EFT Tutorial and Guide
THE TARKOV CENTRAL
What is Escape from Tarkov?
Escape from Tarkov is a hardcore and realistic online first-person mil-sim extraction shooter with action RPG and MMO features, developed by the Russian studio Battlestate Games (BSG). Set in the fictional Norvinsk region on the border between Russia and Europe, the game immerses players in an area devastated by conflict between two private military companies (PMCs): United Security (USEC) and the Battle Encounter Assault Regiment (BEAR).
The Lore
The lore behind EFT is not fully disclosed, as the game, still in beta, does not yet allow players to access quests related to the main storyline. What we know so far is that the Norvinsk region has been isolated by a military blockade to prevent the conflict between the factions from spreading to other regions, or possibly to the entire world. The conflict involves two key groups: USEC, hired by the mysterious company Terra Group, which is conducting dubious experiments and research possibly linked to biological and nuclear warfare, and BEAR, a paramilitary organization hired by the Russian government to investigate and halt Terra Group's activities.
Adding to the chaos, an EMP explosion, referred to as "The Blue Fire" by the locals and worshipped by a mysterious faction known as the Cultists, devastated the region. While the exact origins of the explosion remain unclear, many suspect it to be the result of secretive and advanced experimental technologies tied to Terra Group's shadowy operations. The EMP rendered most electrical and electronic devices inoperable, plunging the region into further isolation and disorder.
This dire situation has caused part of the local population to turn into scavengers, known as Scavs, who roam the area in search of food, resources, and weapons, often resorting to violence to survive. Alongside the Scavs are the USEC and BEAR PMCs (private military contractors) who have become trapped in Norvinsk. With no external support and abandoned by their respective organizations, they are no longer following their original orders and are now focused solely on surviving. Consequently, in addition to scavenging for resources and equipment abandoned throughout the Norvinsk region, they have also started to accept quests and tasks from local dealers. These dealers seem to have access to vital resources and equipment necessary for survival, though their methods of obtaining these supplies remain mysterious.
For (much) more info about the lore of Tarkov you can check EUL Gaming YouTube channel.
The Gameplay
Players participate in "raids," where they navigate expansive maps to scavenge for valuable loot, engage in combat with other players and AI-controlled enemies, complete quests, and strive to reach extraction points to escape to their hideout or transit to other zones. EFT emphasizes realism through detailed weapon customization, complex health management systems, and realistic ballistics. A distinctive feature is the high-stakes nature of gameplay: if a player dies during a raid, they lose all the equipment and items they brought in or collected, unless they have insured their gear and it remains unclaimed by others.
EFT also features an RPG-like skill system, allowing for character progression. Unlike many games, there are no skill points to assign. The skills progress organically by performing actions related to them (e.g., you increase your Strength skill by running while overweight).
Beyond raids, players can enhance their "Hideout", an underground shelter that provides various in-game benefits and crafting opportunities. The game also offers a dynamic economy, allowing players to trade with NPC merchants and other players through a Flea Market. Quests from traders provide objectives that, when completed, increase trader loyalty and unlock new items and crafting recipes.
Escape from Tarkov is renowned for its steep learning curve and intense, immersive gameplay, appealing to players seeking a challenging and realistic shooter experience.
The challenge that EFT poses for players is intentional, and it’s what makes the game frustrating on one hand, but extremely satisfying and capable of delivering emotions that other games simply can't offer to those who, after studying its features and mechanics and improving their combat and survival skills, manage to succeed in their raids.
Release Date
After more than a decade in closed beta, Escape from Tarkov has finally reached a historic milestone: its official release on November 15, 2025.
For years, many believed this moment would never come, convinced that Battlestate Games would abandon the project before crossing the finish line. Instead, Nikita Buyanov and the entire BSG team proved otherwise, showing unwavering belief in their vision and carrying it through to release.
And this is far from the end: with a commitment to at least ten more years of development and new content, the journey is only just beginning. Strap in.
