Hardest Extraction Shooters

Summary

• Extraction shooters offer a unique challenge in balancing difficulty and replayability.
• Deep Rock Galactic emphasizes PvE focus over intense PvP combat.
• Helldivers 2 provides a chaotic, high-stakes experience with intergalactic warfare.

Extraction shooters are the new kid on the block, exploding onto the scene over the past few years and demonstrating a whole new way to enjoy the shooter genre. There have been plenty of attempts made at creating an immersive and rewarding experience, with very few hitting the mark, and part of the difficulty comes from towing the fine line between challenging gameplay and replayability that keeps players hooked for more than a few play sessions.

The genre as a whole has a pretty wide range of titles that each feel distinct from one another and try to offer something different from everything else on the market. Sometimes that’s some raw PvE action, and other times it’s a world full to the brim of excitement and wonder. But no matter the game and no matter the direction, extraction shooters all have an innate level of difficulty that demands far more of the player than other shooter genres, and there are more than a few games that really push that level of challenge to its absolute limit.

8

Deep Rock Galactic

Part of the enjoyment that comes from playing extraction games is the ability to jump in with some friends and shoot at some terrifying mobs and get out with whatever loot possible. Deep Rock Galatic leans away from the intense PvP combat found elsewhere in the genre and trades it for some more casual, PvE focus that relies more on good coordination and careful map traversal. An entire underground cave system full of ores, minerals, and all manner of giant insects, each run feels different and provides its own unique challenges that grow in difficulty with each subsequent mission.

The difficulty can actually ramp up pretty quickly, and players will have to be careful with their ammo usage and use their cooldowns wisely so as not to be overrun by the hordes of bugs scuttling across the ceiling. Upgrades feel meaningful and impactful, and even if the players don’t have the most successful excursion, they can still make it out with a few resources to help them in the future. It isn’t going to test the player nearly as much as some other games in the genre, but it provides more than enough challenge for players looking to push themselves against progressively harder mobs.

7

Witchfire

Soulslike Meets Shooter

Witchfire brings a dark fantasy twist to the extraction shooter genre, blending intense and satisfying gunplay with arcane powers in a world dripping with gothic horror that feels just as terrifying as it does exciting. The supernatural setting is really embraced, arming players with powerful firearms and elemental magic as they fight through cursed landscapes and grotesque enemies that get progressively wilder. Each mission feels like a high-risk hunt, where players must balance aggression with caution, gathering relics and resources while navigating a world teeming with dangerous foes that can cause more than a few problems along the way. Despite being single-player, the intensity never lets up, as one wrong move can spell the end for the player and a loss of all their precious loot.

Combat in Witchfire is fluid yet punishing, rewarding quick reflexes and tactical thinking because the enemies don’t come at the player in a traditional wave-like manner, with far more ambushes and smaller groups that can quickly overwhelm the player in seconds. Managing cooldowns, selecting the right weapons for each encounter, and learning enemy patterns become essential to survival, and the extraction element adds a layer of risk that heightens every run. The lack of PvP may be a turn-off for fans of the genre, but the difficulty can still get extremely high, despite the absence of enemy players looking for their next hit.

6

Helldivers 2

Cinematic Battles Every Single Time

Frantic, unforgiving, and darkly comedic, Helldivers 2 redefines the extraction shooter by placing players in the boots of expendable soldiers waging intergalactic war against giant alien creatures and robots of all kinds. Unlike slower-paced games in the genre, it thrives on chaos: brutal alien worlds, relentless enemy waves, and the ever-present threat of friendly fire that adds an extra level of caution and hilarity to each mission. Every drop-in feels like a suicide mission, and surviving long enough to call for extraction is a small miracle that is often hard to reach. Success hinges on communication and precision, as even the most basic objective can unravel in seconds under pressure, and for players looking to go alone, the intensity reaches new heights, and with no one to lean on, it is up to the player to stay strong and push through the swarm on their own.

Missions are dynamic, balancing strategic planning with a healthy dose of insanity that never seems to let up and turns open fields into entire action movies. The extraction phase is often the tensest part of the mission, with dwindling resources and escalating enemy numbers testing every decision made along the way and often leading to more than a few moments of sacrifice and panic. Whether players limp back to the shuttle or get torn apart inches from safety, Helldivers 2 ensures the journey is gloriously difficult and hilariously brutal and continues to deliver time and time again.

5

Hunt: Showdown

Intense Company With A Sprinkle Of Horror

A different kind of extraction shooter that swaps high-tech arms for old Western six-shooters, Hunt is an excellent example of a genre blend done right. Combining creature horror with tight and rewarding gunplay, players can jump into the world alone or in a group and are tasked with taking down several larger foes that are located throughout the map of various kinds, sizes, and levels of fear. The map lives and breathes with the player, and every moment is filled with caution as, in a matter of seconds, the fun exploration can sour due to a long-ranged shot from an enemy hunter.

