Marathon: Overview & Critic Reception

How this overview works: it sums up verified facts about the game and how critics received it. It is not a hands-on diary and does not claim personal play experience.

What it is

Marathon is a first-person multiplayer extraction shooter developed by Bungie and distributed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It launched on 5 March 2026 for PS5, Windows and Xbox Series X|S at an announced $39.99 (standard edition), with cross-play and cross-save. It is set on Tau Ceti IV in 2893, 99 years after the 1994 original.

Runner shells

Runners are mercenaries who use biocybernetic shells. Beebom lists seven shells: Destroyer (a tank that absorbs frontline damage), Assassin (stealth), Recon (a scout providing intel), Vandal (high mobility; called Glitch in the alpha), Thief (grabs loot and extracts quickly), Triage (the medic with active healing) and Rook (a scavenger shell that joins matches in progress and cannot play in a squad). Wikipedia says Sentinel was added in Season 2. This is a shell system, not a fixed Scout/Combat/Support role system.

Structure and monetisation

You can play solo or in squads (Steam lists crews of two or three; duos arrived in Season 2). Six factions offer contracts, reputation and upgrade trees. Seasons last three months and reset progress except faction progress, the Codex and cosmetics. Bungie states there is no pay-to-win: all players access all maps and shells, and the Lux premium currency is used for cosmetics.

How critics received it

Metacritic lists 81 on PC and PS5 and 83 on Xbox Series X|S. OpenCritic shows a Top Critic Average of 81 with 72% of critics recommending it (the percentage has moved as reviews were added; Wikipedia cites 74%). Individual scores cited on Wikipedia include IGN 9/10, GameSpot 9/10, Game Informer 9.25/10, PC Gamer 90/100 and Eurogamer 4/5. Metacritic user score is a lower 5.6 (mixed) and recent Steam reviews are mixed. Sales were not disclosed, but reports say the game missed expectations, and in September 2026 Bungie said it would expand beyond the extraction format, with updates planned for October and December.

Verdict

Marathon is well reviewed by critics (user scores are more mixed) and its commercial future is uncertain. Prices change; Steam showed the standard edition at 39,99 EUR (discounted at the time of checking), so check the store and Bungie's latest season notes before buying.

Pros & Cons