Marathon vs Splatoon Raiders
Bungie's live-service extraction shooter versus a solo-friendly looter — pick your grind by tolerance for PvP.
Updated 10d ago
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.
Looter-shooter loops and swappable gadget parts cement Splatoon Raiders as the spin-off the franchise needed — dethrones the mainline as the co-op pick.
By the numbers
Prices checked Aug 23; 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 23.
| Measure | Marathon | Splatoon Raiders |
|---|---|---|
| Value | ||
| Price now | $23.35 −42% · GameBillet | $49.99 eShop |
| All-time low | $23.35 | — |
| Cost / hour | $1.83/hr $23.35 · 13 h main story | — |
| Off its low | At its low low was Aug 2026 | — |
| Main story | 13 h | — |
| Health | ||
| Steam reviews | 77% 64k reviews | — |
| Recent reviews | 63% 792 votes · vs 77% lifetime · souring | — |
| Peak players | 14,699 Jul 2026 · ↓ 64% MoM | — No PC release |
| Launch peak | 19% of Mar 2026 launch peak · as of Jul 2026 | — |
| All-time peak | 77,358 Mar 2026 | — |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | today | 3 weeks ago |
| Patch cadence | 14+ in last 90 days, at minimum | 2 in last 90 days |
| Steam Deck | Borked | — |
What players say
Patterns from long-haul reviewers, taken from each game's verdict. Not live sentiment — each side is dated below.
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
Splatoon Raiders
The build-craft loop's customizability keeps 95-hour players hooked, speed builds feeling personal and every gadget part mattering.
The endgame grind wall blocks full completion for the long-haul crowd, and co-op is the only cure for the chaotic late missions.
from our August 2026 verdict
Key differences
Which one is for you?
Pick Marathon if
- You sink 200+ hours into Hunt Showdown and want a fresher arena.
- You live for Bungie's gunfeel and tight sound design from Destiny.
- You can handle losing your kit and want chess-like team tactics.
Pick Splatoon Raiders if
- You've wanted Splatoon without the pressure of competitive PvP.
- You love looter shooters and deep build-crafting.
- You're a Salmon Run devotee who wants that loop solo.
Bottom line
With only 19% of its launch peak still logging in, Marathon is a risky bet unless you have a squad; Splatoon Raiders offers a safer solo grind for looter fans.