ARC Raiders vs Marathon
Two extractions shooters let you choose: ARC Raiders' co-op PvE vs Marathon's PvPvE with that Bungie gunfeel.
Updated 27d 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 Sep 8; they move faster than we refresh, so confirm on the store page.
Recent-review figures are Steam's own last-30-days window, read Sep 8.
| Measure | ARC Raiders | Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Value Marathon wins on value | ||
| Price now | $33.79 −16% · GameBillet | $21.58 −46% · GameBillet |
| All-time low | $26.75 | $21.58 |
| Cost / hour | $0.72/hr $33.79 · 47 h main story | $1.69/hr $21.58 · 13 h main story |
| Off its low | +26% low was Dec 2025 | At its low low was Sep 2026 |
| Main story | 47 h | 13 h |
| Health Too close to call | ||
| Steam reviews | 82% 415k reviews | 77% 64k reviews |
| Recent reviews | 48% 3k votes · vs 82% lifetime · souring | 62% 443 votes · vs 77% lifetime · souring |
| Peak players | 41,319 Aug 2026 · ↓ 17% MoM | 6,296 Aug 2026 · ↓ 57% MoM |
| Launch peak | — | 8% of Mar 2026 launch peak · as of Aug 2026 |
| All-time peak | 465,097 Jan 2026 · now at 9% | 77,358 Mar 2026 |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | today | 7 days ago |
| Patch cadence | 16+ in last 90 days, at minimum | 11 in last 90 days |
| 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 co-op shooter without the stress of losing gear to other players.
- You prefer atmosphere and audio design over competitive firefights.
- You can tolerate grinding longer sessions but hate ruthless full-loot.
Pick Marathon if
- You've racked up 200 hours in Hunt Showdown and want a Bungie-flavored challenge.
- You love Destiny's gunfeel and can accept runback loss for team tactics.
- You're looking for a squad-driven PvPvE experience with tight coordination.
Bottom line
If you can't stomach losing everything to another player, ARC Raiders' 82% review score and PvE focus make it the safer pick; Marathon's 77% score and shrinking playerbase are a red flag unless you have a dedicated squad.