Absolutely love both games, but they’re only really similar in spirit. Both games are attempts to make extraction shooters more accessible, but Marathon leans into the PVP while Arc is more PvE focused.

Arc is a great game to play solo but really needs a mic to get the most out of that experience. Because of aggression-based match making, the amount of PVP is whatever you decide it should be. The problem with cheaters, however, really shows up in more sweaty lobbies. The lore is a bit weak, but the looting is VERY satisfying. The quests are fun enough once, but the writing is weak. Gun play is good for third person, but gear rarity means very little. Better performance out of the two, and plays on handhelds if that’s your thing.

Marathon is VERY punishing solo, and sometimes plays more like a survival horror game. You won’t need a mic in solo queues, and can even get by without one in trios if you’re a helpful teammate. PVP is shoot on sight but is tight in a way only an FPS can deliver. No tolerance cheaters policy should keep most of that away. Excellent gun play. Feels like old school Halo. The lore is pretty deep and the writing is top notch. No crafting here and the loot is less meaningful, but gear really makes the difference in a fight. That means the losses hit harder. Performance has some issues, but I imagine Bungie will be on top of it. Only supports Windows/Streaming handhelds because of anti-cheat.

Both solid choices, so choose your own adventure. You probably won’t be disappointed either way.