Marathon Reviews
Marathon features a strong universe, solid gunplay, and atmosphere, but in the form of an extraction shooter and without any significant innovation, it feels more like wasted potential than a true revival of the franchise.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
I will not pretend that Marathon is a game for everyone. I don’t even think it’s a game for most people who enjoy FPS games, but… that does not stop it from being a great game in the end.
If you have a group of three friends and want to experience PvP action in a retro-futuristic world, Marathon will likely provide plenty of enjoyable moments. However, if you’re expecting the same level of content richness we know from Halo and Destiny, then I don’t think Marathon is the right game for you.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Marathon emerges as an excellent extraction shooter with the potential to truly shine. Despite some shortcomings in its interface and inventory systems, Bungie’s ambitious return to the genre is poised to carve out a place in the crowded online multiplayer market. Its blend of atmosphere, tension, and competitive edge makes it one of the most promising titles of the year.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Marathon is certainly not a bad game, but it is a specific type of game that you should enjoy. If you compare it with a regular extraction shooter or Destiny, you will be disappointed. You have to invest time to understand everything and especially spend a lot of time playing the game to reach the interesting endgame content. From there it really starts to get fun. Color and distrust prevail during play.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Bungie's first-person shooter Marathon (2026) is a worthy new entry in a franchise that goes back to 1994. Top-tier aesthetics keep your eyes glued to the screen.
Bungie is reviving one of its most iconic IPs in the form of a unique extraction shooter that, while its future remains uncertain, surprises in many ways. Marathon is a game that makes a bold statement, both visually and in its interpretation of what an extraction shooter should be. It’s taking a big risk in a genre that isn’t exactly massive to begin with, and within that genre, it’s striving to carve out a niche for itself.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
At the moment, Marathon seems to appeal primarily to a hardcore audience – players who view many of its frustrations as features rather than flaws. However, it’s a very different experience from what Bungie has accustomed us to. Those who enjoyed Halo or Destiny may struggle to find the same kind of fun here, at least in the game’s current state. There is potential, no doubt. If it continues to be supported and evolves over time, Marathon may yet become a more solid and appealing proposition. But, for now, it’s a difficult recommendation to make.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
If you enjoy intense, competitive experiences that demand constant learning, then Marathon will definitely be worth it. The game delivers some of the best gunplay currently available, combined with an extremely engaging risk-reward loop, where each match generates real tension.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Marathon excels as a high-quality PvPvE extraction shooter with top-tier presentation, gunplay, and atmosphere, though its demanding design and weak UI make it a niche experience.
Review in German | Read full review
Marathon arrives at a pivotal moment for extraction shooters, and despite the pressure on Bungie, the studio delivers a solid experience. Its rich universe, gradually revealed through the codex, gives players a real reason to get invested. The well-paced map-based progression culminates in the particularly well-crafted Cryo Archive. Faction contracts effectively structure the progression, even if some of the basic missions lack variety. The learning curve remains steep, and the interface could benefit from simplification, but Bungie demonstrates a genuine willingness to listen to its community. It remains to be seen whether the game can maintain its momentum. Marathon remains a niche title, but its launch is encouraging. If it continues to be supported and refined, it could well establish itself as a lasting benchmark for the genre.
Review in French | Read full review
If you’ve got a solid squad and are looking for an alternative to Arc Raiders, Marathon might be the game for you. Otherwise, you’ve probably already found a title in this genre that has earned your trust before. It may be worth keeping an eye on the changes, at least until the launch of the second season. But will the developers manage to bring interest back to even half of its launch numbers? That seems highly doubtful.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Marathon is not an easy sell, but it is a bold one. It is stylish, mechanically sharp, and much more interesting than its surface-level pitch suggests. If Bungie can do a better job of helping players see the world, the story, and the reasons to care before the friction pushes them away, it may have something special on its hands. For now, it feels like a strong, ambitious swing that does not always make the cleanest first impression, but rewards the players willing to stay with it.
Marathon is the adrenaline shot the extraction shooter genre desperately needed. It successfully combines the immaculate, responsive gunplay Bungie is famous for with a deeply rewarding, loot-driven progression system that minimizes frustrating downtime. While solo players may find themselves struggling against coordinated trios, and the initial learning curve is undeniably brutal, the sheer thrill of surviving an ambush, securing a massive haul, and extracting by the skin of your teeth is unmatched. Whether you are a hardened Tarkov veteran or a Destiny refugee looking for your next obsession, Marathon is an absolute must-play.
Bungie proves with Marathon that postponement pays off. Despite the rough start and the chaotic menus, there will be a visually overwhelming extraction shooter with an unprecedented atmosphere in 2026. The bold art style and phenomenal sound design draw you mercilessly into a grim world where every step counts. The greatest asset is the narrative depth; the mysterious lore also keeps you busy outside the runs. Although the learning curve is steep and the first map looks a bit less, the strategic depth of the seven Shells and the nerve-wracking weekend events in the Cryo Archive make up for it. For fans of tactical extraction shooters and deep mysteries, this is an absolute must-play, provided you're willing to bite through the sour apple of the menus for the first few hours.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Marathon is not a failure. Even if the numbers might suggest otherwise, this statement speaks purely to the immense effort Bungie put into developing its latest game. From its inception, Marathon has always been, first and foremost, a title that the creators themselves wanted to play. A concrete response to a niche landscape—that of first-person extraction shooters—plagued by the demands of the current era in which the entire video game industry finds itself. Abandoned by its original director and with its core team reduced by half, the American team managed to create a work light-years away from the recent failures, which have proven to be nothing more than gambles and attempts to chase the usual trends, without trying to reinvent or refine the mechanics of their genres. For those who have never had the chance to try Marathon, or haven’t had the time to overcome the steep initial learning curve, it’s hard to convey just how much of the original Bungie’s DNA lies behind this production. Fans of extraction shooters will find in Marathon perhaps the best experience currently on the market, capable of consistently balancing the genre’s more hardcore and more casual sides, succeeding—through its constant updates based on player feedback—in building a product that is increasingly less experimental and increasingly the benchmark for the design of similar products. For those still undecided, Marathon remains a title worth considering carefully. The decision to release it as a Premium title in a market dominated by F2P games may pose a challenge given its niche nature and exclusive focus as a multiplayer title. Although a roadmap is already in place, the game’s future will depend heavily on player response, but if free events are offered, our advice is simple: Try to complete at least one run on Tau Ceti IV. If you can.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Marathon was facing a tough challenge to overcome the doubts surrounding it, but after dozens of hours, we can confidently say it has succeeded in its mission. It doesn’t deliver a traditional PvPvE experience; instead, it offers something different in its ideas, direction, and sense of risk. With a unique and visually striking identity, Bungie has managed to create an experience that keeps you coming back for more. However, it may not appeal to everyone—especially those who don’t enjoy challenging experiences.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Marathon stands as one of the most refined extraction shooters available, but its unforgiving structure and seasonal resets mean it won’t appeal to everyone. For those willing to embrace its high-stakes tension, however, it’s an experience that’s hard to put down.
Marathon may not offer revolutionary or groundbreaking ideas in the gaming world, but it boasts excellent quality across the board. This quality makes it an outstanding gaming experience for all shooting game enthusiasts.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Marathon is an extraordinary game that stands out with an exotic aesthetic, visceral gunplay, an excellent Runner Shell system, and lore that is masterfully delivered through its matches. However, it falls short with a slow and unwelcoming start for new players, something that could easily be improved in future seasons.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review