Elden Ring, Baldur's Gate 3, Claire Obsker, alan wake 2, indiana jones, cyberpunk 2077, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, crimson desert, marathon — All of these games are really, really amazing. Not all are created equal, and they're not the only games to qualify over the past six years, but by definition, they're some of the coolest games out there. Because beyond quality and fun, they inspire awe through their ambition, originality or confidence in their design. But the last two have been thrown to hell by the Internet. especially marathonAnd I wonder what the reason is.
I'm not sponsored, partnered, or paid in any way, but having gorged myself on over 100 hours of game time, I certainly wouldn't be considered a neutral observer. Anyway, here are the reasons for the hatred: marathon This is actually very obvious to everyone who sees it. This is a multifaceted and widespread problem with several distinct challenges. Some are completely valid and some really aren't. But the sad thing is that none of that actually changes the following fact: marathon It's really great, at least in an objective sense, and they've all harmed this game in ways that I don't think deserve it.
PSA: Don't pay attention to Marathon's review bombing
Marathon is being bombarded with reviews on Metacritic, but there's clear evidence that most of the negative reviews can be ignored entirely.
The marathon goes beyond established standards.
Objectivity may be foolish, but there must be a standard by which to judge things. These criteria vary depending on the judgment. marathon Judging something as a video game and judging it as an extraction shooter are two very different things. As a video game, marathon This level far exceeds the quality standards of regular games. The polish, world design, sound design, environmental storytelling, gameplay, and weapon feel are among the best in the industry.
As an extractor, it is difficult to judge. marathon Because there is no single standard. You can count the core games of the genre on one hand, but in reality, few of them are all the same.
- ARC Raiders
- Escape from Tarkov
- Hunt: Showdown
- delta force
- Arena Breakout: Infinite
In terms of quality, marathon It stands at the pinnacle of the genre. like and Hunt: ShowdownAnd it explodes tarkov Shot out of the water in terms of gloss marathon It's an amazing middle ground between these games. likeeasier tarkov or Hunt: Showdown… But why do you want to take the throne? marathon is an amazing extraction game, and all of them are (or maybe not all of them, depending on who you are).
The real problem with marathons
There is an ‘objective’ problem. marathonBut this is important. There are unbalanced metas, cheating, bugs, and overall performance issues. There's nothing particularly unique about it. marathonBut only cheating is prevalent. marathon Rankings, at least at this point, should be the deciding factor in the success or failure of a game like this.
The meta will come and go, performance will continue to improve, and Bungie has addressed this. marathon's bug appears to be faster than ever, but cheating will essentially invalidate large portions of the game until it is curbed. Historically, Bungie has had a mixed reputation when it comes to fighting cheaters. We are willing to devote significant resources to solving problems, but we are reactive rather than proactive, so that definitely needs to change.
Subjective concerns about the marathon
Beyond these specific issues, there is a bubble of subjectivity surrounding it. marathon Even if you try, you don't really care. Because I don't agree. Some things inherently make it a niche experience. It is a live service extraction game, and on top of that, it is a harsh game. It's confusing to learn, difficult to stick to, and like other live service titles, longevity isn't guaranteed.
But essentially these exact concerns apply. tarkov — People hate it for what it is, but it's less of a mark on the game. marathonIt's a similar situation, although some parts like the initially confusing UI are debatable. marathonOnboarding new players is largely marathonFriction itself is not a defect. This is a design choice that narrows down the audience and gives players the option to meet the game where it is or deliver it. Both are perfect, but neither can really generate the backlash this game received.
Marathon as a Bungee Product
now, marathon It also addresses subjective issues that I can actually see. Bungie has some serious problems as a company, so some people just won't get behind their work no matter what. Honestly, I understand. It's not my position, but these criticisms are bigger than the game. It affects the player's perception before they even touch it, and that's completely fair. Bungie plagiarized art assets for: marathonThis is true even if the issue has since been fixed. And the studio ignored criticism for long periods of time while over-monetizing past paid experiences. No matter what steps are taken to address this situation, it will still be a deal breaker for some, and that's absolutely valid. But despite this, the majority of hatred around marathon It's still undeserved and exaggerated.
The first step to your marathon comeback is to repeat the same tricks.
As the positive reviews for Marathon continue to pour in, it might be time for Bungie to go back to its old ways to reignite interest in the extraction shooter.
Manufactured Concerns About Marathons
The last problem I thought about marathon Because it contains genuine concerns that have been misappropriated by malicious actors, even before launch, because it is the most malicious and shameful. To be clear, it's not inherently unreasonable to wonder whether live service games will survive in the long term, and that uncertainty is healthy for educated consumers, and it comes with the territory, especially in niche genres like extraction shooters. That said, the questions about: marathon's player retention and commercial performance have been co-opted by those who seek to make a living by amplifying the most negative versions of online discourse.
Legitimate curiosity has been transformed into a kind of content economy acronym by those who make money per impression. Here, player count serves as a proxy for quality, and anything that falls short of genre dominance is considered a failure. These people can't allow a game to simply be good. It must either redefine the genre or justify its existence through overwhelming commercial success, or it is immediately labeled “dead.” The problem is that most of these people had absolutely no intention of playing the games they were lambasting in the first place, and the idea that a game has to prove itself through sheer dominance before it can be considered excellent is a standard that few great games in any genre have met.
Going to bat for a marathon
The reality is that the following extraction game marathon Expect something more difficult than the next, as it's inherently slower, more punishing, and requires more player investment. ARC Raiders To achieve the same cultural saturation is to misunderstand the extractive shooter genre and its audience. Marathons don’t need to be defeated or replaced. ARC Raiders or Escape from Tarkov To justify its existence. You just have to be attractive enough to earn a place with them. And according to the most meaningful design metrics, it already is.
marathon It's not perfect. Fraud must be curbed and the onboarding experience can be improved. But despite these problems and lack of universal appeal, marathon It's bold, cohesive, mechanically confident, and often genuinely thrilling in a way that modern multiplayer games rarely manage. That's reason enough for it to exist, and reason enough to encourage you to block social media and give it a try. marathon Go your own way. It may not be your thing, but that doesn't mean it's not good at what it strives to do.
- released
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March 5, 2026
- ESRB
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Teen/Animation Blood, Language, Violence, In-Game Purchases, User Interaction
- multiplayer
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Online multiplayer, online co-op
