Steam Marathon Players Trust the Long Game While International Server Issues Expose Geographic Divide

Steam reviews tell a story Reddit can't right now — sustained faith in Marathon's core design from players who've stuck around. The most telling signal comes from the 100+ hour crowd: they're not just playing, they're planning to keep playing. One 155-hour reviewer captures the sentiment: "I can't stop Running... Bungie still has the sauce when it comes to design, worldbuilding, music, all of it."

This isn't blind loyalty. These players acknowledge the turbulence — "Despite everything this game has gone through, and continues to go through" — but they're betting on Bungie's track record. A 127-hour player describes the experience as "unique, intense, interesting, FUN" with visual design that "seriously compliments the gameplay." When veteran players use words like "satisfying" and "intense" after 100+ hours, that suggests core systems are working.

The 83-hour reviewer who explicitly calls out "hate mongers" reveals the defensive posture some committed players have adopted. They're not denying issues exist — "Yeah there's issues but tell me what game doesn't have them nowadays" — they're contextualizing them within the broader gaming landscape.

The harshest criticism comes with geographic specificity that cuts deep. A 244-hour player — someone who clearly enjoyed the game enough to invest serious time — delivers a stark warning: "good game, but matchmaking are horrible, they forced you to match with whatever server they wanted, and you have 0 control over it, unless you are from US, dont buy this game."

This isn't casual disappointment. This is someone with nearly 250 hours telling non-US players to avoid the game entirely due to server assignment issues. When a committed player becomes an active deterrent, that represents a fundamental infrastructure problem that transcends normal gameplay complaints.

The international server situation appears to be creating a two-tier community experience: US players who can enjoy Marathon as designed, and international players dealing with connection issues that undermine the entire experience.

A fascinating tension appears in reviews around skill requirements. One 73-hour player notes the game "feels so hard core to the point I'd need to treat this game like a 9/5 to get any enjoyment out of it." Another 18-hour reviewer counters that the "slower pace really adds to the tension" and makes encounters more engaging.

This split suggests Marathon may be finding its audience — players who want tactical depth — while potentially alienating those seeking more casual accessibility. The 18-hour player specifically calls out ranked mode as "a blast," indicating the competitive structure is landing with its intended audience.

Despite everything else, nearly every review mentions gunplay positively. "Gunplay is fantastic," "shooting feels good," "shoots a little like Destiny" — this consistency across different playtime ranges suggests Bungie nailed the fundamental shooting mechanics. Even critical reviews acknowledge this strength.

One player's assessment captures the current state perfectly: "The gunplay is pretty fun... Takes a bit to get leveled up but it's decent once you do. Not as addicting as other games but not bad." That's measured satisfaction from someone who's invested 102 hours — not passionate love, but sustained engagement with clear systems appreciation.