The more I play Marathon, the more it reminds me of Armored Core 6

Bungie’s extraction shooter tells its story through contracts, comms, and corporate middlemen — FromSoftwares latest mecha game did the same An entire civilization disappeared seemingly overnight somewhere far away across the stars. Decades later, you’re sent in as a mercenary to figure out what happened — not because you’re a hero, but because you’re expendable. In Marathon, almost everything you learn about that mystery comes not from cutscenes or exploration, but from the people paying you. As you complete contracts and connect with new factions, corporate liaisons call in, each trying to steer you toward their version of the truth. You’re drip-fed the story one transaction at a time — and you’re paid to participate in it. This narrative gimmick helps make Marathon the most compelling video game of 2026 thus far. But it’s also what made 2023’s Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon so memorable as well. Despite sharing a similar premise, intense difficulty, and mature sci-fi vibes, these two games could not be more different. Marathon is a first-person extraction shooter. You play as a disembodied consciousness who pilots disposable Runner shells on the abandoned colony of Tau Ceti IV