A Parent’s Guide to Arc Raiders

Arc Raiders At A Glance

• Arc Raiders is reviewed here as an online PvPvE extraction shooter rated T for Teen (13+) for Violence and Blood, with Interactive Elements including Users Interact and In-Game Purchases.
• Arc Raiders may be appropriate for your teen if you decide they are ready for tense, cinematic-feeling shooters that can be played solo or with friends. You should be mindful of unpredictable online interactions and optional spending on in-game purchases.

In a landscape rife with battle royales and hero shooters, an extraction shooter like Arc Raiders feels to me like a breath of fresh air.

Arc Raiders went from a game I was encouraged to purchase, just to play alongside friends, to an adventure I thoroughly enjoy. The moment-to-moment gameplay alone has me feeling like I am creating cinematic masterpieces instead of simply playing a video game. Arc Raiders’ blend of risk-versus-reward mixed with captivating visuals, has turned my casual play sessions into weekly rituals.

Is Arc Raiders Appropriate for Kids?

Arc Raiders is rated T for Teen, with Content Descriptors for Violence, Blood, Users Interact, and In-Game Purchases. Understanding the Violence and Blood content descriptors is straightforward, especially given that the game’s primary mechanic is shooting. This can lead to some moments that may be a bit too intense at times for younger players.

Arc Raiders is a PvPvE (Player-versus-Environment-versus-Player) game with an online component that supports cross-platform play. Players have the option to play with a squad or venture off on their own. Either way, one will encounter other individuals from across the world. This introduces the ability to communicate with strangers, but it is not required to still be able to enjoy the game. User interactions, at face value, don’t necessarily classify a game as inappropriate; however, they do introduce a variable that you’ll want to pay attention to, as player-to-player communications can invite an element of the unknown.

Keep in mind that the age rating indicates whether a game’s content is appropriate… not the intended audience. In the case of Arc Raiders, the content will likely be appropriate for your teen (13 and up). But even if you decide the content is appropriate, some kids may still find the gameplay too challenging to fully enjoy.

Where Can I Play Arc Raiders and How Much Does It Cost?

Arc Raiders is available for the Xbox Series X & S, PlayStation 5, and PC for $39.99 USD. There is also a Deluxe Edition, which includes the base game along with additional cosmetic items, attachments, and in-game currency. Arc Raiders Deluxe Edition is $59.99 USD and is also available on all platforms.

Since Arc Raiders is a fully online game, it requires an internet connection to play its various game modes, as well as an Xbox Game Pass Essential (or higher) or a PS Plus Essential (or higher) subscription when playing on console. Both subscriptions start at $9.99/mo, with various tiers and corresponding price points beyond that.

As mentioned, Arc Raiders features in-game purchases with three main currencies. These in-game purchases are all cosmetic, ensuring there are no “pay-to-win” mechanics in the game as none of them are required to play and enjoy the game. Below is a breakdown of each currency:

• Coins are strictly an in-game currency that is obtained by selling items successfully extracted from the Topside. Coins are used for buying gear, buying stash space, and purchasing items from traders.
• Cred is a progression currency that is earned by playing the game and completing “feats,” which are daily & weekly challenges. It is used to unlock tiers in Raider Decks, which are the game’s version of a battle pass.
• Raider Tokens are a premium currency that can be purchased with real money and used for purchasing premium Raider Decks and cosmetics in the shop.

What Is Arc Raiders About?

Arc Raiders is about survival. In a world that’s been devastated, then devastated again, you are a raider who is focused on scavenging for the betterment of society. That society is known as Speranza, a vibrant underground clinging to hope, ingenuity, and a little bit of bravado. Speranza isn’t just a safe hub, it’s a living community brimming with opportunity and camaraderie. There you’ll find traders who’ll send you out on missions that slowly reveal more about themselves and what they believe the future of Speranza should be. As the underground evolves, new opportunities and new risks expand its reach.

On the surface, though, it is a hauntingly beautiful but brutally dangerous wasteland, with its own set of rules and patrolled by lethal machines known only as ARC. You are someone willing to risk it all by venturing topside to recover what you can from the world left behind. Every run becomes more than just about obtaining valuable loot, long-lost technology, and rare ARC parts; it’s a personal decision about who you want to be in a place where survival isn’t guaranteed, and trust is a commodity. You can offer aid to fellow raiders you come across or take them for everything they have, subsequently increasing your gains. No matter how you travel, the surface has a way of forcing hard choices.

