Marathon
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Estimated FPS across quality settings and resolutions
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Marathon FPS by GPU
Estimated framerates for 14 reference GPUs · pick a resolution and quality
Full benchmark grid · 14 GPUs × 4 qualities × 3 resolutions
1080p performance
| GPU | low | medium | high | ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 5090 | 495 fps | 396 fps | 317 fps | 258 fps |
| RTX 4090 | 460 fps | 368 fps | 294 fps | 239 fps |
| RX 7900 XTX | 413 fps | 330 fps | 264 fps | 215 fps |
| RTX 5080 | 389 fps | 311 fps | 249 fps | 202 fps |
| RTX 4080 Super | 366 fps | 292 fps | 234 fps | 190 fps |
| RTX 4070 Ti | 289 fps | 231 fps | 185 fps | 150 fps |
| RTX 4070 | 248 fps | 198 fps | 159 fps | 129 fps |
| RX 7800 XT | 218 fps | 175 fps | 140 fps | 113 fps |
| RTX 3080 | 212 fps | 170 fps | 136 fps | 110 fps |
| RTX 4060 Ti | 201 fps | 160 fps | 128 fps | 104 fps |
| RTX 3070 | 183 fps | 146 fps | 117 fps | 95 fps |
| RTX 4060 | 165 fps | 132 fps | 106 fps | 86 fps |
| RTX 3060 | 142 fps | 113 fps | 91 fps | 74 fps |
| GTX 1660 Super | 103 fps | 82 fps | 66 fps | 53 fps |
1440p performance
| GPU | low | medium | high | ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 5090 | 372 fps | 297 fps | 238 fps | 193 fps |
| RTX 4090 | 345 fps | 276 fps | 221 fps | 179 fps |
| RX 7900 XTX | 310 fps | 248 fps | 198 fps | 161 fps |
| RTX 5080 | 292 fps | 234 fps | 187 fps | 152 fps |
| RTX 4080 Super | 274 fps | 219 fps | 175 fps | 143 fps |
| RTX 4070 Ti | 217 fps | 173 fps | 139 fps | 113 fps |
| RTX 4070 | 186 fps | 149 fps | 119 fps | 97 fps |
| RX 7800 XT | 164 fps | 131 fps | 105 fps | 85 fps |
| RTX 3080 | 159 fps | 127 fps | 102 fps | 83 fps |
| RTX 4060 Ti | 150 fps | 120 fps | 96 fps | 78 fps |
| RTX 3070 | 137 fps | 110 fps | 88 fps | 71 fps |
| RTX 4060 | 124 fps | 99 fps | 79 fps | 64 fps |
| RTX 3060 | 106 fps | 85 fps | 68 fps | 55 fps |
| GTX 1660 Super | 77 fps | 62 fps | 49 fps | 40 fps |
4K performance
| GPU | low | medium | high | ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 5090 | 198 fps | 159 fps | 127 fps | 103 fps |
| RTX 4090 | 184 fps | 147 fps | 118 fps | 96 fps |
| RX 7900 XTX | 165 fps | 132 fps | 106 fps | 86 fps |
| RTX 5080 | 156 fps | 125 fps | 100 fps | 81 fps |
| RTX 4080 Super | 146 fps | 117 fps | 94 fps | 76 fps |
| RTX 4070 Ti | 116 fps | 92 fps | 74 fps | 60 fps |
| RTX 4070 | 99 fps | 79 fps | 63 fps | 52 fps |
| RX 7800 XT | 87 fps | 70 fps | 56 fps | 45 fps |
| RTX 3080 | 85 fps | 68 fps | 54 fps | 44 fps |
| RTX 4060 Ti | 80 fps | 64 fps | 51 fps | 42 fps |
| RTX 3070 | 73 fps | 58 fps | 47 fps | 38 fps |
| RTX 4060 | 66 fps | 53 fps | 42 fps | 34 fps |
| RTX 3060 | 57 fps | 45 fps | 36 fps | 29 fps |
| GTX 1660 Super | 41 fps | 33 fps | 26 fps | 21 fps |
Where to buy
Marathon
affiliate
$39.99
$27.99
-30% off
Minimum Hardware
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti (4 GB) / AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT (4 GB) / Intel Arc A580 (8 GB, with ReBAR on)
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Genres
About
Marathon, released in 1994, is a first-person shooter that stands out in the early days of PC gaming. Known for its innovative gameplay mechanics and immersive narrative, players take on the role of a security officer aboard a futuristic colony ship, facing off against intelligent alien threats. With its engaging storyline and strategic combat, Marathon laid the groundwork for many genre staples, delivering a visually striking experience for its time.
PC gamers who appreciate a mix of challenging gameplay and rich storytelling will find Marathon compelling. The game targets players who enjoy tactical thinking and environmental exploration, making it suitable for those who relish a tough challenge. Its design encourages replayability, with multiple difficulty levels that cater to a range of skill sets, ensuring new players and veterans alike can appreciate its depth.
If you’re seeking a classic PC game that combines solid performance with an engaging storyline, Marathon comes highly recommended, especially with its respectable rating of 80/100. Its historical significance in the FPS genre and its innovative approach to gameplay make it a must-try for both nostalgic players and newcomers to the genre.
Performance profile
Released in December 1994, Marathon predates modern GPU acceleration as we know it today. It runs effortlessly on virtually any current hardware, including integrated graphics and entry-level laptops — framerate is limited by the engine, not the GPU.
Action titles like Marathon reward high framerates for visual clarity during combat. A mid-range modern GPU at 1440p 60–120 FPS is the practical sweet spot; VRR (G-Sync/FreeSync) smooths out drops during heavy effects.
Mid-range territory. An RTX 3060 or RX 6700 XT delivers 60 FPS at 1080p High in Marathon. For 1440p Ultra you'll want an RTX 4060 Ti / RX 7700 XT; 4K Ultra needs an RTX 4070 Ti or faster.
Storyline
Alien forces have boarded the colony ship UESC Marathon in the Tau Ceti system, in orbit around humanity’s first interstellar colony. The situation is dire, and as a security officer assigned to the Marathon, your duty is to defend the ship and its crew from the alien threat.
