ARC Raiders vs Marathon
Cooperative extraction against a mechanical horde vs. competitive PvPvE grind for glory—both demand squad coordination.
Updated 12d ago
ARC Raiders' accessible extraction loop is worth it now, but cheaters and content droughts mean wait until the anti-cheat is fixed.
Bungie's gunfeel is the best thing in the extraction genre — but cheating, disconnects and a thinning playerbase mean it's worth playing only with a squad you trust.
By the numbers
Prices checked Aug 7; they move faster than we refresh, so confirm on the store page.
Recent-review figures are Steam's own last-30-days window, read Aug 7.
| Measure | ARC Raiders | Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Value ARC Raiders wins on value | ||
| Price now | $30.95 −23% · GameBillet | $33.95 −15% · GameBillet |
| All-time low | $26.75 | $23.50 |
| Cost / hour | $0.66/hr $30.95 · 47 h main story | $2.67/hr $33.95 · 13 h main story |
| Off its low | +16% low was Dec 2025 | +44% low was Jun 2026 |
| Main story | 47 h | 13 h |
| Health Too close to call | ||
| Steam reviews | 83% 411k reviews | 77% 63k reviews |
| Recent reviews | 51% 3k votes · vs 83% lifetime · souring | 69% 1k votes · vs 77% lifetime · souring |
| Peak players | 50,024 Jul 2026 · ↓ 27% MoM | 14,699 Jul 2026 · ↓ 64% MoM |
| Launch peak | — | 19% of Mar 2026 launch peak · as of Jul 2026 |
| All-time peak | 465,097 Jan 2026 · now at 11% | 77,358 Mar 2026 |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | 4 days ago | 4 days ago |
| Patch cadence | 16+ in last 90 days, at minimum | 12+ in last 90 days, at minimum |
| Steam Deck | Platinum | Borked |
Shared scale — same months across the bottom, same player-count axis up the side, so the two lines are directly comparable. A shorter line means a younger game.
What players say
Patterns from long-haul reviewers, taken from each game's verdict. Not live sentiment — each side is dated below.
ARC Raiders
Atmosphere and audio are the anchors for long-haul fans — the abandoned world and machine hums keep 1000-hour players hooked.
Cheaters and exploiters are the dominating frustration, with veterans abandoning balanced/PvP lobbies and begging for real anti-cheat.
from our August 2026 verdict
Marathon
Gunplay and sound design keep long-haul fans locked in, with the Runner Shell system and map design repeatedly praised as the best in the genre.
Cheating and lobby disconnects have plagued high-hour players, while skill/equipment disparity plus a shrinking playerbase squeeze casuals out.
from our August 2026 verdict
Key differences
Which one is for you?
Pick ARC Raiders if
- You want a free-to-play co-op shooter with a sci-fi story.
- You have a regular trio or duo to squad with consistently.
- You like the gunfeel from Embark's previous titles like The Finals.
Pick Marathon if
- You crave high-risk PvPvE with deep gear and quest grinding.
- You trust Bungie's live-service track record and frequent patches.
- You can commit 10+ hours weekly to progress and maintain gear.
Bottom line
Pick ARC Raiders for a friendlier co-op extraction scene; choose Marathon if you want a punishing Tarkov-like grind that rewards heavy time investment.