Marathon has finally been fully released after several closed alphas, betas, and the open Server Slam just before launch, allowing everyone to checkout Bungie’s striking art direction, gripping gameplay, and intense atmosphere. While its ‘graphic realism’ can be a bit overbearing at times, there’s no denying that Marathon’s visuals stand tall and captivate anyone who dares to jump into its brutal, unforgiving world.
Nothing out there is quite like Marathon in terms of offering the same genre with the same visual flair, but there are still many titles that clearly inspired the game, whether that’s in the graphics, the gameplay, or a healthy blend of both. Of course, if you love everything about Marathon, it will be hard to find something that feels or looks the same, but hopefully, some of these entries will scratch that itch for you if you need a brief break from Bungie’s intense and foreboding extraction shooter!
Destiny 2
Getting the obvious pick out of the way, Destiny 2 is an excellent game to jump into if you love your time with Marathon and have yet to check it out. While it is a completely different genre, you can tell that Bungie took much of what they learned from this series and applied it to Marathon. For example, if the Assassin Runner Shell is your go-to choice, then the Hunter in Destiny 2 will be right up your alley.
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Not only that, but Bungie has always had some of the best art direction out there, and that’s no exception here, as Destiny 2 is gorgeous, providing jaw-dropping skyboxes, lush landscapes, and striking dilapidated environments. If you love the Shell aspects, stunning art, and masterful gunplay in Marathon, then checking out Destiny 2 is a must, especially since you can dip your toes in its massive world for free!
Hunt: Showdown 1896
Shifting things to a bit of a different beast, we have Hunt: Showdown 1896, another extraction FPS title that has a strong emphasis on its PvP aspects, which work well with the limited PvE elements that are present. In short, the PvE portions of this game are pretty much here to service the PvP, allowing enemies to track your gunfire and pounce the moment your guard is down. Sound familiar?
If you cannot get enough of the PvP in Marathon and want another extraction shooter that forces these engagements a bit more, you cannot go wrong with Hunt: Showdown 1896. Sure, its art direction may not be as eyecatching as Marathon’s, but it is still a stunning game with solid gameplay that will keep you locked in for hours on end!
Escape From Tarkov
Ahh, yes, Escape From Tarkov, how can we not bring up the title that set the genre ablaze with its hardcore systems, gunplay, and tense action? However, while Marathon shares its genre, it cannot be stressed enough how hardcore Tarkov is. It’s not quite a milsim, but you must be on high alert at all times, as one wrong move could have you eliminated in the blink of an eye, and you’d best be a good shot, or you’re pretty much cooked against anyone competent.
So, why recommend it if you love Marathon? Well, Marathon is arguably closer to the ‘hardcore’ side of the scale rather than the ‘casual’ side, and Escape From Tarkov also has a PvE mode in addition to its PvP mode, allowing you to enjoy its intense action even if you wish only to face bots. It may be a lot slower-paced, but it’s probably one of the only FPS extraction shooters out there that shares the heavy, tense atmosphere of Marathon, especially when you hear nearby gunshots and have to keep moving toward the exfil zone. It’s great!
Witchfire
Speaking of excellent PvE extraction shooters, next up on our list is Witchfire, a remarkably unique indie title that blends lots of exceptional genres for a gripping and rewarding experience. Not only is it an extraction shooter, but there are roguelike and soulslike elements present here as well, which make every run and encounter thrilling. There isn’t anything like it, which is why we cannot recommend it enough if you love Marathon.
Aside from everything listed above, the gunplay in Witchfire is dangnear perfect, making each weapon and spell you cast feel impactful, flashy, and smooth. If the PvE and satisfying gunplay of Marathon speak to you the most, you should give Witchfire a shot, as you will likely fall head over heels for its dark fantasy aesthetic and captivating gameplay!
Mirror’s Edge
Time for another curveball, as Mirror’s Edge enters our list, largely due to its stunning visuals that still hold up today, which Marathon looks oddly similar to in more ways than one. Despite Mirror’s Edge being largely oranges, blues, and yellows on white, Marathon’s bright green, red, and blue on white/gray are strikingly similar, evoking the same Frutiger Aero aesthetic that catches your eye almost instantly.
Okay, so here’s where things start to differ exponentially, as Mirror’s Edge’s gameplay isn’t similar in the slightest to Marathon’s, as it is a single-player action-adventure platformer. Still, we stand by it as a recommendation if you can’t get enough of Marathon’s environmental design, particularly its buildings. And, for what it’s worth, Mirror’s Edge still slaps and is remarkably fun to play through to this day!
ARC Raiders
Yup, ARC Raiders is next, because of course it is. Look, while Escape From Tarkov was massive, ARC Raiders only broadened the extraction shooter genre’s reach, making it accessible to the more ‘casual’ audience, while also offering a high skill ceiling for those looking for a more hardcore experience. Obviously, it doesn’t come close to Tarkov in that regard, but each run is just as intense as the last, and every single encounter is exhilarating.
Even if Marathon skews a bit more hardcore than ARC Raiders, we still think there’s lots to love in both titles, as they share many similarities, mainly with their exploration and NPC enemies. The gradual escalation of more potent and formidable enemies that spawn the longer you stay behind, instead of extracting, will always offer intense and emergent gameplay. And, gunning for rare loot in hotspots will offer that satisfying PvP experience we all know and love. If you have yet to check out ARC Raiders, don’t hesitate to fix that!
Apex Legends
Lastly, we have Apex Legends, which may seem like a bit of an odd choice, as it is strictly a battle royale, rather than an extraction shooter, but there’s more than a handful of similarities here that make it more than worthy of a shoutout. Is it the 3v3 aspect of Marathon that you love? What about the unique Runner Shells that offer different gameplay styles and strategies? Could it be the mad dash for powerful loot mixed with the intense and exhilarating encounters?
Well, if it’s all of the above, then Apex Legends should be the next game you give a try if you haven’t already. Not only does it have some of the best gunplay in the genre, but it also offers solid 3v3 and soloplay action, along with 27 playable Legends with unique abilities that make it accessible to all playstyles. Genre differences aside, you can’t get much closer to the fluid gameplay and tense encounters in Marathon than this!
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