- Quick Summary: If you are a fan of Marathon and its fast-paced PvP combat (or PvE nowadays), high-stakes extraction gameplay, and futuristic sci-fi action, top titles like ARC Raiders and Escape from Tarkov should be next on your wishlist.
Marathon offers a unique FPS experience within the extraction shooter genre. Developed by Bungie, the premise is simple: you're a Runner, scavenging for valuable loot across dangerous environments while fending off rival players.
In Marathon, survival is only part of the challenge. To keep your hard-earned loot, you'll need to successfully extract in high-risk matches. Every run throws you into intense PvPvE action, where you'll battle other players, avoid environmental threats, and fight to exfiltrate before you're eliminated.
However, everyone has a limit, and so if you've reached yours with Marathon, don't panic. This guide covers five of the best Marathon alternatives around right now.
Best Games Like Marathon
If you are looking for similar action-packed shooter games, there are now plenty of games exploring similar ideas in different ways.
ARC Raiders
ARC Raiders is one of the strongest alternatives to Marathon.
First and foremost, the premise sounds familiar. You begin by being dropped down into a dangerous post-apocalyptic world where the goal is to find valuable resources. Playing as a Raider, you simply have to search for better loot and weaponry to succeed.
Like Marathon, it offers a PvPvE setup where scavenging, extraction, and futuristic technology are the core. So, if you're someone who likes extraction and survival gameplay, this is probably the perfect fit for you.
Escape from Tarkov
Escape from Tarkov is one of the biggest and most hardcore extraction games around.
Here, you'll get taken to dangerous locations filled with valuable loot, AI-controlled enemies, and other players trying to survive. Every decision matters in the game, so you have to be very careful while choosing your equipment to begin with.
Dying is also not an option; if you die, you will lose all the equipment you brought into the match. As a result, this game is far more complex and punishing than Marathon, but it also offers realistic weapon mechanics, detailed inventory management, and a steep learning curve that is well worth the time and effort should you choose to invest in it.
Hunt: Showdown 1896
If you are not looking for a simpler extraction shooter, then Hunt: Showdown 1896 is the right choice.
Dropping into a dark world filled with supernatural creatures and rival hunters, the gameplay involves tracking down powerful monsters, eliminating them, then claiming their bounty.
In Hunt: Showdown 1896, you might also encounter other players hunting the same creature as you. Therefore, you have to be careful of other teams and the risk of them stealing your bounty. Ultimately, this creates a similar underlying tension to Marathon in every Hunt: Showdown 1896 game.
Delta Force
Delta Force offers a squad-based modern military combat with PvPvE extraction gameplay.
Here, you will enter dangerous locations, complete objectives, search for valuable equipment, and escape that location before the other team eliminates you, much like the gameplay loop you will have experienced playing Marathon.
Crucially, Delta Force is not as complex as other extraction games. It simply focuses on squad combat, loot, objectives, and extraction. So, if you want a slightly more laid-back, fun extraction gameplay, then Delta Force might be your next hit.
The Finals
The Finals is simply one of the best alternatives to Marathon, offering similar fast-paced PvP combat, movement, and multiplayer action. Quick thinking and teamwork are the keys to success, but they're not always easy to achieve.
Developed by Embark Studios, you'll also encounter highly destructible environments in The Finals. You can destroy buildings, open walls, and make unpredictable changes within seconds, creating a whole different tactical approach that, in many ways, is akin to Rainbow Six Siege, too. Still, don't overlook The Finals if you're a Marathon fan.
Final Thoughts
Extraction shooter games are becoming more popular by the day, and all the games mentioned in this article are some of the best out there within the genre. For those like Marathon, these are our top recommendations:
- For a futuristic world - ARC Raiders
- For hardcore players - Escape from Tarkov
- For a unique supernatural spin - Hunt: Showdown 1896
And that's it for this list! But if you want more top title alternatives, be sure to check out our list of the best games like Palworld to play next.
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