Nippon Marathon

72%
Game Brain Score Based on 139 reviews
  • humor
  • gameplay
  • story
Nippon Marathon Game Cover
Nippon Marathon has the potential to be a fun party game, but its technical and design shortcomings prevent it from being a race worth running.
Starting at $2.23Buy now
Get on Steam Get on Xbox Games Store

Nippon Marathon is a good time party game that supports up to four players locally, with wacky multiplayer racing action set across various creative and challenging levels in Japan. Expect to dodge obstacles, throw fruit, and encounter surprising events in this unique and exciting party experience. Solo play is also available, but the game really shines with friends.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

72%
Audience ScoreBased on 139 reviews
humor30 positive mentions
stability3 negative mentions
  • Hilarious and absurd gameplay that provides endless laughs, making it a great party game for friends.
  • Unique concept that combines elements of Japanese game shows with chaotic racing, offering a fun and quirky experience.
  • Works well on Steam Deck and supports local multiplayer, enhancing the overall enjoyment when played with friends.
  • The game suffers from numerous bugs and technical issues, including softlocks and camera problems, which can hinder the experience.
  • Lacks online multiplayer, limiting the ability to play with friends who are not physically present.
  • Gameplay can feel repetitive and controls are often frustrating, making it less enjoyable for solo play.
  • humor30 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its absurdity and nonsensical charm, often leading to genuine laughter among players, especially in multiplayer settings. Many reviews highlight the game's quirky characters and comedic storytelling, likening it to a mashup of Japanese game shows, which enhances its appeal as a party game. However, some critics feel that the humor can be hit-or-miss, with certain jokes falling flat or feeling forced.

    • “I was snort laughing at the absurdity of literally everything.”
    • “The audio/story is legitimately funny.”
    • “A unique experience that led to some fantastic and humorous moments.”
  • gameplay17 mentions

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it enjoyable and chaotic, especially in multiplayer settings, while others criticize it for being repetitive, clumsy, and lacking clarity in mechanics and scoring. Although the game features fun elements and a vibrant atmosphere, many feel that the gameplay does not consistently match the quality of its story and characters, leading to frustration during solo play. Overall, while it can be entertaining in a group, the gameplay experience may not hold up for everyone.

    • “9/10 genuinely a fun game! I loved the story, especially the characters, and the gameplay was very enjoyable as well!”
    • “The core gameplay is simple (just run), but with a few friends, it quickly becomes a whole new game - it becomes less about running and more about making sure your friends can't run.”
    • “[frantic and inexplicably fun gameplay, can tag in and drop out of races at any point, great eight-player party modes, humor to match the game's brilliantly stupid content].”
    • “Unfortunately, the gameplay doesn't follow suit.”
    • “Gameplay feels quite repetitive, and the things that affect your score most are not only non-obvious, but there are few hints on how to optimize them, either.”
    • “The tutorial isn't super comprehensive, and some aspects of the gameplay and the scoring system remain confusing.”
  • story16 mentions

    The story mode is praised for its humor, unique characters, and engaging narrative, offering a blend of nonsensical and touching elements that enhance the gameplay experience. While the cutscenes are appreciated for their depth, some players find them excessive and time-consuming, leading to frustrations with pacing and game-breaking bugs. Overall, the story adds significant value to the game, making it a worthwhile experience despite some technical issues.

    • “I got it on sale for under $1 and the solo story mode alone is well beyond worth it.”
    • “9/10 genuinely a fun game! I loved the story, especially the characters, and the gameplay was very enjoyable as well!”
    • “All of the characters in story mode are unique and enjoyable, and have distinct personalities that really shine in the cutscenes between races.”
    • “I'm also currently encountering a game-breaking bug in the story mode where after the second race, when it's running the cutscene in the mansion with KG Park, Felix Arizona & Shiro Hideko where they speak with the anonymous boss figure, it ends & begins an infinite loading screen.”
    • “Also, the story mode really needs save points.”
    • “If there weren't all the filler cutscene parts (which are decent & appreciated), it wouldn't be too bad, but having to watch them all again just to get back to a point in the story mode that you were at isn't the most enjoyable experience & is a massive waste of the player's time.”
  • music5 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its awesome and rockin' soundtrack, enhancing the overall experience and making it enjoyable for multiplayer sessions. However, players have requested the addition of sound options, such as volume control for music and sound effects, to improve customization.

    • “The courses are great, the music is awesome! I bought this during the sale and it was worth every penny!”
    • “The soundtrack is awesome!”
    • “A surprisingly rockin' soundtrack at certain points, chaotic gameplay that makes it fun to show to a friend for the first time.”
    • “Just one thing, though: please add sound options (volume control for music, announcer, and sound effects).”
    • “The soundtrack is surprisingly rockin' at certain points, but it doesn't always fit the chaotic gameplay.”
  • stability4 mentions

    The game has been criticized for its significant stability issues, with users reporting numerous bugs that render it unplayable and not worth its price. While some glitches are expected, the overall consensus is that the game's instability detracts from the experience.

    • “Fun, but this game is too buggy to be worth $15.”
    • “There will probably be some glitches.”
    • “Buggy.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability due to its charming party game mechanics, diverse characters, and a variety of unlockable content, including courses, mini-games, and features. Frequent updates enhance the experience, making it a recommendable choice for players seeking ongoing enjoyment.

    • “There are 4 main characters, each has their story with nonsense humor to walk through the 8 courses with rich Japanese culture, stuff to unlock, some other mini-games and party modes, so the replay value is there.”
    • “More items, more courses, more playable characters, more announcer lines, more mini-games, more features, more mechanics, more special moves, more anime/cultural references, additional background songs, online multiplayer, etc.”
    • “I can recommend it as development is frequent, and the game is in a well-playable state and has a lot of replay value.”
    • “There are 4 main characters, each with their own story filled with nonsensical humor to navigate through the 8 courses. While there are elements to unlock and some mini-games and party modes, the overall replay value feels limited.”
    • “Despite the presence of various items, courses, playable characters, and mini-games, the lack of significant new content or changes in gameplay makes replaying feel repetitive.”
    • “While the game is frequently updated and in a playable state, the replay value is not as high as expected, leading to a sense of stagnation after a few playthroughs.”
  • graphics4 mentions

    The graphics in the game are generally considered basic and not a primary focus, with some users noting the need for improved models and textures. The visuals are described as janky, which may appeal to a niche audience but could deter others. Additionally, there are technical issues with resolution and graphics settings not being saved.

    • “The graphics are obviously not the focus in a game like this, but they are very basic - a few slightly upgraded models and textures wouldn't hurt.”
    • “The only problem I've had is that I can't get it to remember my resolution and graphics settings.”
    • “Nippon Marathon isn’t going to be everyone’s taste – those eye-wateringly janky visuals (whether by design or not) and the nature of physics-driven racing are an acquired taste that most people are going to tire of, fast.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its deep and touching story, though players feel that fully appreciating it requires skipping cutscenes. However, frustrations with gameplay mechanics, such as uncontrollable deaths from minor interactions, can detract from the overall emotional experience.

  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the game enjoyable as a party experience with friends, but note that the grinding aspect can become tedious due to a lack of content over time.

    • “Great party game with friends, though it can get quite tedious after a while because it doesn't have much content.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

50% average critic score

Buy Nippon Marathon

Videos

Similar Games

Game News