Marathon (2026): The Review

Overview

Everything about Marathon pulls you back in, from its unexpectedly rich worldbuilding to the tight, satisfying gunplay, all wrapped in a dark sci-fi tone that gives it a distinct look and heavy atmosphere. It nails the core appeal of extraction shooters, constantly pushing you toward that dangerous “just one more run” mindset. That said, it doesn’t go easy on you. The genre’s inherently punishing design, combined with its unforgiving PvE elements, can feel downright brutal, especially if you’re new to this kind of experience.

Score: 8,5 out of 10

The Positives ✅

Marathon nails the feeling of an extraction shooter in a way that finally makes the genre click. The core loop, drop in, complete Contracts, fight, loot, extract, feels purposeful instead of repetitive, mainly because everything ties back into faction progression. You’re not just hoarding junk; you’re actually building toward something, unlocking upgrades, gear, and story bits that keep pulling you forward.

And yeah, this is Bungie, so of course the gunplay is stupidly satisfying. Weapons hit hard, sound great, and the low time-to-kill keeps fights tense. You can win outnumbered fights if you’re sharp, but mess up once and you’re done. It’s brutal, but fair.

What really stands out though is the PvE + PvP balance. The game doesn’t just throw players at each other randomly, it pushes you into conflict through Contracts and map design. You start doing PvE objectives, and suddenly you’re in a full-on PvP fight without it feeling forced. It’s smooth, natural, and honestly one of the smartest things the game does.

Then there’s the worldbuilding. Surprisingly strong. The Tau Ceti IV setting, the abandoned colony, the factions, all of it is delivered through dialogue, logs, and exploration. It’s not shoved in your face, but if you care enough to dig, there’s a genuinely interesting sci-fi mystery here.

Add in the Shell system, and you’ve got solid variety. Each character brings unique abilities and builds, but nothing feels completely broken. You can play aggressive, stealthy, or supportive, and it all blends nicely with the gunplay instead of replacing it.

The Negatives ⚠️

Let’s be honest, this game does a terrible job of welcoming new players.

The tutorial is borderline useless. It teaches you how to shoot and heal… and then basically says “good luck, don’t die.” No real explanation of progression, economy, or even basic survival priorities. For a genre that’s already intimidating, that’s just dumb.

The UI and inventory system don’t help either. Menus are messy, navigation isn’t intuitive, and simple things like swapping attachments feel way more complicated than they should be. It’s the kind of stuff you eventually get used to… but you shouldn’t have to fight the interface in the first place.

Also, while the visuals are stylish, they’re not for everyone. The whole flashy, trippy, biopunk vibe can feel overwhelming or even distracting depending on your taste.

And yeah, this is still an extraction shooter. Meaning it’s unforgiving by design. You will lose gear. You will get wiped after a great run. If you’re not mentally ready for that, the game will chew you up and spit you out.

The Experience 🎮

This is one of those games where your mindset decides everything.

If you go in scared of losing loot, you’re going to hate it. Simple as that. But the moment you flip that switch, when you start seeing runs as temporary, disposable, and part of the loop, that’s when Marathon hits.

Every match becomes a story. A risky push, a clutch fight, a stupid death, a lucky escape, it’s all part of the cycle. And unlike other games in the genre, Marathon actually softens the blow just enough with free kits, progression systems, and consistent rewards to keep you coming back.

It’s intense, stressful, sometimes straight-up unfair… and weirdly addictive.

Marathon doesn’t respect your comfort, but it absolutely rewards your commitment.