Travis Northup's IGN review landed Marathon at 9/10 — Editors' Choice — after 65+ hours. He called it his favorite extraction shooter despite UI he labeled a "war crime" and onboarding that throws you into brick-wielding goblins.
What the 9 reflects
Gunfeel, lore depth, loot addiction, map surprise after dozens of hours, and endgame pull. Bungie nailed the core loop.
What it does not ignore
Bad UI, steep curve, need for more maps and balance passes. Season 3 PvE is the answer to "will casuals bounce?"

Image credit: IGN
Who should buy
- Extraction fans who want best-in-class shooting
- Trios with comms
- Players willing to eat 20 bad runs before fun clicks
Who should wait
Solo-only casuals — try the free weeks first.
Competitive players already hunt edges via Marathon cheats — know the PvP reality in Season 2 cheating report before you buy.

