Nippon Marathon
Released Dec 2018
Crazy, physics-driven, four-player marathon across Japan. Combining classic racers like Micro Machines and the insanity of TV's Takeshi's Castle, smash through offices and shopping malls and hurl fruit at your opponents in a party game unlike anything you've played before!
90% positive · 355 reviews
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Where to buy
Steam $14.99 Green Man Gaming Steam key $14.99
Can't confirm — worth a look
We couldn't confirm these stores carry this game.
IndieGala Steam key Search Prices in USD, as listed by each store.
Buying through an affiliate store helps support the site
Evaluation
Nippon Marathon launched on December 17, 2018 and received post-launch patches in its first year, including gameplay improvements and new stages shipped in a June 2018 update and a bug fix/feature patch in December 2018. The only paid DLC ever released for the game — the official soundtrack — dropped on February 12, 2020, and no further content has been added since.
Developer activity since 2020 has been entirely focused on the sequel, Nippon Marathon 2: Daijoubu. The studio announced NM2 in December 2024, released a demo in mid-2025, and launched NM2 into Early Access on April 18, 2026. The most recent news posts from this game's Steam page (including the June 7, 2026 major update post) are entirely about NM2 and are cross-posted here to reach the original game's audience. No new content for the original Nippon Marathon has been announced or released in years.
The original game launched as a complete package and has received no new content since the soundtrack DLC in February 2020. All developer energy has moved to the sequel. The game is complete.
Evidence
Nippon Marathon 2: Daijoubu launched into Early Access on April 18, 2026. Developer communications since late 2024 have been entirely focused on the sequel, with no mention of new content for the original game.
The official soundtrack DLC released on February 12, 2020 — the only paid DLC ever released for the game, and the last content addition of any kind.
Content
1 of 1 released · no outstanding content
Media
Details
Developer
Publisher
PQube
Achievements
15
Platform
Windows, macOS
Controller
full support
Steam Deck
Playable
Players
Single-player · Multiplayer · PvP · Local/Split Screen
About this game
San! Ni! Ichi! Hajime!!! Stretch your muscles and embark upon the ultimate marathon of Japan in a raucous ragdoll party multiplayer racer where anything can happen. Hurdle barrels, outrun Shiba Inu and dive out of the paths of bicycles - all while chucking fruit at your opponents and dashing across planks precariously balanced over waterfalls - in an unreal experience that must be played to be believed.
Four-player drop-in/drop-out madness!
Solo play is supported, but grab up to four pads and enjoy the supreme silliness of gaming’s greatest marathon. Need a bathroom break to brush pineapple juice off your onesie? Random pedestrian passing by your couch and wants to play? Whatever the cause, hop in and out for the ultimate party get-together!
Experience surprises galore in a race across all of Japan!
Cross the land of Nippon in a series of creative levels spanning busy city streets, narrow old streets, bustling markets, mountaintop shrines and even the top of a bullet train! You never know what will happen next in Nippon Marathon. Perhaps you’ll find time for an impromptu spot of slot machine fun? Maybe a news anchor will jetpack in to interview you on the racetrack? Heck, anything is possible…
An expansive story mode with a bizarre cast of characters!
Climb the ranks from rookie runner to marathon master. Experience the stories of lobster-man J DARWIN, narwhal enthusiast Elizabeth Nishibori, old uncle sailor Zenbei “XEN BAE” and wannabe dating-agency owner Snuguru Maestro, all while revealing the shady secrets of the unseen forces at play behind the Nippon Marathon. Can you beat the returning ten-time champion Handsome Hazuki and his cronies?
Chill out with some Party Games!
Some people like bird watching. Some people like a lazy Sunday afternoon drive. Some people like to throw themselves into a trolley, and smash head-first into man-sized bowling pins! Set your shopping trolley's position, take a running jump, wince as you hurtle towards random hazards and pray you don't end up in the emergency room. Mastered the Turkey in bowling? Then take on the L.O.B.S.T.E.R gauntlet! A precariously narrow, randomly generated assault course. Swinging hammers, pneumatic boxing gloves, and irate American footballers conspire to knock you into the drink!
Features
Four-player drop-in/drop-out madness!
Solo play is supported, but grab up to four pads and enjoy the supreme silliness of gaming’s greatest marathon. Need a bathroom break to brush pineapple juice off your onesie? Random pedestrian passing by your couch and wants to play? Whatever the cause, hop in and out for the ultimate party get-together!
Experience surprises galore in a race across all of Japan!
Cross the land of Nippon in a series of creative levels spanning busy city streets, narrow old streets, bustling markets, mountaintop shrines and even the top of a bullet train! You never know what will happen next in Nippon Marathon. Perhaps you’ll find time for an impromptu spot of slot machine fun? Maybe a news anchor will jetpack in to interview you on the racetrack? Heck, anything is possible…
An expansive story mode with a bizarre cast of characters!
Climb the ranks from rookie runner to marathon master. Experience the stories of lobster-man J DARWIN, narwhal enthusiast Elizabeth Nishibori, old uncle sailor Zenbei “XEN BAE” and wannabe dating-agency owner Snuguru Maestro, all while revealing the shady secrets of the unseen forces at play behind the Nippon Marathon. Can you beat the returning ten-time champion Handsome Hazuki and his cronies?
Chill out with some Party Games!
Some people like bird watching. Some people like a lazy Sunday afternoon drive. Some people like to throw themselves into a trolley, and smash head-first into man-sized bowling pins! Set your shopping trolley's position, take a running jump, wince as you hurtle towards random hazards and pray you don't end up in the emergency room. Mastered the Turkey in bowling? Then take on the L.O.B.S.T.E.R gauntlet! A precariously narrow, randomly generated assault course. Swinging hammers, pneumatic boxing gloves, and irate American footballers conspire to knock you into the drink!
Are these done yet?
Last evaluated Jun 27, 2026
Something about this evaluation looks wrong Report illegal or harmful content