At its heart, Arc Raiders is about stepping into a broken world controlled by machines, daring to trust those around you, and building a name for yourself with both what you’ve earned and your antics along the way.

How Does Arc Raiders Play?

Arc Raiders has one gameplay loop, but between two distinct spaces. The first is in the safe area of Speranza, where all your preparation and progression takes place. The second is in high-stakes scavenging runs on the surface, where you’ll encounter ARC machines, other Raiders, and most importantly, loot.

At a high level look, you’ll gear up from the safety of your own workshop, only to risk it all topside, where the goal is simple: Get what you need and get out. How you prepare, your play style, and whether you go it alone or with friends, all can change the outcome of your run; and no two runs are the same.

When you and your family are in Speranza, you’ll spend your time:

• Crafting, repairing, and upgrading gear in your workshop.
• Improving your crafting skills by upgrading workshop stations and learning blueprints.
• Taking on quests from Traders to earn rewards and progress your Raider.

Once you choose your run and head topside, you’ll:

• Launch into one of four distinct maps where conditions like weather and enemies shift from run to run.

• Search ruins for loot that can be sold or turned into new equipment.
• Exfiltrate with everything you’ve collected (hopefully).

Combat, while seemingly straightforward, has consequences beyond the fight itself. Noise carries, and the sound of a battle can invite opportunists looking to take what you’ve earned and draw nearby ARC machines. ARC threats range from drone swarms to towering giants, all of which adapt quickly and can ruin everything for you if you’re careless. Each machine has its own strengths and tactics, pushing you to identify weak spots, reposition constantly, and make smart decisions in the moment.

Survival is all about improvisation and ingenuity. You’ll use:

• Scavenged materials and looted parts to kitbash gear, craft gadgets, and solve problems on the fly.
• Loadouts built around your style, utilizing various firearms like SMGs, rifles, shotguns, and advanced options like railguns and energy weapons.
• Tactical tools like grenades, traps, ziplines, and deployables to outthink both machines and rival Raiders.
• Augments that add perks and dedicated inventory slots.

At the end of each run, you’ll progress your Raider. Allocating gained XP through success and survival, unlocking skill points across three branches: Survival (loot faster, move quieter), Mobility (outmaneuver threats and opponents), and Conditioning (boost Strength and Stamina). You can also push your skills even further with trials and climbing leaderboards for rewards.

Prepare with intention, risk it all for reward, and return stronger next time, putting everything on the line.

Ensuring Your Kids Have Appropriate Arc Raiders Experiences

While Arc Raiders is generally appropriate for your kids 13 and up, unpredictable player interactions and the presence of in-game purchases warrant mindfulness and a discussion around the nature of competitive play, especially for those who are still learning good sportsmanship. It’s also important to talk with your kids about what they can do if they ever encounter inappropriate behavior online. Just about any platform you can think of gives players the ability to block, mute, and report other players that are either behaving obnoxiously or (at worst) violating a game’s community guidelines. A pro tip for that: Remind your kids that they will never be punished for what someone else does and they can always come to you if they need help. You can visit ESRB’s Family Gaming Guide for helpful tips to start these conversations.

Combat, while seemingly straightforward, has consequences beyond the fight itself.

Seeing as Arc Raiders allows you to team up with a squad of your own making, this would be a wonderful opportunity to jump into a game with your child to enjoy the experience together. If you are looking for more ways to ensure your kids’ video game experiences are appropriate, we have step-by-step parental control guides at ParentalTools.org to help you get started! You can activate parental controls to manage which games your kids play, when and for how long, with whom (if anyone!) they can communicate while playing online, and whether they can spend real-world money on in-game purchases or new games.

Asa Bebout-GreenRiver  is a seasoned gaming and entertainment industry professional, who has worked in various areas of the industry like consultation, news coverage, development, and more. He’s worked with companies like IGN, Take This, and The Game Awards, and has worked on titles like Weird West and Onson Master. He’s a passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and has produced content focused on promoting Indigenous representation in the gaming and entertainment industry with companies like Twitch, Kinda Funny, and Snapdragon. Aside from this experience and his work in marketing, Asa is developer of an up & coming tabletop game called, BattleVersus! which was recently featured in the SixOneIndie Showcase.”