Extraction shooters are the talk of the town, and we are all about some good ‘ol extracting! We can understand that you may get a bit bored with the classical FPS formula, so adding the new primary objective to the list, other than – killing everything in sight, seems to be an interesting development. Those games usually have some additional RPG elements and completely different ways of approaching the topic of the goal of the game.

But, as the extraction shooter genre is getting more and more popular, it seems now is a great time to create a list of the best extraction games ever! So, let’s get to the extraction point as soon as we can and enjoy this extraction game's top list!

• Release Date: July 2017

• Developer: Battlestate Games

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows

• Meta Score: N/D

Starting with – Escape From Tarkov . It’s a game like no other on our list, and we can definitely say that it’s one of the best ones for sure. Here, apart from being the extraction game, this title is also different from others because of the realism that it pursues in the gameplay. You can build and customize your weapons, you have no UI or anything, and you actually need to count bullets to know how many you have. It’s a mystical experience, for sure!

But – there’s more. If you don’t have a bandage, you will bleed out. If you get hit in the leg, you will start limping. And it’s not like it would go away in a second. You will need to make some effort to heal yourself, and it will not be a fast recovery. The same goes for the ballistic model presented in the title. With different types of ammo, you will see the bullets fading away faster or slower, based on their weight and the gun they were being shot out of.

But what’s it all about, and how is it an extraction game? Well, it takes place in a fictional town in Russia called Tarkov. You need to look for a way to get out of this god-forsaken place while also not getting yourself killed by other players. The extraction is, in some cases – yourself. There are nine maps to choose from and plenty of factions to join, and, well, it’s not for every new player, but certainly those who cherish something more demanding will feel at home.

• Release Date: May, 2018

• Developer: Crytek

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5

• Meta Score: 81

Another great title on our list is Hunt: Showdown . It’s similar to Tarkov in a way, as it also creates a world full of uncertainties and a lack of opportunities. Well, at least in some way, as you are a hunter among other hunters, trying to get the best out of a situation you found yourself in. But, instead of Russia, you are residing in the 1800s, killing supernatural beings and getting yourself into some pretty bad circumstances.

The gameplay is pretty simple. You’re a bounty hunter trying to track some swamp monsters in order to make money. Well, it seems like a bad idea, and it most certainly is. But they pay a reasonable price for those, so you take your friend and track some swamp beings.

The game feels great, as each match can host up to 12 players, so there is not too much of a crowd. You can pursue a solo career or a team of two or three players. You get more and more advanced equipment as you advance in the hunting process. There's new ammo, new weapons, and a lot of stuff that can help you kill monsters. The only thing is – there are no second chances. Either you “Extract” the monsters, or you die. It’s pretty self-explanatory.

It’s fun to play alone, but it’s even better with friends. So, if you want to play something a little bit harder that is incredibly satisfying to beat – then this title is something you should consider. And if you find yourself in a gameplay loop, you can always count on other titles on this list.

• Release Date: May, 2018

• Developer: Crytek

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5

• Meta Score: 81

Next up, we have Deceive Inc. It’s a fun shooter/strategic game set in a colorful world of espionage! In contrast to the previous titles on this list, this one is more fun and colorful, cartoonish in some sense.

In Deceive Inc., it’s all about outmaneuvering other espionage-based organizations and getting the “desired object” faster than them. You can hack and use social engineering, manipulation, and plenty of different tactics to achieve the success you and your buddies were waiting for.

You have a diverse array of agents to choose from, each with unique weapons and skills. There are sharpshooters, guys for a more upfront action, and some engineer-based characters.

The game is fun, dynamic, and has a lot of heart. It may not be the most advanced extraction title on this list, but it has varied gameplay and much to offer, so we recommend it.

• Release Date: September 2020

• Developer: Offworld Industries

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows

• Meta Score: N/D

Another exciting title on our list is The Squad . Like other ones, this also combines the elements of a shooter and something more. In this case, it’s all about working together towards the common goal – fighting through the enemy lines and surviving

And, as it’s an extraction game, you don’t need to shoot your enemies. You can sabotage their equipment and try to take over their base with wit rather than force. It’s a title for those players who want more from their games, not your everyday murdering spree.

In every match, two teams are fighting against each other, nine players in each. At the start of each game, you choose who you want to be in the squad. You can be a medic, assault, or even something entirely out of the ordinary, like – an anti-tank gunner. Additionally, each team has a leader who communicates with the squad and other friendly squads. A leader can become a commander so they can decide on the UAV or other means of help.

The gameplay consists mainly of tracking and getting behind your enemy. So, if you’re a hunter trying to get the better of your enemy by being innovative, you will likely have a lot of fun in this title. Furthermore, there is an exciting ticket system. Every time you lose a vehicle or someone dies, tickets will get removed from your pool. After losing all of your tickets, you lose your game.

We remember playing this game in the early access, and it seems they made some strides in upgrading this title. Now, it’s worth a shot. If there are no cheaters ruining everything for everyone, this is a solid game.

• Release Date: May 2020

• Developer(s): Ghost Ship Games

• Platforms: Windows, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S

• Meta Score: 85

Another great title on our list is – Deep Rock Galactic . Regarding the genre of extraction games, you can’t be much more literal than this one. Just think about it – you are a group of dwarfs in deep space, looking to extract some precious materials to get money and…do some more extracting.

