Compare Kingdom Come: Deliverance II vs Arc Raiders

Voice acting was broadly praised, especially the main cast, though some reviewers noted repeated or uneven minor NPC voices.

Voice acting was the most criticized element, with repeated complaints about AI-generated or flat NPC/vendor performances.

Controls were described as noticeably smoother than the first game, especially in camera feel, aiming, and sword fighting responsiveness.

Controls were praised as responsive in one review, while a PS5-focused review reported serious button-input issues.

Menu usability was mixed to negative, with some praise for navigation but others calling the menu system dire or frustrating.

Menus and stash handling were one of the most common frustrations, especially on console and between raids.

Writing was described as excellent, engaging, humorous, and consistently strong across main and side content.

Writing was criticized when reviews focused on the thin plot, quest storytelling, and AI-voiced dialogue.

Dialogue was mostly praised for impact, humor, and organic choices, though one reviewer found some repeated dialogue drawn out.

Dialogue and vendor lines were criticized as flat, forgettable, or artistically compromised by generated voice work.

Reviewers repeatedly emphasized how unusual and specific the game feels compared with modern RPGs.

Reviews diverged sharply, with one calling it smartly designed and another saying it had almost no originality.

A horror-leaning quest was criticized for being too short for its dread to fully develop.

Several reviewers compared raids to survival horror because of the fear, sound cues, darkness, and pressure around extraction.

One reviewer felt early traversal was unnecessarily taxing, especially before stronger equipment and better mobility options eased the burden.

Movement was usually praised as fun, grounded, or fluid, though one negative review found basic navigation ponderous.

Stealth was useful and sometimes satisfying, yet reviewers also called it finicky, weak, or frustrating in specific forced sections.

Stealth was praised through shadows, foliage, detection behavior, and the ability to avoid PvP through careful play.

Reviewers liked the depth and usefulness of perks, weapon techniques, and skill trees, especially when they enabled meaningful playstyle specialization.

The skill tree has meaningful branches and upgrades, but some reviewers found filler perks or stamina taxes dull.

The historical codex and contextual detail were praised for offering extensive background on people, events, and society.

The story and lore intrigued reviewers, but evidence also showed that much of it remains light or left to imagination.

Narrative quality was a major strength, with reviewers praising the historical saga, main quest, character arcs, and cinematic ambition.

The story premise drew interest, but one review wished the narrative were more present outside lore and cutscenes.

One reviewer found the loop rewarding but volatile, with strong highs offset by repeated frustration and setbacks.

Most reviewers found the loot-extract-repeat loop addictive and memorable, but a major negative review found it tedious and unrewarding.

Reviewers repeatedly framed the systems-heavy design as a major strength, praising how mechanics connect to role-playing, dialogue, world simulation, and player expression.

Mechanics were generally praised for risk-reward strategy and meaningful tools, though one strongly negative review called the gameplay mediocre.

The learning curve was repeatedly described as steep, slow, and friction-heavy, rewarding patience but likely turning some players away.

One impressions review said the game remains easier to approach despite the genre’s high skill ceiling and many systems.

Tutorial quality was mixed, with one reviewer calling it decent while others criticized dense text screens and poor explanations.

Early missions were described as solid introductions to the basics before later quest repetition set in.

Loot was criticized for early encumbrance pressure and the difficulty of carrying everything a player might want.

Loot was often praised as rewarding and useful, yet inventory friction and one negative review’s trash-loop criticism pulled impressions down.

Onboarding divided reviewers: returning and new-player recaps helped, but some found the opening overloaded or blunt.

Many reviewers called Arc Raiders unusually approachable for an extraction shooter thanks to free loadouts, solo matchmaking, and forgiving progress.

Reviewers saw the sequel as much more polished than the first game, with rough edges reduced and systems better realized.

The game was mostly described as polished, though some reviews still pointed to refinement needs, bugs, and rough edges.

Mission variety was strongly praised, especially for quests that went beyond simple errands or bandit-clearing objectives.

