Best Extraction Shooters for Friend Groups

This subgenre is now familiar to players worldwide — really, who hasn't heard of Escape from Tarkov or Hunt: Showdown? Some hits are already out, others are on the way (like ARK Raiders and Marathon), while some simply capitalize on this format's action — just recall The Day Before's launch scandal. The rules are simple: gear up your character, venture from the safe zone into the dangerous area where other gamers operate, collect loot, and exit the map at a specific point. Succeeded? Great, you get rewards. Failed? Lose your loot and whatever you brought. High stakes fuel the thrill, compelling players to repeatedly test their skills and luck in this perilous virtual world.

One intriguing aspect of extraction shooters is their quiet rise. Evacuation mechanics appeared at least a decade ago in forgotten titles like Nether, the first The Division (Dark Zone mode), and DayZ, but the concept only exploded when Russian studio Battlestate Games built a game around it. Escape from Tarkov 'detonated' the industry, setting genre standards: PvPvE combat, high difficulty, expansive maps, and endless weapon customization and loot management. Those not drawn to EFT fell for Hunt: Showdown's Louisiana bayou atmosphere with its revolvers and gothic romance.

Since everyone knows the market leaders, here's a selection without them — less obvious but equally quality games. They'll entertain you with friends during summer breaks while showcasing genre diversity — it's not just about shootouts in Tarkov or Mississippi swamps.

Let's start with the 2016 classic that introduced extraction firefights when EFT was just a concept. For those who forgot: the first The Division depicts a virus-ravaged New York (eerily predicting COVID). As a special agent, you team up with survivors against marauders. The map features a safe hub surrounded by combat zones, with the most dangerous being the Dark Zone.

Here, solo players or squads enter NPC-infested areas for premium loot, then await helicopter extraction. But success depends on other participants — all 24 players can cooperate or betray each other. Last-minute firefights at extraction points are common. Notably, the original Division aged better than its sequel, remaining visually impressive and affordable.

Staying with Ubisoft's Tom Clancy universe, this PvE shooter (with 'extraction' in its title) deserves attention. A free Steam demo lets you test it. Unlike Dark Zone's PvPvE, here squads battle AI-controlled alien 'Archaeans' infesting Earth.

Missions progress through stages (boss fights, rescues, sample collection), with escalating rewards but permanent consequences. A unique feature is rescuing kidnapped teammates to continue missions. Twenty operators with distinct gadgets offer tactical variety.

Summer means mobile gaming, and China's Morefun Studios delivers the closest mobile EFT clone — free. It replicates Tarkov's formula while adding quality-of-life improvements: tutorial modes, map markers, and teammate revival mechanics.

Some elements feel copied verbatim (PMCs renamed 'Contractors'), but borrowed ideas don't bother players seeking free mobile action. Optimization is original, ensuring smooth performance. Coming soon to PC and Steam.

Madfinger's 2024 answer to EFT shifts the setting to Southeast Asian jungles. As a PMC operative on a 42km² island, you experience familiar Tarkov-style PvPvE, weapon customization, and high-stakes inventory management. The paid game includes starter gear kits.

Progression mirrors EFT: survive longer, hoard loot for gear, sales, or quests. The detailed gunsmith system lets you build dream weapons — which you can instantly lose. Starter packs include weapons, armor, medical supplies, and hydration.

This earlier EFT-like stands out with its post-apocalyptic setting. Players join the 'Fireflies' faction, completing missions for NPC survivors. Notably free-to-play, it simplifies some mechanics while retaining extraction tension.

Gameplay balances gains against survival needs (hunger, injuries). While graphics lag behind Tarkov, the core loop remains: gear up, scavenge carefully, and escape rival players. Health simulation approaches EFT's complexity.

This revived classic about US special forces includes free extraction-style 'Operations' (unlike EFT's paid model). Inspired by Black Hawk Down's Mogadishu battle, it offers PvPvE with adjustable difficulty levels. Beware pay-to-win premium ammo.

High-risk gameplay attracts 'hatchet runners' minimizing gear loss. Base development and stash management resemble EFT, but teamwork counters monetization advantages. Three difficulty settings accommodate various skill levels.

Breaking the military mold, this fantasy extraction game pits wizards and knights against skeletons, spiders, and rival adventurers in dungeons. Recent criticism targets solo/squad imbalance and content scarcity, but its free-to-play magic combat remains unique.

Medieval weapons (swords, bows, spells) necessitate close-quarters combat. Stealth mechanics let players hide in shadows, adding horror elements when torchlight reveals charging spiders. Extraction requires navigating multi-level subterranean maps.

Games of Tomorrow's unconventional entry imagines a modern Vietnam torn by post-USSR conflicts. Simplified mechanics (no ballistics or base-building) make it an accessible entry point for extraction newcomers, with both solo and co-op modes.

Lacking EFT's depth, this budget-friendly option focuses on straightforward PMC vs. guerrilla combat across jungles and abandoned bases. Minimal weapon customization and health systems lower the skill ceiling for casual play.

Arguably the proto-extraction shooter (2013), this heist game demands team coordination: rob banks, bag cash under police siege, and escape with loot. Failure means losing everything — sound familiar? AI-only opponents differentiate it from PvP titles.

Why the older sequel? Cheaper, less demanding, and better reviewed than Payday 3. Dynamic scenarios ensure varied heists, while weapon customization remains unparalleled. Perfect for chaotic multiplayer fun with friends.

Our wildcard entry reimagines extraction as horror. As space scrap collectors, you and friends strategize roles (scout, cover, monitor) to evade alien fauna. Survival means retreat, not combat — a tense twist on the formula.

Successful missions upgrade your equipment for future runs, mirroring EFT's progression. Crucially, tools only delay enemies; running is always the best option. Developer Zeekerss created an unexpected extraction-horror hybrid.

What other unconventional extraction shooters would you recommend?