70
Deep within Marathon, there lies a shooter that’s simply fantastic—especially in its end-game maps and core weapon mechanics. For hardcore players who find ARC Raiders too easygoing and forgiving and are craving a bloodier experience, this could be a fantastic playground. However, when viewed as an extraction game that constantly demands you risk your efforts, the pieces don’t quite fall into place. It’s completely lacking the warmth and motivation that would draw in casual players or those looking to dip their toes into the genre. It’s a game where ideas with immense potential are crushed under mechanics that unnecessarily overwhelm the player.
80
Oozing with style and buoyed by Bungie’s consistently slick gunplay, Marathon has already carved out a small fiefdom in the fickle world of extraction shooters. Unforgiving but rarely unfair, that risk/reward gameplay loop will prove endlessly enjoyable to some, though casual FPS fans who want to see guaranteed progression in exchange for the time they put in will find themselves well out of their comfort zone. Marathon’s staying power hinges entirely on post-launch support and the allure of new content. If the maze-like, puzzle-filled Cryo Archive is anything to go by, we could see Bungie rolling out a creative gauntlet of new gameplay experiences.
85
Marathon finds itself in a difficult position. On one hand, it is a title unafraid to make you eat dirt and learn from your mistakes, all while delivering an experience with few apparent downsides—at least on paper—and featuring a presentation that stands out amidst the endless array of hyper-realistic offerings currently flooding the market. On the other hand, it is a tough sell to an audience whose sheer fatigue with "games as a service" keeps them at a safe distance from the blast zone.
6
Marathon is incredibly addictive and I should know as I’ve put 220 hours into it. The problem is that just like gambling can be addictive…it’s not exactly good for you and the addiction can be toxic in its nature. Too like gambling the wins are too few and the losses many and greater. It could be that extraction shooters aren’t my thing, but I want it to be as I see great potential with this game. Well polished bar some minor technical gripes and Bungie’s fantastic gunplay just feels incredible. These though aren’t enough to keep me playing on and I made the hard decision to drop the game last night. After all that time playing I still hadn’t gotten all VIP unlocked and I hadn’t unlocked all the skill trees due to a really hard time getting high grade materials. This means I was missing out on the greatest gear possible for load out which is necessary when playing on maps like outpost. Playing free kits is boring and what is the point playing if I am scared to lose my good loot all the time. I lost all my gold loot last night and not because of skill, but due to being third partied when already weak, or to crouch walking rats. I’ve had enough of being addicted to this game. This said I hope it does well and improves over time and then I might consider jumping back in, but until then…I’m out.
10
I’ve been waiting so many years to play a first person shooter game like this , I like the gunplay so much, precise and competitive! I like tha art design of the world of TAU CETI IV…
I discover it has a wonderful, deep lore… the story is fascinating to me.
The gameplay is so fair! Every fight you lose if you mistake something, you win if you are good shooting!
Last but not least, the game is challenging you with Crio Archive map and I think is so interesting try to improve your skills and get the things done.
If you never played it before and you want a challenging FPS game, that’s is for you! ️
7
Marathon is Bungie at its best: precise gunplay, a fascinating world, stunning art, and an addictive gameplay **** it’s also a difficult, demanding game that isn’t beginner-friendly at **** you enjoy technical shooters, high-risk loot, and constant tension, this is one of the best in the **** you’re looking for something casual, Marathon won’t be forgiving.
Marathon
Released On:
Mar 5, 2026
Metascore
Generally Favorable
82
User score
Mixed or Average
5.8
My Score
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
82
79% Positive
41 Reviews
41 Reviews
21% Mixed
11 Reviews
11 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Mar 31, 2026
100
Marathon would be remarkable as it stands for its enigmatic storytelling but Bungie’s love of riddles elevates the end-game to new heights. The Cryo Archive has only just unlocked in the last week or so and already players have been delighted and frustrated in equal measure by its secrets. Some who encounter it won’t like the randomised nature of its components and others will just wonder why they can’t just shoot stuff to win. Yet veterans of Destiny’s great raids will fall hard for it. Marathon works hard to rebuff your advances and could do with playing less hard to get. But for the player who’s seduced, this could be your next great love affair.
Mar 24, 2026
90
The gaming landscape rarely sees a PvP first-person extraction shooter like Bungie’s new Marathon. It blends fun, engaging gameplay with fast-paced matches and smartly chosen mission structures. Tao Ceti IV feels like a vision of the future that we haven’t already encountered in sci-fi, boasting a unique visual design and a futuristic soundtrack that shapes the atmosphere like no other. I really hope this game finds a consistent player base, because I want Marathon to stick around and show me more of its world for years to come.
User score
Mixed or Average
5.8
54% Positive
698 Ratings
698 Ratings
5% Mixed
65 Ratings
65 Ratings
41% Negative
533 Ratings
533 Ratings
Apr 26, 2026
10
I’ve been waiting so many years to play a first person shooter game like this , I like the gunplay so much, precise and competitive! I like tha art design of the world of TAU CETI IV…
I discover it has a wonderful, deep lore… the story is fascinating to me.
The gameplay is so fair! Every fight you lose if you mistake something, you win if you are good shooting!
Last but not least, the game is challenging you with Crio Archive map and I think is so interesting try to improve your skills and get the things done.
