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Nippon Marathon

Nippon Marathon offered some fun with its multiplayer showdowns and my friends and I had plenty of laughs as we raced across each bizarre course, but there’s no denying that it’s ultimately a flawed experience that lacks the depth to keep you hooked in for too long. Add to that some janky physics, a varying quality of level design, and a lacking single player mode and it’d be easy to completely dismiss the game and play something better. Still, the moments of fun it does offer deserve some praise and the silliness of the whole experience did offer something completely unique when looking for that local multiplayer fix. There are undoubtedly better multiplayer games to play out there, but if you want something a bit different (and completely bizarre) it might be worth giving Nippon Marathon a look just to experience the absurdity of it all first hand – just don’t expect to want to spend more than a few hours playing it.
Nippon Marathon Game Cover
88%Game Brain Score
humor, story
graphics, stability
94% User Score Based on 185 reviews
Critic Score 58%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Mac OSPlaystation 4Xbox OneXboxWindowsPlayStation
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Nippon Marathon Game Cover

About

Nippon Marathon is a single player and multiplayer racing game with comedy and kids themes. It was developed by Onion Soup Interactive and was released on December 17, 2018. It received neutral reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

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.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Nippon Marathon screenshot
Nippon Marathon screenshot
Nippon Marathon screenshot
Nippon Marathon screenshot
Nippon Marathon screenshot
Nippon Marathon screenshot
Nippon Marathon screenshot
Nippon Marathon screenshot
Nippon Marathon screenshot
Nippon Marathon screenshot
Nippon Marathon screenshot
+13
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94%
Audience ScoreBased on 185 reviews
humor43 positive mentions
graphics3 negative mentions
  • Nippon Marathon is a hilarious and chaotic party game that provides endless laughs, especially when played with friends.
  • The game features unique and bizarre characters, fun mini-games, and a variety of wacky obstacles that keep the gameplay entertaining.
  • It's easy to pick up and play, making it a great choice for casual gaming sessions with family or friends.
  • The game suffers from bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, making it feel unpolished at times.
  • There is a lack of online multiplayer functionality, which limits the ability to play with friends who are not physically present.
  • Some players find the gameplay repetitive and the controls awkward, which can detract from the overall experience.
  • humor
    43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in "Nippon Marathon" is widely praised for its absurdity and nonsensical charm, making it a source of laughter for players, especially in a party setting. Reviewers highlight the game's quirky characters, funny commentary, and chaotic events reminiscent of Japanese game shows, contributing to a lighthearted and entertaining experience. Overall, it's considered a hilarious game that excels in delivering comedic moments, making it a great choice for friends and family gatherings.

    • “Yes, Nippon Marathon made me laugh out loud.”
    • “I was snort laughing at the absurdity of everything.”
    • “As catchy J-pop plays, a monkey taking a selfie will appear in the corner of the screen while contestants dodge Shiba Inu dogs and a commentator adds funny remarks in broken English: the events taking place are completely bonkers, and it’s a joy to participate in such a funny race.”
  • story
    27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story mode is praised for its humor, memorable characters, and engaging narrative, offering a unique blend of visual novel elements and racing gameplay. While the storyline is described as nonsensical and silly, it provides a fun experience with distinct character arcs and cultural references, though some players express frustration over unskippable cutscenes and the need for save points. Overall, the story mode is considered a worthwhile addition, enhancing the game's replay value despite some technical issues.

    • “I got it on sale for under $1 and the solo story mode alone is well beyond worth it.”
    • “Really cute story and memorable characters.”
    • “All of the characters in story mode are unique and enjoyable, and have distinct personalities that really shine in the cutscenes between races.”
    • “Not sure I'll complete the rest of the stories as I assume it's the same storyline with a different character.”
    • “Also, the story mode has a lot of non-interactive scenes with unskippable text.”
    • “If there weren't all the filler cutscenes (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 and is a massive waste of the player's time.”
  • gameplay
    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is a mixed bag, with some players enjoying its fun and engaging elements, while others find it repetitive and lacking clarity in scoring mechanics. While the core concept of racing is simple and can be enhanced with friends, the tutorial and optimization hints are insufficient, leading to confusion. Overall, the game offers a unique experience but may not appeal to everyone, making it essential for potential players to review gameplay videos before diving in.