There seems to be no end to their work, and it only shows in their dedication to their line of work. For example, they are killing giant worms to get the customer the finest materials on planet XYZ!

The gameplay is pretty simple: you choose one of the four classes in the game, master it, and go on the extracting hunt! During these ventures, something wrong usually happens, so you can rest assured that you will not get bored.

One of the most fun elements of this game is getting ready for a mission with your friends, finding new contracts, and hanging out on the ship – this is what this game is all about!

So, whether you’re a Gunner, Driller, Scout, or Engineer, you will have a unique experience each time you play this game. With so many players loving this title, they just can’t all be wrong, right?

• Release Date: August 2023

• Developer(s): Ironmace

• Platforms: Windows

• Meta Score: n/d

Next on our list is Dark and Darker, a suspenseful title full of disturbing images. And it only gets darker from that. It’s an immersive experience that some people will enjoy more than others, but one thing remains clear – you will not be unbothered by it.

It’s between a dungeon crawler and your fundamental RPG title in a beautiful medieval world full of despicable creatures and even more despicable creators. You can call it extraction, a battle royale. There are a lot of things that could be said about this game, but in the end, it’s a fun mix bag full of the most exciting elements of all the worlds.

There are eight playable classes. You can be a fighter, a barbarian, a rogue, a ranger, a wizard, a cleric, a bard, and a warlock.

As the area you play in gets smaller and smaller with each second, you need to acquire a lot of equipment not to get yourself killed. If you manage to survive a match, you can extract loot for the next games. Even more, if you are killed, you will lose all of your things, and you will have to start again.

It’s unforgiving; it’s full of twists and turns; it’s a game that you should be playing right now. Of course, it does not mean that it’s something that should keep you on the edge of your seat every day, but as a dungeon crawler from time to time – it’s definitely good enough for that! In our opinion, it’s an improved ARC Raiders, and that’s why it gets a place on this list.

• Release Date: October 2022

• Developer(s): Small Impact Games

• Platforms: Windows

• Meta Score: n/d

Next up, we have the Marauders. It’s a kind of game that you don’t really know what to think about, but you believe it anyway. Let us explain. It’s a title set in the post-apocalyptic world, full of survivors who need to do anything they can to stay alive in this troublesome world.

Here, you need to look for resources, build shelters, and be ready to fight against the enemies to ensure you are ahead of your competition.

The weird part about this game is that you may sometimes feel like it’s a mix of plenty of different titles, all boxed into one. You have some Fallout inspirations, old-and-gold Killzone, and some of the other titles on this list as well.

You need to fight against other factions not to lose your territory or just look out for the mutated monsters trying to get the best out of you. It’s not only a game that you can win by force; there are a lot of tactics to consider and surprise elements to utilize in order to win. As it’s an exciting title in the storytelling department as well, we are more than happy to recommend it to you.

• Release Date: March 2015

• Developer(s): Arrowhead Game Studios

• Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 3, Microsoft Windows

• Meta Score: 83

Helldivers is another game on our list, and what a game it is! This shooter not only allows you to have fun blasting your enemies but also utilize your wits to advance further than your enemies.

The world is not a cool place to be around, as humanity has emerged in a galactic war against plenty of different aliens. Just trust us – there’s a lot of them. So, to defend our way of life, you have created elite soldiers known as Helldivers who are actually diving into hell to save us all from drowning. So symbolic!

The key to winning in Helldivers is to work together. Each mission allows you to influence the conflict and create opportunities for your fighting comrades.

The best element of this game is probably the gearing-up part. It’s one of the most interesting things to consider, which would be the best option for this mission.

It changes the way you approach the gameplay.

You and your buddies need to assign your roles carefully. If you don’t – you will quickly suffer the consequences of bad management and, well, quickly die in the process. Not for the faint-hearted, but a great game nevertheless.

• Release Date: November 2022

• Developer(s): CABO Studio

• Platforms: Windows

• Meta Score: n/d

Lastly, there's a game that's unexpectedly making waves on numerous top-of-the-line lists – Zero Sievert. You find yourself in a challenging setting: post-apocalyptic Eastern Europe. Everything lies in ruin, and you're among the few who have managed to survive.

Your main place of living is a bunker, full of different ways of creating your very own modding stations and a lot of equipment.

Nevertheless, you take off from your safe bunker, and, well, the wilds are wild. You need to do anything you can to survive, and it will surely not be the most straightforward task of them all. You must take out the bad guys and fight through these procedurally degenerated maps—definitely something for the more hardcore gamers.

Although this game is 2D, it does not look cheap at all! It’s one of the more immersive titles on this list, and we are proud to say that we have finished it at least once!

Thanks for stopping by! As you can see, there are plenty of extraction games going around. From hardcore games like Escape from Tarkov or Hunt: Showdown to more light games like Deceive Inc, this genre has a lot to offer to the players, and it’s a sleeper hit for sure. Of coure, there will be new and better games coming out every year or so, but we are positive that these ones will sure be considered to be one of the top titles to ever roam the extraction earth.

Thanks for stopping by! If you liked this article, make sure to check out the other ones on our site. There’s a lot to pick from, so choose wisely. That’s it for today, and we will see you in the next one!