I really wanted to like Marathon, but right now the game feels like it doesn’t respect the player’s time.

The progression system is extremely grindy. If you don’t have a coordinated trio and several hours to play every day, progress becomes slow and frustrating. The quest system especially feels like busywork rather than something rewarding.

Balance is another major issue. The mix of PvE encounters, PvP fights, and opportunistic players (“rats”) often creates situations that feel unfair instead of challenging. Many matches end up being decided by who has the most time to grind rather than by skill or good decision-making.

UX is also surprisingly weak. Important systems are poorly explained, the interface doesn’t clearly communicate progression, and some mechanics feel unnecessarily confusing. Good UX should help players understand and enjoy the game, but here it often does the opposite.

What makes this disappointing is that the core idea of the game actually has potential. But right now Marathon feels designed mainly for highly coordinated squads with a lot of free time. For everyone else, the experience quickly becomes exhausting.

I hope the developers improve the progression system, balance, and overall UX, because the game could be much better with the right changes.

I really wanted to like Marathon, but right now the game feels like it doesn’t respect the player’s time. The progression system is extremely grindy. If you don’t have a coordinated trio and several hours to play every day, progress becomes slow and frustrating. The quest system especially feels like busywork rather than something rewarding. Balance is another major issue. The mix of PvE encounters, PvP fights, and opportunistic players (“rats”) often creates situations that feel unfair instead of challenging. Many matches end up being decided by who has the most time to grind rather than by skill or good decision-making. UX is also surprisingly weak. Important systems are poorly explained, the interface doesn’t clearly communicate progression, and some mechanics feel unnecessarily confusing. Good UX should help players understand and enjoy the game, but here it often does the opposite. What makes this disappointing is that the core idea of the game actually has potential. But right now Marathon feels designed mainly for highly coordinated squads with a lot of free time. For everyone else, the experience quickly becomes exhausting. I hope the developers improve the progression system, balance, and overall UX, because the game could be much better with the right changes.