Marathon is a hardcore extraction shooter, and nothing gets more hardcore than playing it solo. Despite increased tension and challenge, the game offers multiple options for you to play by yourself or with random players.
Here’s everything you need to know about the solo experience in Marathon and what you can expect from it.
Can you play Marathon solo?
Yes, you can play Marathon solo, and it’s a viable way to play. There’s a dedicated solo queue to play against other solos. While it’s a different experience than when you play in a duo or a trio, you can enjoy almost everything the game has to offer by yourself. Outside of the solo queue, you can matchmake as a trio with random players or join an ongoing run as a Rook.
Marathon solo experience
Pacing and gunfights
Playing as a solo in Marathon creates an extra layer of tension. Getting downed often means the end of a run unless you have a self-revive. This is something you may enjoy, but also hate, depending on your playstyle. Unlike ARC Raiders, almost everyone in Marathon shoots on sight. And with no safe pocket, you must be careful and aware of your surroundings.
To succeed as a solo, be prepared to remain focused for the entire duration of the run. Because there’s no one to cover you, hearing a single footstep of an enemy Runner nearby can decide whether you get to extract.
At the same time, you must also be careful not to make too much noise yourself, shut the doors behind you, and make a note if you spot enemy movement.
Contracts
Slower pace also applies to contracts, which are at the core of Marathon‘s progression. Some contracts are easier to complete, but others require you to complete multiple actions in a single run and exfil. These contracts reset on death, and if you accidentally come across another Runner, you might end up losing your progress.
It can sting, especially as a solo player, but Bungie is actively toning down on single-run contracts, and while some of them can pose a challenge, don’t expect to be required to do too many of them. On top of that, Bungie is also improving progression, and completing contracts is just as rewarding when playing solo.
Runner Shells for solo
Runner Shells in Marathon are archetypes/heroes with unique abilities that you can modify using Cores, Implants, and stats in the Cradle. While you can bring any Shell you want into a solo run, some Shells and builds naturally perform better in trios than in solo. This means you may not be able to make as much use of a Destroyer or Triage Shell. Instead, you might lean into Shells like Assassin or Thief.
Gear fear
For solo players, the gear fear is stronger than usual. However, this is something that you’ll eventually overcome as you progress through the game. Faction rewards, Codex entries, Rook runs, and free Sponsored Kits (free loadouts) give you enough gear to get back on your feet after a failed run. And with the game having seasonal wipes, there’s no need to hoard all the loot indefinitely.
Rook runs
Another way to play solo is to queue as Rook. Rook is a scavenger Shell that drops you into an ongoing trios run with a random loadout. It’s an opportunity to collect leftover loot from squad fights, but there are risks of running into a trio that can easily overwhelm you.
Cryo Archive
Unfortunately, as a solo player, you’ll miss out on the endgame content, like Cryo Archive. Cryo Archive is a map with raid-like mechanics and an intense boss fight with the Compiler at the end. It’s locked to trios, and playing with random players naturally puts you at a heavy disadvantage compared to pre-made teams.
Don’t let that discourage you from trying Marathon – the remaining maps can be comfortably played solo. As Bungie experiments more with different modes (including PvE and PvE-lite), it promises to expand the game beyond a traditional extraction shooter, which is also something to look forward to.
