Marathon (1994) and Marathon (2026) are at opposite ends of FPS history, but playing them at the same time I'm finding they have a lot in common, despite their vast differences
Marathon (1994) and its 2026 reboot represent vastly different eras of first-person shooter development, yet share underlying narrative and design themes. Despite the original being a product of early FPS mechanics and the new version aligning with modern extraction shooters, both explore deep lore and AI-driven storytelling. Playing them side by side highlights the evolution of the genre while revealing Bungie's consistent creative vision.
- ▪Marathon (1994) is a classic FPS set aboard a colony ship under alien attack, notable for its terminal-based storytelling and AI characters.
- ▪The 2026 reboot of Marathon reimagines the franchise as a modern extraction shooter influenced by games like Hunt: Showdown and Valorant.
- ▪In the original game, infected civilians known as BOBs say 'Thank God it's you' before exploding, a phrase now featured in the 2026 promotional material.
- ▪The original Marathon features AI characters Leela and Durandal, who provide narrative depth through interactive terminals.
- ▪The recurring graffiti 'THAKGODITSYOU' in the 2026 version connects directly to audio logs and enemy behavior in the 1994 game.
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Games FPS Marathon Marathon (1994) and Marathon (2026) are at opposite ends of FPS history, but playing them at the same time I'm finding they have a lot in common, despite their vast differences Features By Jeremy Peel published 2 May 2026 Maximum lore inhalation. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Bungie) Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Weird WeekendWeird Weekend is our regular Saturday feature where we celebrate PC gaming oddities: peculiar games, strange bits of trivia, forgotten history.
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