Choose ARC Raiders if you want to scavenge, face PvE machines and rival players, and try to extract with your loot. Choose THE FINALS if you want team-based arena matches built around objectives and combat. They are different shooter formats: THE FINALS is not an extraction shooter, but its free-to-play arena action may suit players looking for a different kind of competition.
How do the games play?
ARC Raiders: scavenge, survive, extract
ARC Raiders sends players Topside to collect resources while contending with ARC machines and other Raiders. The goal is to return safely with what you have found, so a run puts loot and the risk of losing a successful haul at the center of the experience. PlayStation’s US game listing describes the extraction premise and says you can play solo or in teams of two or three.
THE FINALS: fight over arena objectives
THE FINALS is a team shooter set in virtual arenas that can be changed and destroyed. In Cashout, teams unlock a vault, take its Cashbox to a Cashout Station, then defend the station while its timer runs. The official modes page also lists Point Break, Team Deathmatch, and Power Shift. Its focus is arena objectives and team combat, not extracting with scavenged loot.
Which one fits your preferred play style?
| If you want… | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Loot runs where danger can threaten what you have collected | ARC Raiders | Scavenging and returning safely with resources are central to its extraction loop. |
| Structured team fights around a shared objective | THE FINALS | Cashout and its other listed modes center on arena-based team play. |
| To play without a regular squad | ARC Raiders may fit | PlayStation says solo play is supported. It is still an online multiplayer game, not an offline single-player campaign. |
| A free-to-play way to try a shooter | THE FINALS | Embark describes it as free-to-play, with optional purchases that are cosmetic. |
These are preference-based recommendations, not a claim that one game is objectively easier, deeper, or better. The official descriptions establish their formats and objectives, but do not provide a controlled comparison of difficulty, match quality, or learning curve.
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What do they cost, and where can you play?
THE FINALS is free-to-play on Steam (PC), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, according to Embark’s support page, last updated July 8, 2026. The page says optional purchases are cosmetic.
PlayStation’s US listing showed the ARC Raiders PS5 Standard Edition at $39.99 when accessed on October 7, 2026. That is a region- and storefront-specific listing, not a universal price; check the store for your region before buying. The supplied official platform details do not establish platform parity or crossplay, so confirm current support for your platform before making a purchase.
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How to make the choice
- Pick ARC Raiders if the appeal is building a haul through a dangerous run and deciding when to get out with it.
- Pick THE FINALS if you would rather coordinate with teammates to capture, defend, or contest objectives in a destructible arena.
- If cost is the deciding factor, THE FINALS offers a free-to-play entry point to arena shooting; it is not a free alternative to ARC Raiders’ extraction loop.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