One review liked that different drop conditions can create different quests or events on a map.

The revised perk and upgrade system was praised for offering meaningful upside-focused choices rather than weak side-grades.

Upgrades and workbenches add depth, but unclear item requirements and workshop friction made the system less smooth.

Reviewers praised the breadth of activities, quests, and post-launch additions, with many describing a large and varied set of things to do.

Map and content variety were often praised, but some reviewers wanted more events, weapons, upgrades, or late-game additions.

Ranged play was viewed as improved by some reviewers, especially archery, but another found ranged combat weightless and weak.

One reviewer said weapons reliably hit where aimed, making the gunplay feel dependable despite early weak gear.

Environmental detail was praised for dense, specific objects, puddles, tools, farms, residences, and believable spaces.

Reviewers praised the dense, vertical, weathered environments, but one negative review described them as barren.

One reviewer reported a consistent frame rate and treated that as part of the game’s stronger technical state.

Performance-focused comments were highly positive, citing rock-solid frame rates and smooth 60 FPS or better results.

Combat drew broad attention for its realism, skill focus, and improvements, though several reviewers still found it harsh, clunky, or frustrating early on.

Combat drew broad praise for tense, punchy, tactical third-person firefights, with only a few reviews calling it cumbersome or mediocre.

Atmosphere was praised alongside world-building, especially in cities, music, and historically grounded locations.

The strongest reviews highlighted tense, eerie, and immersive environments, while one dissenting review found the ambience nearly absent.

Bugs were present but usually minor; reviewers ranged from calling glitches common to saying issues rarely disrupted play.

Bugs were usually described as rare or occasional, but reviewers still cited frustrating glitches, pop-in, and exploits because losses carry high stakes.

Exploration was praised for beautiful spaces, meaningful discoveries, and a strong adventuring feel, though harsh systems made some travel demanding.

Exploration was widely praised for rewarding curiosity, hidden routes, dense maps, and environmental discoveries.

Reviewers described the story as memorable and emotionally powerful, including scenes that brought strong lasting reactions.

The best moments were described as memorable, dramatic, hilarious, tragic, or relief-filled, giving raids real emotional stakes.

Pacing opinions varied: some praised the sustained momentum, while others complained about indulgent cutscenes or late-game pacing issues.

Pacing was divisive, ranging from fast and tense to slow, sleepy, or bogged down by between-run chores.

Visual set pieces and in-engine scenes were praised for creating striking emotional moments.

Weather, lighting, particle effects, smoke, and environmental effects were often praised, with pop-in as the main caveat.

The early economy was described as restrictive, especially when selling damaged or stolen goods with limited vendor money.

Inventory limits and stash pressure were the main resource-balance complaints, especially when quest items occupy space until full turn-ins.

Reviewers consistently praised the reactive crime, reputation, NPC, and quest systems that made the world feel alive and responsive.

Noise, sound traps, visual cues, item use, and environmental interactions were praised for shaping play.

Cutscene direction and mocap were praised for selling relationships and emotional scenes convincingly.

Robot animation and reactions were praised for selling machine behavior, with drones and larger Arcs reacting believably to terrain and damage.

The visual style of menus, maps, and medieval presentation received praise for matching the game’s historical tone.

Most reviewers liked the retro-futuristic, post-apocalyptic look, though one sharply negative review found the visuals bland and generic.

Difficulty was often called demanding and unforgiving; reviewers generally treated this as part of the appeal, though not always an easy one.

Reviewers generally liked the danger and high stakes, but several warned the punishing consequences and slow early climb can frustrate casual players.

Immersion was one of the clearest strengths, with reviewers repeatedly describing the world, systems, and presentation as absorbing.

One review singled out Arc Raiders as highly immersive because its lore, world, sound, and machine threat all reinforce the fiction.

Reviewers admired the freedom to solve problems, exploit systems, and role-play, though the sandbox sometimes clashed with scripted story demands.

