I love it. (Gaming)

by cheapLEY , Monday, November 03, 2025, 16:51 (6 hours, 43 minutes ago) @ Kermit

I've been playing a pretty even split of solo and with a matchmade squad, and it's a lot of fun either way. Squad matches definitely tend to be more aggressive with more PvP encounters. Other squads seem to want to fight more than the randoms I encounter in solo matches, although that does happen occasionally too.

The crafting and upgrade loop is fun. There are a set of crafting benches that are constructed back at home base, and each can be upgraded to allow for crafting of better guns and gear and healing equipment, along with a refiner than can combine low level junk into higher tier crafting parts. When combined with the limited stash inventory (which means you can't just hoard everything), it leads to there always being a goal for any particular raid topside. Sometimes I focus on doing quests (which so far lean into taking down ARC machines), sometimes I need a specific component to upgrade a workbench. ARC parts are required to craft some of the better equipment, which forces engagements. It all just works so well, but it's also kind of low enough stakes that a bad run doesn't ruin the enjoyment. The ARC are definitely the best part of the game--they're fun to fight but also can be really terrifying if you're on a solo night raid and with a backpack full of good shit and you just want to get out of there.

The maps all cycle through different conditions. Night raids pop up for each map on timers, and it makes the loot in the map better, but closes all the raider hatches (which function as quick escape paths, so long as you have a key), so it can force engagements at the limited escape elevators. Each map can also cycle through different event variants. One features a Harvester filled with good loot but is guarded by a massive Queen ARC. One scatters raider caches around the map filled with guns and gear. I haven't seen nearly all of them, I don't think, but it's enough to make every run feel like it has different opportunities for loot or engagements.

It's just really fun.