Marathon Is a Brilliant Extraction Shooter Held Back by Key Flaws (Review)

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Bungie has a long history of creating successful games, from the original Halo: Combat Evolved to Destiny 2. They’re known for satisfying shooting mechanics, captivating game worlds, and engaging multiplayer experiences. Their new game, Marathon, continues this tradition, but with a twist: it’s an ‘extraction shooter,’ where players complete objectives and then try to escape with their rewards. Reviving their classic Marathon franchise in this new genre is a daring choice that helps it stand out in a market full of shooters.

After playing Marathon extensively, it’s clear Bungie has made something truly impressive, but it doesn’t quite feel finished. The game boasts excellent shooting and a beautiful art style. However, missing post-game content, a strong focus on team-based play, and a demanding gameplay cycle prevent it from reaching its full potential. Marathon shows incredible promise, but it still feels like it’s still being developed and refined.

Rating: 3.5/5

Pros Cons
It’s bold and vibrant aesthetic makes it stand out. Delayed and scheduled end-game content makes the game feel incomplete.
The lore and worldbuilding pull players in. The solo experience feels like an afterthought.
Bungie’s gunplay has never felt better. Runner Shells are not created equal.
Progression is satisfying and challenging. Casual players will not being able to compete in the long run.

A Strong Foundation Built on Bungie’s Strengths

Marathon is an extraction shooter game set on the planet Tau Ceti IV. Players are Runners tasked with collecting valuable items from a ruined colony. Each game takes place on one of several maps where you’ll need to gather resources and complete objectives before escaping. If you fail, you lose everything – and failure is common. This high risk creates a constant sense of dread, making the game feel more like a horror experience than a typical extraction shooter, and I find that tension incredibly engaging.

As a fan, I have to say Bungie nailed the gunplay in this game. Seriously, every weapon – from assault rifles to snipers and shotguns – feels amazing. Each shot has a real impact and just feels good. Things happen fast, which keeps every fight exciting and makes you really think about where you are and how you’re approaching enemies. It’s not just about being a good shot, either; knowing the map and listening for clues is just as important, and the game really rewards you for it.

One of the game’s best qualities is its art style, and it’s easily my favorite aspect. It has a bright, futuristic look with striking colors and detailed surroundings, making it really stand out from other shooting games and giving Marathon a unique feel. This, along with excellent sound – including sounds that come from specific directions to build suspense – creates a world that feels both lively and perilous, whether you’re playing against the environment or other players.

Progression, Lore, and What Keeps Me Playing

What really stands out in Marathon is its rich story and detailed world. It’s remarkable how Bungie wove together the history from the original three games – which came out even before Halo: Combat Evolved – while completely reinventing the gameplay. This is especially impressive because extraction shooters aren’t usually known for strong storytelling. While the story might feel better in a single-player game, it works well here, and the way it’s revealed gradually makes you eager to discover more.

The game’s progression doesn’t depend on finding loot. Instead, Marathon features different factions that give players contracts – essentially quests – which unlock better upgrades, equipment, and skills as you play. This creates a consistent feeling of improvement, even if you don’t succeed on every attempt. These factions also help build a richer world, making Tau Ceti IV feel like a believable place with its own past, which players can discover through audio logs and written records found by exploring.

The information in the game is interesting, but it’s presented in a way that feels awkward and difficult to use. The in-game database, called the Codex, has a lot of detail, but it’s not very user-friendly, especially on consoles. This makes it harder to appreciate important parts of the story. While the story itself is captivating, simply finding information and navigating the menus is frustrating. The more I play, the more I want to explore the game’s world and systems, but these usability issues constantly interrupt my immersion.

Marathon Has Its Shortcomings

Although Marathon has a solid base, it’s facing challenges in a few important areas. The biggest problem is the limited amount of content available for players who reach the end of the game, especially with the delayed Cryo Archive map. Even when it’s released, access is restricted to a short time frame, which is frustrating for players who can’t play during those specific hours. Furthermore, the Cryo Archive feels less like a challenging raid that tests player skill and more like a game of chance. For a game that’s meant to be continuously updated and played over a long period, this creates a significant hole in the experience and leaves some players feeling unsatisfied.

The game is really built around teamwork. Playing by yourself is enjoyable, but it doesn’t feel as satisfying as playing with others. The game strongly encourages groups of three, and solo players might find it harder to succeed. Challenges are tougher, and it can be frustrating to complete goals alone when coordinated teamwork makes things much easier. It’s clear this solo mode was added later, likely inspired by Arc Raiders, and seems like an afterthought – the game was originally designed for players to team up.

One challenge is keeping the game balanced, especially with the different Runner Shells. They aren’t all equally powerful, and some, like Recon, don’t perform as well as others in their intended roles. A few Runner Shells are clearly stronger than the rest, which throws off the competitive fairness. While updates might help, this imbalance stems from the game prioritizing hero-shooter elements and competitive player-versus-player combat. This makes Marathon quite demanding for casual players. Matches require concentration, time, and the ability to handle losing. Losing gear adds excitement, but it can also be frustrating for those who prefer a more laid-back gaming experience.

Marathon is an impressive and bold shooter that really highlights what Bungie does well, but also shows how difficult it is to create a game that constantly evolves. It looks fantastic, has a rich story and detailed world, feels great to play, and rewards your progress – making it a great choice for shooter fans. However, some problems hold it back from being truly exceptional. Despite these flaws, I kept finding myself drawn back in – the game’s atmosphere and world are surprisingly captivating. With continued development, Marathon could become a leading title in the extraction shooter genre.

You can now play Marathon on PC and PlayStation 5 for $39.99. We received a PS5 code from the publisher to review the game.

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2026-03-26 15:14