The game lets players choose between cooperation, betrayal, PvE, PvP, gadgets, and creative strategies in ways reviewers valued.

Several reviewers found the game highly entertaining, addictive, and rewarding once its demanding systems clicked.

Positive reviewers described the game as a blast, a serotonin hit, or a phenomenal experience, even when acknowledging genre-specific caveats.

Crafting split reviewers: blacksmithing and alchemy could be charming and rewarding, but several found parts clunky, slow, or repetitive.

Crafting was seen as deep and useful, but several reviewers found the required inventory sorting, item tracking, and unclear components frustrating.

Camera behavior was a noted issue for one reviewer, especially through finicky first-person viewpoint problems.

Reviewers split on the third-person camera: one saw it as reducing ambush frustration, while another saw corner-peeking as inherently unfair.

Progression was widely praised for turning early friction into rewarding growth through skills, perks, equipment, and player learning.

Progression was widely praised for maintaining forward momentum, though some skill-tree and grind complaints remained.

Crash stability was praised by multiple reviewers who reported no crashes, no soft locks, or no hard crashes.

One later review reported no random disconnects or lag spikes, supporting generally strong stability impressions.

The adaptive HUD was praised for hiding unnecessary elements and improving immersion when information was not relevant.

The sparse interface was praised for grounding the player in the world rather than overexplaining the action.

The sequel was credited with giving supporting women and other groups somewhat more agency than before.

One review praised traders for having enough personality and interaction to feel like more than simple vendors.

AI and NPC behavior were praised for believable reactions, routines, crime responses, and increased sophistication over the first game.

Reviewers generally praised Arc enemies as unusually intelligent, dangerous, and unpredictable, though one review noted moments where enemies lose track or navigate poorly.

Weapon balance was mixed: one reviewer liked weapon choice, while another found some ranged options hard to use effectively.

Weapon balance was mixed: reviewers liked niche-based weapons and viable free kits, but later evidence flagged overpowered or weak weapons.

Graphics were broadly praised for impressive landscapes, cutscenes, lighting, and major visual improvements over the first game.

Visuals were broadly praised as gorgeous, detailed, and technically strong, with only minor reservations in a few impressions.

The game was not seen as a pure grind, but reviewers still emphasized the effort and repetition needed to gain traction.

The grind was considered manageable by some and slow by others, especially around leveling and repeated recycling or upgrading.

One reviewer praised the scale of improvement as something other studios rarely achieve.

Reviewers felt Arc Raiders smartly refines extraction-shooter systems and, at its best, pushes the genre forward through social design.

UI feedback was positive when reviewers discussed improved, adaptable, or visually polished interface presentation.

Inventory UI was criticized for lacking search and customization even though basic grouping exists.

Quest design was one of the strongest points, with reviewers praising memorable side stories, branching approaches, and strong writing, despite a few disappointing payoffs.

Quest design was mixed: some quests guide players well, while others were vague, uneven, or narratively unexciting.

World-building was repeatedly praised as immersive, historically grounded, and central to the game’s appeal.

World-building was a broad strength, with reviewers praising Speranza, map storytelling, lore hooks, and the surface’s lived-in detail despite some dissent.

Sound design was praised for supporting immersion and helping players identify attacks or stealth-relevant cues.

Sound design was the most consistently praised attribute, repeatedly described as excellent, informative, immersive, and tension-building.

Main mission design was mixed: reviewers praised varied scenarios, but one criticized a required sequence for lacking an alternate path.

One review praised quests and trials for giving specific match goals with worthwhile rewards.

Maps were praised for medieval flair and exquisite town art, supporting the game’s historical presentation.

Maps were praised for flow, markings, extraction pressure, and strategic navigation, with routes and timers reinforcing tension.

One reviewer praised the way locations were recontextualized into memorable set-pieces that rewarded planning and awareness.

Maps received strong praise for flow, density, varied spaces, and strategic layouts across multiple reviews.

Post-launch support was described positively through free updates, fixes, and eagerly awaited features.

