Marathon

BradQuackson

BUY

BradQuackson spent 24 hours with Marathon and is impressed by the significant visual improvements, engaging PvE gameplay, and loot progression system. While he acknowledges some balance concerns with AI difficulty and PvP encounters, he believes the core extraction shooter mechanics are solid and enjoyable.

gameranx

WAIT

Marathon has a solid foundation with exceptional gunplay and engaging PvP combat that surprised the reviewer with its fun factor, but it's an early live service with uncertain longevity and some design choices that may not appeal to everyone, particularly casual players unfamiliar with extraction shooters.

Jiibii

WAIT

Jiibii shows interest in Marathon's mechanics and gameplay variety but expresses concerns about player population, excessive AI difficulty, and unclear quest objectives. The reviewer demonstrates engagement with the game's systems while simultaneously highlighting balance and design issues that need addressing.

ZkMushroom

BUY

ZkMushroom praises Marathon's exceptional gunplay, graphics, and balanced character abilities, arguing the game improves significantly after a few hours of play. While acknowledging some UI confusion and confusing loot systems, the reviewer believes the game's strengths outweigh its weaknesses and recommends trying the free server slam.

Game Launch Central

WAIT

The reviewer sees Marathon as a promising project with strong foundational concepts around extraction gameplay, atmospheric storytelling, and faction-driven narrative, but emphasizes the game still needs to prove it can execute on these ambitious ideas before launch in March 2026. The delayed release and post-alpha adjustments suggest Bungie is making the right corrections, but the reviewer remains cautiously optimistic pending final delivery.

Vini

WAIT

Vinnie appreciates Marathon's progression systems, faction mechanics, and class-based gameplay, but is significantly disappointed by core gameplay issues like poor time-to-kill balance and lack of rewarding combat encounters. While the game has promising foundations, these fundamental problems undermine the otherwise well-designed progression systems.

DreamcastGuy

WAIT

Marathon is a game with an extremely steep learning curve and heavy grinding requirements that becomes increasingly enjoyable the more you invest time into understanding its systems. The reviewer initially hated it but grew to love it after 10+ hours, though they're uncertain if most players will have the patience for such a demanding progression curve.

Smash JT

SKIP

The reviewer criticizes Bungie's request to delay reviews until endgame content launches later in March, viewing it as manipulative coordination with media outlets that lack journalistic integrity. The low Steam player count (below 87,000) and user score (4.4/10) suggest the game failed to meet expectations and lacks confidence from both players and the studio.

Aztecross

WAIT

Aztecross expresses cautious optimism about Marathon as a critical release for Bungie's future, praising the gunplay and movement mechanics while warning that the game must launch in a polished state to compete in a crowded extraction shooter market. He emphasizes that Bungie cannot rely on their traditional "fix it later" approach and must achieve near-perfection at launch to avoid failure.

kruzer

BUY

Kruzer highly recommends Marathon after 94 hours of gameplay, praising its gunplay-focused PvP mechanics that echo classic Destiny 1 with balanced abilities that don't overshadow skill. He appreciates the build crafting system for adding flavor without being game-breaking, making positioning and aim the primary determinants of success.

Dad Level Unlocked

WAIT

Marathon is a genuinely fun and well-designed extraction shooter that earns high marks for fun factor and time respect, but it's specifically not ideal for busy gamer dads due to its lack of pausibility and high mental load demands. The reviewer recommends it primarily for those with dedicated gaming windows, not for casual play between life interruptions.

Uncle Josivan

SKIP

Uncle Josivan initially enjoyed Marathon's fast-paced combat and unique aesthetic, but quickly lost interest after 3 hours due to shallow gameplay mechanics and lack of depth. He believes the game won't retain players long-term and feels it lacks a cohesive vision beyond chasing modern gaming trends.

Llama

BUY

Marathon is a well-crafted extraction shooter from Bungie with stellar gunplay, impressive visuals, and deep build-crafting mechanics that offer something unique in the genre. The reviewer is enthusiastic about the gameplay experience but notes it's a genre that may not appeal to everyone, particularly those concerned about losing loot.

IProPytash

WAIT

IProPytash finds Marathon has solid core gameplay mechanics and good potential as an extraction shooter, but is held back by confusing UI design, excessive filler loot items, and an extract system that feels restrictive. They recommend trying it now since it's free, but suggest waiting to see how the game evolves before making a full commitment.

staycation

BUY

The reviewer believes Marathon is worth the $40 price tag and delivers an excellent extraction shooter experience with solid gunplay, tactical gameplay, and good squad play mechanics. However, it's specifically designed for players who enjoy first-person shooters, tactical combat, and the extraction genre, so it's not for everyone.

Evaze

WAIT

Evaze enjoys Marathon's gunplay, movement mechanics, and ability-based gameplay but warns that the confusing UI and steep learning curve make poor first impressions. The reviewer recommends giving the game time to click rather than judging it immediately, as it's an extraction shooter that rewards progression and build variety.

