The Hottest Game on Steam Right Now
ARC Raiders launched in October 2025 and became one of the biggest gaming stories of the year. Within days, it had 700,000 concurrent players across all platforms and sold over 12 million copies by January 2026.
It won Best Multiplayer Game at The Game Awards 2025. Critics called it one of the best extraction shooters ever made. Your Steam friends are probably playing it right now.
But should it go on your backlog — or straight to the top of your play queue?
What Is ARC Raiders?
ARC Raiders is a third-person extraction shooter set in a post-apocalyptic Earth. Hostile machines called "ARC" have taken over the surface, forcing humanity underground. You play as a raider who ventures topside to scavenge resources, fight machines, and encounter other players.
The core loop: load in, explore dangerous maps, collect loot, and extract alive. Die, and you lose everything you collected — except items in your "safe pocket."
You can play solo or in teams of up to three. The game blends PvE (machines) and PvP (other players) in every match.
The Good
The atmosphere is exceptional. Maps are set in a post-apocalyptic Italian rust belt, and the visual design is genuinely stunning. The world feels alive, dangerous, and worth exploring.
The AI machines are terrifying in the best way. ARC enemies aren't mindless bots. They scan, patrol, and react intelligently. A group of machines descending on your position creates genuine tension.
The community is surprisingly friendly. In a genre known for toxic players, Arc Raiders players tend to cooperate more than expected. It's common to find strangers reviving each other rather than fighting.
96% positive reviews on Steam from nearly 60,000 reviews speaks for itself.
The Not-So-Good
Forced PvP frustrates solo players. Many players report that even with aggression-based matchmaking, runs frequently end with a camper stealing your hard-earned loot right before extraction.
The learning curve is steep. Like most extraction shooters, ARC Raiders doesn't hold your hand. Your first 5-10 hours will involve losing a lot of gear.
It's a time commitment. This is not a pick-up-and-play game. Extraction shooters reward consistent play and invested time.
Should It Go On Your Backlog?
Yes, if:
- You enjoy multiplayer games and have friends to play with
- You like extraction shooters or are curious about the genre
- You have 3-4 hours per session to invest consistently
- You prefer single-player experiences
- You have limited gaming time
- Your backlog is already full of solo games you want to finish
The Backlog Coach Verdict
ARC Raiders is a legitimate Game of the Year contender and absolutely worth playing. But it's a multiplayer game that rewards consistent time investment — not a game you dip into occasionally.
If you're trying to clear your backlog, finish a few single-player games first. Then give ARC Raiders your full attention when you're ready for a multiplayer commitment.
Already own it but haven't started? Connect your Steam account to Backlog Coach — we'll tell you exactly when it makes sense to jump in based on your gaming habits.