Alright, I have to admit, Arc Raiders has completely won me over. The recent Server Slam managed the impossible: it pulled me away from anticipated blockbusters like Battlefield 6 for an entire weekend. But what truly blew me away wasn’t just the solid core gameplay; it was the ingenious limited-time dynamic events. These moments elevated the experience to an entirely new level, creating one of my most unforgettable gaming sessions this year. Ironically, it also meant losing some of my hard-earned gear—and getting zapped by a lightning bolt.
Picture this: I’d already sunk hours into Embark’s upcoming extraction shooter, thoroughly enjoying myself. My stash was growing, and my trusty Ferro rifle was getting some serious upgrades. I’d had plenty of thrilling moments, from quick resource runs with basic gear to heart-pounding extractions completed in the final seconds. I was genuinely starting to think that even with giants like Battlefield 6 and Black Ops 7 on the horizon, Arc Raiders had a real shot at being crowned the best multiplayer game of the year.
But as fantastic as those early hours were, they paled in comparison to the intense run where all my precious loot and gear ended up belonging to another player. For those unfamiliar, Arc Raiders enhances its standard Dam Battlegrounds map with unique “map conditions” – temporary lobbies that shake up the gameplay. Imagine a night raid, plunging you into an atmospheric, eerie darkness. Or a Harvester lobby, where a colossal Arc bot, known as a Queen, fiercely guards a mysterious machine. These dynamic events don’t just inject freshness and new challenges; they often come with enhanced or specialized loot opportunities too.
So, you can imagine the excitement when my squad and I spotted an “electromagnetic storm” map condition. And, perhaps a bit overconfidently, we decided this would be a “long run” – load up with our best gear, because we were going for maximum kills and tackling some truly enormous robots. Mere seconds after deployment, regret started to creep in. As I stepped out from our spawn, blinding flashes of lightning lit up the map, accompanied by distant explosions, immediately signalling this wouldn’t be a leisurely stroll. Within moments, the sky wasn’t just filled with lightning; a dozen red flares from fallen raiders joined them. Honestly, that electromagnetic storm was simultaneously one of the coolest and most terrifying things I’ve ever experienced in a video game – jaw-droppingly impressive, but a very real danger to me and my precious cargo.
While a fleeting blue indicator on the ground hints at an impending lightning strike, the warning is incredibly brief. There were certainly plenty of expletives (and nervous laughter) as we scrambled to evade these strikes mid-exploration. When a bolt hits near you, it unleashes a deafening, almost biblical sound in your headset, intensifying the panic. Despite my best attempts, I got zapped by lightning a couple of times. Yet, I can honestly say I’ve never had more fun being barbecued by several million volts.
Given the promise of higher-quality loot, this lobby also attracted some incredibly skilled and ruthless players. My squad and I, unfortunately, didn’t make it out alive. My beloved Ferro rifle, into which I’d poured so many resources, was gone. My incredibly valuable medium shield? Poof, vanished. All those high-tier components I’d meticulously scavenged? Now someone else’s shiny new toys.
While the harsh reality of an extraction shooter—losing everything—can often leave a bitter taste, Arc Raiders delivered such a thrilling and immersive experience that I felt the exact opposite. As I stared at my now-depleted stash and basic weaponry, I was, strangely enough, the happiest I’d been all Server Slam. This moment made me more excited than ever for the game’s launch in less than two weeks. A huge round of applause to Embark!
Once the game officially launches, be sure to have our comprehensive guide to the best Arc Raiders builds at your fingertips, especially if you plan on diving into those challenging, high-stakes dynamic event lobbies. Meanwhile, check out our list of other exciting upcoming PC games that will undoubtedly be vying for your attention and budget this year.
If you joined in on the Server Slam, swing by our community Discord server and share some of your most memorable moments with us!