Daily Marathon

BUY

TenZ expresses strong enthusiasm for Marathon as an extraction shooter, praising the gunplay mechanics and the ability to win 1v many encounters. Despite some frustrations with game mechanics and balance, he considers it his favorite extraction shooter and demonstrates genuine enjoyment throughout the gameplay.

Doctor Disaster

SKIP

Doctor Disaster argues that Marathon is a poorly executed game that will likely suffer the same fate as other failed free-to-play launches, with major streamers and gaming personalities heavily criticizing its UI, mechanics, and overall design despite Bungie's substantial investment and media hype.

M3RKMUS1C

BUY

M3RKMUS1C finds Marathon to be a solid extraction shooter that overcomes initial confusion through persistence and a more relaxed playstyle. While the game has polarizing aesthetics and some communication issues, the gunplay is excellent and the AI presents meaningful challenge that differentiates it from competitors.

Skill Up

WAIT

Marathon is a competently made, polished competitive team shooter with excellent gunplay and a unique visual style, but it lacks a compelling 'hook' to differentiate it from other extraction shooters and engage a mainstream audience. The reviewer remains open to the game improving at launch but currently feels ambivalent rather than excited about it.

Open World Games

WAIT

Marathon shows promise with good visuals and interesting moments but suffers from average gunplay, shallow PvE, and confusing UI that need significant work. The reviewer acknowledges potential but suggests the game requires massive improvements in feedback mechanics and overall feel before it's ready for a full recommendation.

Gaming Dad Legends

WAIT

Marathon has strong sci-fi atmosphere and excellent Bungie gunplay, but suffers from a steep learning curve, lack of pause functionality, and slow time-to-fun that makes it poorly suited for gaming dads with limited playtime. The reviewer sees potential but feels the game needs refinement before it's worth the $40 investment for casual, time-limited players.

Mint Blitz

BUY

Mint Blitz finds Marathon to be a solid extraction shooter with good graphics, stable performance, and well-designed factions, though it has balance issues and gameplay mechanics that may frustrate traditional FPS players. The game offers depth and learning curve for dedicated players, but requires adapting expectations from standard shooters like Destiny 2 or Halo.

Destin

BUY

Destin finds Marathon to be a surprisingly enjoyable game that defies early negative expectations, praising its engaging gameplay loop, weapon variety, and organic storytelling moments. While he has some concerns about menu design and long-term player retention, he's personally invested enough to have logged 8+ hours and plans to continue playing.

Gsxrclyde

WAIT

The reviewer appreciates Marathon's gunplay and build-crafting potential but finds the PvE experience underdeveloped, UI outdated, and core gameplay loop unfulfilling compared to other extraction shooters. He plans to grind at launch to give it a fair chance but expresses concerns about whether the game has sufficient 'hook factor' despite its strong marketing.

Vara Dark Reviews

SKIP

Vara Dark found Marathon to be a deeply disappointing experience that fails on nearly every front, from its terrible aesthetic and weak gunplay to its tedious gameplay loop of excessive walking and menu navigation. The reviewer spent five hours with the game and uninstalled it immediately, giving it a score of 2/10 and recommending it only to those who enjoy boredom.

DrybearGamers

WAIT

DrybearGamers found Marathon to be a solid PvP/PvE extraction shooter with good core gameplay and exciting environmental events, but feels it suffers from significant tuning issues that need addressing before launch. The reviewer is cautiously optimistic that these problems can be solved through basic balancing adjustments.

Ibetonme

WAIT

Marathon has a solid gunplay foundation with snappy hit registration and satisfying headshots, but is held back by critical bugs, stiff movement mechanics, and poor extraction design that undercuts genre tension. The reviewer is cautiously interested but recommends waiting for Bungie to address major issues before committing.

Vara Dark - Dark Titan Media

SKIP

The reviewer criticizes Bungie for releasing an incomplete game with weak player counts (88K peak) and then requesting media outlets delay reviews until late March. The reviewer argues this is an unacceptable practice that shows a lack of confidence in the product and attempts to manipulate critical narratives.

jackfrags

WAIT

Jackfrags acknowledges Marathon's significant improvements since alpha, including better graphics, lethal gunplay, and strong anti-cheat policies, but expresses reservations about the UI and AI variety. The gameplay is solid and fun with friends, but the reviewer's measured stance suggests the game still has room for refinement.

Ghost of Eight Thoughts

SKIP

The reviewer harshly criticizes Marathon as a poorly designed extraction shooter with confusing UI, bad gunplay mechanics, and no redeeming qualities. They strongly advise against purchasing the game and recommend spending money on almost anything else instead.

LUCKYY 10P

WAIT

Marathon has solid gunplay and weapon feedback typical of Bungie's expertise, along with the high-stakes tension of extraction shooter mechanics, but it lacks a unique identity and doesn't justify the cancellation of Destiny 3 in the reviewer's eyes. While the game is fun and playable, it needs to prove itself over the next two years to become a sustainable live service title.