If you never played it before and you want a challenging FPS game, that’s is for you! ️
Apr 23, 2026
10
Best FPS i ever played! Best Lore and Universe i ever encountered! Best MP game i ever played! This is an Masterpiece and people with add and autism like me it’s like an godsend! This and Elden Ring are my fav games of all time(think i like to get beaten the sh““ out of me lol)
Mar 30, 2026
85
Marathon is a game that, over time, could well become a cult classic. With its intense gameplay, Bungie-quality shooting mechanics, and the risk of losing everything, it creates an addictive gameplay loop. It has a strong chance of building a solid community, though casual players are likely to opt for less demanding options.
Apr 17, 2026
80
Oozing with style and buoyed by Bungie’s consistently slick gunplay, Marathon has already carved out a small fiefdom in the fickle world of extraction shooters. Unforgiving but rarely unfair, that risk/reward gameplay loop will prove endlessly enjoyable to some, though casual FPS fans who want to see guaranteed progression in exchange for the time they put in will find themselves well out of their comfort zone. Marathon’s staying power hinges entirely on post-launch support and the allure of new content. If the maze-like, puzzle-filled Cryo Archive is anything to go by, we could see Bungie rolling out a creative gauntlet of new gameplay experiences.
Mar 20, 2026
80
Longevity is a touchy subject in this day and age, as many live-service titles have struggled to keep up with the gaming landscape. Marathon, for a while, looked to be one of those one-and-done that would be lost to time...Fortunately, Bungie has crafted something that proves that wrong, but looks to get better with each update. While not a single-player haven or easy-to-enter title, what you get is a great multiplayer extraction shooter that many should get in on as soon as possible.
Apr 3, 2026
70
Marathon gets better the more you play, but in today’s gaming landscape, it’s fair to ask how many players are willing to invest many hours before the real fun begins. The foundations are solid: the artistic vision is striking, and the gunplay is satisfying. Yet, many of Bungie’s new shooter’s mechanics seem almost designed to push players away rather than draw them in. A confusing interface, overly convoluted weapon and item design, a low TTK paired with punishing PvE, and progression systems that only balance out after unlocking most skill trees create significant early hurdles. And even when everything finally starts falling into place, some design choices remain puzzling, including the mandatory quarterly wipe, which currently raises more questions than answers. When it all comes together, Marathon is undeniably fun, but at this stage, the game still needs quite a few key tweaks to fully realize its potential.
Mar 26, 2026
60
Marathon is a wildy inconsistent game that reaches blood-pumping highs, in between rounds of pure frustration. There's a great shooter hiding in there, but players will jump off before they find it.
Apr 16, 2026
10
Sure, the learning curve for this game is high; sure, the game overall is very difficult; sure, the game is loaded with sweats who bully (pun intended) the less kitted players. However, once you find the groove and figure out how to play an extraction shooter, Marathon is incredible. The gunplay is immaculate, the environment is rich and spooky, and (including the sweats) the community is overall very, very kind and supportive. I imagine that most players who stop playing this game are frustrated with the steep learning curve (I certainly was, initially) - I do believe that continuing to give it a shot will assuage any and all frustrations. Even with the majority of my experiences being "losses" (failure to exfil), I am utterly addicted to this game. I know if there is continued support on the community's end, there will be continued support on Bungie's end - and Bungie is one of the best when it comes to supporting their games, despite recent shortcomings. I've never experienced anything where losing can be as much fun as winning. This is the Elden Ring of multiplayer games.
Apr 25, 2026
7
Marathon is Bungie at its best: precise gunplay, a fascinating world, stunning art, and an addictive gameplay **** it’s also a difficult, demanding game that isn’t beginner-friendly at **** you enjoy technical shooters, high-risk loot, and constant tension, this is one of the best in the **** you’re looking for something casual, Marathon won’t be forgiving.
Apr 2, 2026
7
An incredible aesthetic with visually satisfying graphics to play alongside, Bungie's new Extraction-FPS, ''Marathon'' impresses on arrival. Marathon has quite the learning curve when it comes to realising which items you should store or discard, are good/bad or just generally knowing when and how to use abilities on your chosen Runner. Practise before you jump straight in and it will save you the headache of learning the hard way. It has a great factions system, an easy to understanding quest/task system and lots of customisation for your goodies. Very satisfying feel to each weapon, ability and general movement. The more you risk in this game, the more reward (DON'T DIE) with maps getting more and more difficult. It is a difficult game and if you are a novice to extractions, you WILL be eliminated. No mercy for the weak. I think it's a good game but unfortunately I do not see it having longevity in the current gaming climate.
Apr 2, 2026
4
Nah. Not for me. Unnecessarily complex. Nothing stands out as unique. We don’t need more shooters like this.
Mar 30, 2026
4
El juego es extraño, la jugabilidad es aburrida, los controles me gustaron pero le falta algo para que te ****, lo jugue 2 horas y no me dieron ganas de jugarlo mas.
SummaryA massive ghost ship hangs in low orbit over a lost colony. The 30,000 souls who called this world home have disappeared without a trace. Strange signals hint at rumors of mysterious artifacts, long-dormant AI, and troves of untold riches. You are a cybernetic mercenary - a Runner - and your destination is Tau Ceti IV. You are one of m... Read More
Rated Tfor Teen