Support looked promising through roadmaps and updates, but reviewers worried future tuning could undermine the carefully balanced experience.

The PS5 Pro version was praised as a graphical treat, with platform-specific technical strengths noted.

Controller and console support were praised as an unusually strong genre win.

Replay value looked strong thanks to hardcore mode, major content additions, and reviewers wanting to return for more playthroughs.

Replay value was a major strength, with reviewers repeatedly saying they could not stop playing or wanted one more run.

Performance was generally praised across PC and console contexts, with reviewers noting strong optimization and technical improvements.

Performance was one of the strongest technical categories, with repeated praise for smooth play and solid optimization.

The soundtrack was one of the most consistently praised elements, with several reviewers calling it orchestral, phenomenal, or legendary.

Music and audio presentation drew strong praise for industrial sci-fi mood, synth atmosphere, and complementing gameplay.

One reviewer warned that excessive profanity and potentially offensive material make the game unsuitable for some audiences.

One reviewer strongly disliked Hans as a long-term companion presence, creating strain on their desire to continue.

Large Arc threats such as Leapers, Bastions, and the Queen were treated as intimidating cooperative challenges rather than simple targets.

Reviewers consistently emphasized that Arc Raiders’ PvPvE structure creates unpredictable, social, and often hopeful multiplayer moments.

The open world drew strong praise for its scale, density, historically grounded cities, and lived-in regions across multiple maps.

The one puzzle-related event mention was positive but limited, describing it as a nice diversion that needs more support.

Henry and Hans received strong praise for their evolving relationship and character arcs, with Henry’s trauma and growth adding stakes.

The cast was praised for memorable personalities, humor, and a strong sense of history.

Checkpointing was criticized for causing lost progress when autosaves appeared only at limited quest points.

Co-op was repeatedly praised as a major strength, especially with friends or impromptu allies, though team play also makes raids more aggressive.

Emotes, proximity tools, and player behavior were praised for making encounters surprisingly cooperative and approachable.

The dog companion Mutt was praised as useful and worthwhile, especially for tracking and early side-quest benefits.

One review flagged occasional solo-versus-organized-crew encounters as a fairness issue in an otherwise strong multiplayer structure.

Reviewers liked the reset and expedition idea in theory, but later coverage criticized the endgame as hollow or fragile.

Most reviews praised the range and threat of Arc machines, though one review found the enemy designs repetitive and unimaginative.

Facial animation feedback was mixed: one reviewer noted lifeless dialogue faces, while another praised key character animations.

Reviewers generally agreed the sequel stays true to the original while improving its systems, scope, and accessibility.

Family friendliness was limited by repeated profanity, sexual content, and depictions of women that one reviewer found objectifying.

Fast travel opinions were mixed: one reviewer praised dynamic events, while another found it cumbersome and interruption-prone.

Handheld suitability was supported by one reviewer who described the game as scalable enough for handheld play.

DualSense haptics and adaptive triggers were praised for reflecting stamina, sword clashes, and sharpening interactions.

Load times were criticized by one reviewer as long enough to worsen stealth retries and experimentation.

Later coverage criticized matchmaking as exploitable, especially around aggression-based or PvE-leaning lobbies.

One negative review criticized the cosmetics and freemium-style store as visually uninspired and out of place.

Cosmetics were flagged as pricey and less customizable than expected in one review.

Online impressions were mixed: one reviewer reported zero bugs, while later coverage focused on cheating problems.

Later coverage liked new content but said a major map update was not a true game changer.

Proximity chat, emotes, and spontaneous cooperation were among the most praised parts of the game’s identity.

The post-launch expansions were credited with adding a large amount of extra content to the package.

The save system was one of the most divisive topics, praised by one reviewer but criticized by many as stingy or punishing.

Server impressions were mixed, ranging from good/no-lag reports to disconnects, queues, and early launch sign-in issues.

Value was praised because the game is both strong and very long, with some reviewers reporting enormous playtime.