style extraction shooter with realistic gameplay. This game, however, is single-player and co-op play only. It doesn’t have any PVP elements. And you can play it offline.
Incursion is developed by a small indie developer team and it’s still in early access. So there are some bugs and issues in the game. But nothing game-breaking.
While it doesn’t have as deep weapon customization or missions to work on, like in GZW, you do get three different maps to explore with varied difficulty. Also, unlike GZW, you can customize the difficulty of the AI NPCs in this game to enjoy the grind for loot without dying every time you go on a raid.
6. DayZ
The PVE servers in DayZ are the perfect way to simulate an extraction shooter-style experience. You just run around the massive map, looting and shooting zombies, and then get back to your base with all the best loot.
This game managed to stand the tests of time for a reason. It has good core gameplay and overall somewhat smooth mechanics that feel addictive and satisfying. So you come back for more every day.
DayZ also has multiple maps to explore, and you can play co-op if that’s your vibe.
7. Witchfire
I wanted to place Witchfire higher on this list, but it’s missing some of the Arc Raiders elements. Otherwise, this is the best PVE extraction shooter I’ve played so far.
Witchfire features a very dark and fantasy vibe where you go on raids to kill demons and extract with orbs to level up your character and build and upgrade gear.
Witchfire has a combination of RPG, rogue-like, and extraction shooter elements. The guns and spells in the game feel very impactful and satisfying to shoot. It has great progression and a gameplay loop as well.
The game also has stunning visuals and sound design. And the best part is, it takes less than a second to load into the game from the main menu.
8. STALKER 2 or GAMMA
STALKER games, especially GAMMA, have many of the elements of extraction shooters. You basically go out exploring a post-apocalyptic world, completing missions, gathering loot, and killing monsters. And then you get back to a safe zone to upgrade your gear.
If you’re completely new to STALKER games, I recommend playing either the original trilogy or STALKER 2 first. Then move on to GAMMA.
STALKER GAMMA is a mod pack for the original Stalker games that adds a ton of cool survival elements. It’s a full-on extraction-style experience for hardcore players. Completely single-player, PVE.
9. Tarkov PVE Zone
Tarkov is hailed as the best extraction shooter available. Granted, it did invent the modern PVP extraction shooter games, but it also has the worst PVP experience.
However, many players claim the PVE Zone is a much better way to enjoy Tarkov as it takes away all the sweaty PVP players and campers.
Tarkov PVE is just as harsh and brutal as the PVP version. It has tough AI enemies, and you still have to navigate the map on your own. It’s perfect for players seeking a challenge.
There are two ways you can play Tarkov PVE: you can either get the official PVE Zone dlc for the game or play the community-made PVE mod.
10. Helldivers 2
Helldivers 2 is not really an extraction shooter, but it has a similar vibe to Arc Raiders.
This game is also a third-person shooter and features lots of build variety. It has satisfying gunplay and an addictive gameplay loop as well. Shooting massive bug hives and giant monsters is the best feeling.
The main difference is that in Helldivers 2, you don’t get to loot stuff. Instead, you get the experience and resources you need to upgrade your build, and then you go back into smashing bugs.
11. Deadside
I used to enjoy playing Deadside a lot. It’s a lot like playing a battle royale game while looting and shooting AI enemies.
Deadside is a lot similar to DayZ and it has both PVP and PVE game modes. It has a massive map and a good balance of loot and weapons to grind towards.
These days, Deadside feels a bit dead in the water. Player counts are going down and development is slow. But it’s super cheap on Steam sales. So it’s worth checking out just for the PVE experience.
12. Escape from Duckov
You can probably guess where this game found its inspiration from. It’s a playful and casual extraction shooter to play without taking yourself too seriously.
You are basically a duck going on raids to extract with good loot. It’s completely PVE-only and features a good gameplay loop and lots of loot to grind.
The only downside is that this game has a top-down isometric-style view, which may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Other than that, this is a really fun extraction shooter you can enjoy in your downtime.
