After Falling in Love with ARC Raiders, This 2026 Game Has Jumped to the Top of My Most Anticipated List

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I wasn’t really into extraction shooter games before 2025. I usually preferred team-based hero shooters like Team Fortress 2 and Overwatch, and I’d occasionally play Call of Duty if I felt like it. So, when ARC Raiders was announced, it didn’t really catch my attention. But as the release date got closer, I started to get excited about it, and I’m really glad I did! It turned out to be one of my favorite games of 2025 and actually made me want to play more games like it.

I’ve been checking out other games like Hunt: Showdown 1896 and Escape from Tarkov, but I’m hesitant to get fully invested right now. I’m still having fun with ARC Raiders, even though I skipped the first in-game event. What’s really holding me back is the upcoming release of Bungie’s Marathon. It seems like it will be similar to ARC Raiders and has quickly become one of my most anticipated games for 2026.

How I Fell in Love with ARC Raiders in 2025

Image via Embark Studios

I started to get really excited about ARC Raiders because I was tired of the same old shooter games. I don’t really enjoy battle royales, and games like Overwatch and Marvel Rivals – where you play as heroes on a team – had become repetitive. When I first heard about ARC Raiders and saw it was a new type of extraction shooter that seemed easy to pick up, with a cool and original world, I became more and more interested the more I saw of it.

Image via Embark Studios

From the moment I first ventured onto the surface in ARC Raiders, I was completely captivated. The thrill of not knowing who – or what – I’d encounter, combined with the search for valuable resources, instantly reminded me of the addictive gameplay of Diablo 4. ARC Raiders expertly blends the suspense of a horror game with the satisfying loot hunt found in games like Borderlands and Diablo 4. It’s a unique mix of elements from my favorite genres, and it made me wonder why I hadn’t tried extraction shooters before.

ARC Raiders Has Me More Excited for Bungie’s Marathon than Ever Before

I initially dismissed Bungie’s new game, Marathon, just like I did with ARC Raiders when it was first announced, assuming it wouldn’t be my kind of game. I don’t know Bungie’s work very well – I haven’t played much of the original Halo games, and Destiny 2 never really clicked with me. However, after playing ARC Raiders in late 2025 and early 2026, I’m now interested in checking out Marathon.

So, the developers are aiming to have Marathon out around March 2026, but they haven’t given us a firm date just yet. I’m keeping my calendar open, though!

Marathon Keeps Looking Better and Better

When Marathon was first released, it didn’t make a strong impression on players. While it had some unique ideas, the game’s environments felt uninspired and the gameplay seemed typical for a Bungie shooter. Given that many gamers were already tired of shooters – as we saw with the issues surrounding Concord – a lot of us, myself included, quickly assumed Marathon would be another multiplayer game that faded away quickly in a crowded market.

The game Marathon faced criticism when it was discovered some of its artwork wasn’t original. Combined with negative feedback from early testing, Bungie decided to postpone the game’s release, originally planned for Fall 2025, to address these issues and improve the overall experience. This delay might actually be a good thing, as it allowed ARC Raiders to launch without competition and attract players – like me – who are eager for a new extraction shooter. It also means we’ll get an exciting new game to look forward to soon.

Recent gameplay footage of Marathon shows significant improvements over earlier versions, even compared to the initial alpha test. The game now features a much more colorful and detailed world, which could help it create an immersive experience similar to ARC Raiders. The December closed test also highlighted more distinctive and engaging gameplay, including features found in ARC Raiders like self-revival and faction-based contracts for players to complete.

Marathon Has a Clear Path to Success in ARC Raiders’ Footsteps

  • $40 Price
  • Launching with minimal competition
  • Open preview weekend before launch

The success of ARC Raiders should help Marathon attract players, and it’s already showing similar potential. Both games launched at a reasonable $40 price point, which is more appealing to new players than typical, expensive AAA titles – I plan to buy Marathon right away. Since ARC Raiders came out months ago, Marathon will face less competition, and players who enjoyed ARC Raiders might be ready for something new. Like ARC Raiders, Marathon is also offering a free preview weekend before launch to let people try out the gameplay.

Image via Bungie

I really enjoyed playing ARC Raiders, and it got me hooked on extraction shooter games. I’m excited to try Marathon, which looks like a fresh take on the genre. While it’s too early to say if Marathon will be as good as ARC Raiders, the previews have me eager to jump in and explore the world of Tau Ceti IV as soon as it releases.

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2026-01-13 16:05