The obvious comparison
Every review of Arena Breakout: Infinite (ABI) opens the same way: it is the game people play when they want Tarkov's tension without Tarkov's baggage. Battlestate Games' Escape from Tarkov defined the modern extraction shooter — the loot-or-die runs, the flea market, the multi-hour hideout grind, the wipe cycles that reset everyone's progress. ABI, built by Tencent's MoreFun Studios in Unreal Engine, is unmistakably built on that blueprint, right down to real-caliber ammo, plate-by-plate armor damage, and a Gunsmith-style modding bench.
Gameplay & combat
Mechanically the two are close cousins. Both model ammo penetration versus armor class, limb-specific health, weapon jamming, and audio you live and die by. Tarkov is the harsher master: heavier recoil, slower and clunkier movement and inventory, no in-raid map by default, and a punishing stamina and health system with fractures, bleeds and painkillers. ABI smooths many of these edges — cleaner UI, more forgiving movement, an in-raid map, and generally more legible gunfights. Veterans often call ABI "Tarkov with the friction sanded off," which is a compliment or a criticism depending on who you ask.
Cheating & anti-cheat
This is Tarkov's open wound and ABI's biggest selling point. Tarkov's cheating problem — radar hacks, aimbots, item duping — is legendary and has driven thousands to its newer PvE mode. ABI ships with Tencent's ACE anti-cheat and, at least in its first year, earned a markedly cleaner reputation, though no live extraction shooter is ever cheat-free and vigilance is ongoing.
Progression & monetisation
Here the models diverge sharply. Tarkov is a one-time purchase (with pricier editions) and sells no gameplay power directly. ABI is free-to-play, and that is where the community's suspicion lives. Its secure container, storage expansion, and account tiers have all drawn pay-to-win accusations, and how aggressively MoreFun monetises over time is the single biggest question mark hanging over it.
- Choose Tarkov if: you want the deepest, most unforgiving systems, the largest map and quest catalogue, and no cash-shop influence on power.
- Choose ABI if: you want a more accessible on-ramp, gorgeous UE visuals, a cleaner anti-cheat track record, and a free way in.
Which should you play?
Tarkov is the deeper, more established, more brutal game with years of content and a fiercely loyal base — but also years of cheating and a steep, sometimes hostile learning curve. ABI is the polished newcomer that lowers the barrier to entry and, so far, keeps cheaters at bay, but it is younger, has less endgame depth, and its free-to-play economy remains unproven over the long haul. Many players genuinely run both: Tarkov for the hardcore ceiling, ABI for the smoother, cheaper, better-looking sessions.
