Marathon

Marathon is a science-fiction extraction shooter set in the Tau Ceti system, reimagining the universe of the classic Marathon. Rather than following a single linear campaign, the game places players in the role of cybernetic mercenaries known as Runners who infiltrate the abandoned colony on Tau Ceti IV in search of valuable technology and lost artifacts. The world is a hazardous battleground filled with rival scavengers, remnants of the United Earth Space Council (UESC) security forces, and environmental dangers left behind after the mysterious collapse of the original expedition.

Gameplay revolves around high-risk runs into contested zones. Players explore ruined research facilities, industrial complexes, and wilderness areas to gather loot while managing limited ammunition and supplies. Exploration frequently escalates into fast-paced player-versus-player combat as rival crews compete for the same resources. Success depends on extracting safely with stolen equipment, which is then used to upgrade gear, unlock cosmetics, and build stronger loadouts for future expeditions. Each run therefore carries permanent risk: dying means losing everything brought into the mission.

Players control configurable Runner shells, synthetic bodies designed for different playstyles, such as heavy combat Destroyers, stealth-focused Thieves, or reconnaissance specialists. Weapons, implants, and core systems can be extensively modified, allowing players to assemble specialized builds tailored for solo infiltration or coordinated team strategies. Runs can be undertaken alone, in pairs, or as three-person crews, and proximity voice chat allows temporary alliances with rival Runners. A special Rook mode allows players to enter ongoing matches with no starting equipment, scavenging whatever they can find.

Beyond moment-to-moment survival, players gradually influence the broader conflict by completing contracts for competing factions seeking control of Tau Ceti. These factions grant long-term seasonal upgrades such as improved starting gear, expanded storage vaults, and access to rare equipment. As players push deeper into the colony's most dangerous regions, including the orbiting UESC vessel Marathon, they uncover fragments of the century-old disaster that wiped out the original settlers, introducing environmental storytelling. New and updated content is introduced through free seasons that last about three months and all progress is reset with the introduction of a season.