    • “But it's not just a joke game with a lot of really cool ideas, the gameplay is actually fun as well.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
  • graphics
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics in the game are generally considered mediocre, reminiscent of older titles like Second Life, with a mix of intentionally quirky aesthetics that resemble a Japanese game show. While some players appreciate the unique visual style, many agree that the textures and overall graphical quality could benefit from upgrades. Despite these shortcomings, the graphics do not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment of the gameplay experience.

    • “The graphics contribute to the weirdness, a mix of flashy colors and characters with hyper-realistic background textures.”
    • “The artwork surrounding the main story characters and the visual novel elements are well done.”
    • “On the aesthetic front, the graphics seem purposely bad because they seem like meme-bait.”
    • “Welcome to Nippon Marathon, a game whose aesthetic can be described as a Japanese game show host's fever dream after playing Speedrunners once.”
    • “As mentioned, the graphics are mediocre and could use some extra work, especially in regards to the textures of the environment and people.”
  • music
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its energetic and fun soundtrack, enhancing the overall experience whether playing solo or with friends. Reviewers appreciate the engaging sound effects and commentary that contribute to a lively atmosphere reminiscent of a Japanese game show. However, some users have requested additional sound options for better customization.

    • “Amazing soundtrack, very fun to play with friends or even alone, just wanted some more maps.”
    • “The courses are great, the music is awesome, I bought this during the sale and it was worth every penny!”
    • “The music is fun and exciting, and the sound effects make you feel like you are watching a Japanese game show.”
    • “Besides the energetic and unobtrusive soundtrack, there's also a marathon commentator who makes funny remarks, creating a full picture of what's happening.”
    • “Just one thing, though: please add sound options (volume control for music, announcer, and sound effects).”
    • “Sound and music: 8”
  • stability
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the intentional jankiness and find it adds to the fun, many others criticize it for being excessively buggy and unplayable, questioning its value at the price point. Overall, the stability issues detract from the experience for a significant portion of the audience.

    • “It's way too buggy.”
    • “Fun, but this game is too buggy to be worth 15 dollars.”
    • “There will probably be some glitches.”
  • replayability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 with their own story filled with nonsensical humor to navigate through the 8 courses, rich in Japanese culture. With plenty to unlock, mini-games, and party modes, the replay value is definitely 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.”
    • “There are 4 main characters, each with their own story filled with nonsensical humor as you navigate through the 8 courses rich in Japanese culture. There are items to unlock, mini-games, and party modes, so the replay value is definitely there.”
    • “More items, more courses, more playable characters, more announcer lines, more mini-games, more features, more mechanics, more special moves, more anime and 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 with a lot of replay value.”
  • emotional
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a deep and touching story that evokes discomfort, but players feel that fully appreciating it requires skipping cutscenes. Additionally, the gameplay mechanics can lead to frustration, as players often encounter uncontrollable deaths, detracting from the overall emotional experience.

    • “The story is deep and touching, but to enjoy it fully you have to skip all the cutscenes.”
    • “You just keep dying on things you have no control over; touching the wall makes you fall too.”
  • grinding
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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.”
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58%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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Frequently Asked Questions

Nippon Marathon is a racing game with comedy and kids themes.

Nippon Marathon is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

Nippon Marathon was released on December 17, 2018.

Nippon Marathon was developed by Onion Soup Interactive.

Nippon Marathon has received neutral reviews from players and neutral reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its humor but disliked it for its graphics.

Nippon Marathon is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Stikbold! A Dodgeball Adventure, Make Way, Heave Ho, Meow Motors, Gang Beasts and others.