The difficulty comes from balancing the monster takedowns with some careful PvP engagements, as much like any extraction shooter, a 1v1 fight between two equally frantic players can quite quickly turn into an all-out brawl for glory and victory. Another level that adds to the challenge is the gun variety itself. The majority of the weapons available are either single-shot or require more precise aim than a machine gun spray, with a few exceptions, which means that intense fights can be incredibly stressful, as one missed bullet can make all the difference. Not quite as tactical as other titles in the genre, but it has more than enough challenge to satiate any fans looking for their next shooter game.

4

Dark And Darker

Something Completely Different

While the first thing that comes to mind when extraction shooters are brought up might be assault rifles and military bases, it turns out there is more than enough room for an entirely different approach that is equally fun and rewarding. Dark and Darker steps away from gunplay in place of swords and magic, offering an experience unlike any other in the genre. Nothing is are no guaranteed other than dimly lit corridors, creaking doors, and the sound of something breathing nearby that could either be a lowly skeleton or another player with a thirst for blood. It’s a hardcore extraction game wrapped in grim fantasy, where players take on classic RPG roles like Cleric, Ranger, or Fighter and descend into claustrophobic catacombs teeming with monsters and other desperate players, all in the name of loot.

Combat is slow, weighty, and punishing, with every sword swing requiring perfect timing and spell casts needing care and precision. Healing is rare and hard to come by, and cooperation is the backbone of any good dungeon run. Players must manage not only health and gear but also noise, visibility, and greed. As players decide to go deeper in the hopes of more and better loot, it isn’t just their gear that’s on the line; It’s their life. What Dark and Darker captures so well is that feeling of dread, not just from monsters in the dark but from knowing that another player could be waiting just around the corner.

3

Delta Force

Pushing The Limit

An old franchise with a new lick of paint, Delta Force makes its return with a modern twist on tactical military shooters, blending classic large-scale combat with the high-stakes intensity of an extraction-style format. Though there are multiple modes from a campaign to more fast-paced matches, the extraction mode is where the most fun lies. Rooted in realism and built on the legacy of the original series, the game places a strong emphasis on precision, squad coordination, and methodical play that isn’t a run-and-gun experience. Planning and care are everything, as without the correct approach and tactical foresight, what could be a bountiful mission can turn bloody very fast.

Each operation feels like a live deployment, as players take on specialized roles within their squad that each contribute to the mission’s success or failure. Enemy forces aren’t just cannon fodder that fall to a single shot. They can be just as devious and strategic as the players themselves, and the collision of PvP and PvE threats mid-mission creates unpredictable, high-stakes moments that provide a rewarding and nerve-racking experience every time. The extraction itself is a tactical climax that is never a guaranteed escape, and if the player and their squad want to make it out alive, they need to keep their wits about them right up until the chopper leaves the zone.

2

Escape From Tarkov

Realism On Another Level

The best in class and a sizable challenge for even veterans of the shooter world, Tarkov is the pinnacle of the extraction shooter and the gold standard for how to create an immersive and unforgettable gaming experience. A modern, open landscape full of loot and enemies to shoot down, each run out into the wild feels like a covert operation behind enemy lines and the addition of potentially hostile players that are all looking for the same thing, makes every moment breathe with intensity and makes the player’s heart beat right out of their chest.

Part of the challenge comes from the sheer level of knowledge needed to enter the game, as there are so many mechanics and specific details that, once understood, unlock a whole new level of appreciation for the game. And the gunplay isn’t exactly a cakewalk either. Requiring precision at every turn and punishing players who want to run out in a blaze of glory, every decision requires significant thought and care, as after a long route of success loot and a few player kills along the way, the last thing the player wants is to be cut down at the last hurdle.

1

Forever Winter

Brutal And Horrifying

In terms of difficulty and brutality, few games get close to the level of Forever Winter. Dropping players into a frozen warzone, resources are scarce, and towering machines dominate the battlefield and are ready to gun down anything that moves with not a single ounce of remorse. It’s an extraction shooter with a heavy dose of dystopian atmosphere, set in a collapsed society where humanity is hunted by relentless warbots and automated death squads. The weather elements really stick out and aren’t just for show. The cold is a real threat, with an environment that makes visibility low and raises the tension to new heights not found anywhere else in the genre.

Encounters are less about firefights and more about survival puzzles. Stealth plays a central role in the gameplay loop, and sometimes, the smartest move is to avoid conflict entirely. But when bullets fly, combat is punishing and visceral, forcing players to manage gear, suppressors, and stamina with precision. Despite there being no enemy players across the battlefield, the enemy AI puts up more than enough of a fight and certainly doesn’t play fair, often coordinating in ways that feel terrifyingly intelligent and comparable to an actual player. Extraction isn’t just an escape from hell; it’s a reward for outwitting the system and surviving against odds stacked from the start. Success is more of a release from the pain, and with so much horror, struggle, and difficulty to overcome, players will have a hard time finding a more challenging and punishing extraction shooter.

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