Games Like ARC Raiders and Marathon
ARC Raiders
(2025)89WHY IT'S HERE
If you came here from Marathon, this is the other half of the pair. Same extraction loop, but the threat is environmental and mechanical rather than primarily other players.
Marathon
(2026)87WHY IT'S HERE
If you came from ARC Raiders, this is the more player-versus-player reading of the same idea. Sharper edges, less room to avoid conflict.
Escape from Tarkov
(2025)30WHY IT'S HERE
The genre origin and by far the most punishing entry. Losing a run costs real equipment, and the learning curve assumes you will lose many.
Deep Rock Galactic
(2020)82WHY IT'S HERE
Cooperative rather than competitive, but the structure is identical: descend, complete objectives, and survive the trip back to the drop pod.
Species: Unknown
(2025)87WHY IT'S HERE
High-risk missions aboard a derelict ship with something hunting you. Smaller in scope than the others but produces the same reluctance to push one room further.
Risk of Rain 2
(2020)87WHY IT'S HERE
No extraction mechanic, but the escalating clock creates the same pressure. Every minute you stay makes leaving harder and the reward larger.
Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor
(2025)90WHY IT'S HERE
The solo, low-commitment option. Keeps the descend-and-escape rhythm in a much shorter format when you cannot organise a full session.
Methodology & FAQ
Kept deliberately short because genuine extraction-structure comparisons are rare. Included only games where a session can be lost outright or where the same loss pressure is produced by another mechanism.
Q: Why are there only a few games on this list?
Because the extraction structure is still a young category and most shooters do not use it. Padding the list with unrelated multiplayer games would not help you find what you are looking for.
Q: Do I need a regular squad to enjoy these?
Not always. Several work solo, though the tension is sharper and the outcomes more forgiving when you have people to coordinate with.
Q: Which is the most punishing?
The hardcore simulation entries take the most from you when a run fails, and the notes below say plainly which those are.
