The Highs and Lows of Solo Runs

There’s nothing quite like stepping into ARC Raiders on your own, as it manages to set its solo experience apart in a way that many extraction shooters fail to achieve. For the most part, this comes from the PvE portion of its gameplay, as players attempt to navigate the harsh surface with the constant threat of ARC machines looming overhead and on the ground in front of them. Despite its PvP elements, ARC Raiders does an impeccable job of ensuring it doesn’t feel wholly like a PvP experience by balancing it out with some demanding PvE gameplay that can be difficult to skirt at times.

At the same time, for all its praise, playing ARC Raiders solo isn’t all highs, and that largely comes down to perspective. Some runs can leave players feeling like they managed to make it through a warzone without ever firing a shot, while others can end abruptly when one player decides another looks like an easy bag of loot. But that’s what makes ARC Raiders‘ solo experience so interesting, and it arguably wouldn’t be what it is without two sides to its coin.

The highs of solo runs in ARC Raiders

• Autonomy and self-pace
• Unexpected interactions with players
• Focused loot efficiency
• Atmosphere and tension

The lows of solo runs in ARC Raiders

• Increased vulnerability
• Higher risk of loss
• Higher learning curve

The Highs of Solo Runs in ARC Raiders

Autonomy and Self-Pace

Perhaps more than anything, one of the highest highs of playing ARC Raiders solo is the opportunity it gives players to set their own pace and make their own decisions. Without any obligations to a squad, players can enjoy a round in the way they wish. This is especially useful in a game like ARC Raiders, where a wide variety of quests can lead to players jumping into a round to complete one menial task that their team may have already completed or might simply not care to complete. Then there are rare materials players might need, and rather than finding those materials and then increasing their chances of losing them by sticking around longer, they may prefer to extract sooner rather than later.

Unexpected Interactions With Players

There also seem to be more surprise interactions with other players when playing alone. Whereas playing with a squad naturally tends to attract the more PvP-oriented side of ARC Raiders‘ playerbase, going solo not only tips the balance more toward PvE but also encourages players to form unexpected alliances with one another to take down larger ARCs, complete quests, or find specific items. Of course, squads can do all of that and potentially even more, but there’s something oddly fulfilling about finding help where it’s least expected.

Focused Loot Efficiency

With ARC Raiders‘ gameplay loop essentially being a race to get loot and extract as quickly and safely as possible, efficiency is key. Sticking around too long in one location both decreases the odds that players might find the loot they need in another zone and increases the chances that they might be caught unaware by opposing players. Playing ARC Raiders solo can help mitigate this, however, as it allows for fewer distractions, quicker decision-making, and a streamlined extraction. Since players only have themselves to worry about during a solo round, they can focus more on the loot they need.

Atmosphere and Tension

Then, there’s the obvious atmosphere and increased tension that comes with playing solo. When there’s a bunch of chatter going on in the mics, it’s much harder to appreciate ARC Raiders‘ superb audio design, which is largely manifested in its intimidating ambiance and menacing machines. While that alone creates tension, going it alone in ARC Raiders heightens the risk of either taking valuables into a round or attempting to leave with them, as there is no one there to defend the lone player in their time of need. That might be considered a downside to some, but to others, it’s an essential part of the experience.

The Lows of Solo Runs in ARC Raiders

Increased Vulnerability

The highs and lows of ARC Raiders‘ solo gameplay primarily come down to perspective, as one player’s tension-driven thrill might be another player’s frustration. However, playing without a squad makes players more vulnerable, not just to other players, but to the ARCs that patrol the surface as well. Playing ARC Raiders solo means players don’t have teammates to watch flanks, revive them, or draw aggro unless they manage to find another solo player who is willing to stick around and help. It’s an experience meant to make players feel isolated and helpless, but just because it’s designed that way doesn’t mean it’s universally enjoyable.

Higher Risk of Loss

One thing that makes ARC Raiders a bit more accessible is its Safe Pocket mechanic, which allows players to keep any items in their Safe Pocket even if they don’t survive a round. Even with that mechanic, though, playing ARC Raiders without a squad still presents players with a higher risk of loss than if they were playing with a full team of Raiders. In a solo run, the player carries every bit of that risk themselves, which inadvertently makes every decision more important and the potential outcome of said decision harder to face if it happens.

The risk is even higher when attempting to interact with other players in an ARC Raiders solo run, as choosing to trust someone can be a million-dollar mistake if they prove untrustworthy later on. When playing with a full squad, players have a few partners they know they can trust, but when attempting to team up with other solo players in the game, trust is never guaranteed.

Higher Learning Curve

Finally, playing ARC Raiders solo has a higher learning curve than playing with others. Without the handicap offered by having a full team of companions present, lone Raiders are required to know maps, extraction points, the best loot routes in ARC Raiders, and the most effective ways to avoid both NPCs and other players. A full team in ARC Raiders increases the chances that beginners can be carried through a round, but in a solo round, players are required to carry themselves.

So Which Is Better in ARC Raiders — Solo or Squad?

Ultimately, whether it’s better to play ARC Raiders solo or with a squad depends on what players want out of the experience. Running with a squad can feel like a more stable experience, with a safety net that can smooth out the rough edges of a tough run. But playing alone offers a very different kind of experience that thrives on patience, awareness, and a sense of ownership over every choice made on the surface. Neither style replaces the other. They simply highlight different strengths in the game, and the better option will always be the one that matches how a player likes to approach the risks and rewards that define ARC Raiders.

Released

October 30, 2025

ESRB

Teen / Violence, Blood