Over the years video game length has become more and more of a hot topic. Open world games have seriously bloated runtimes by filling their worlds with countless activities, quests, and more.
While big games continue to get more bloated, there are luckily a handful of smaller titles that have emerged. Some of the very best games of recent years are ones that can be completed in a handful of hours, or even one sitting.
There are tons of fantastic games that can be completed in just a handful of hours, making them perfect for a lazy weekend or cozy evening. Here are fifteen of the best games that can be finished in five hours or less.
Untitled Goose Game
Untitled Goose Game is a delightful little experience where players take on the simple role of an annoying goose. The laid back experience simply requires the Goose to steal various items and bug the living hell out of the village's residents. Untitled Goose Game is a pretty free-form experience, but it can easily be completed in less than five hours, and can even be played in co-op now.
Superhot
Superhot is as close to a John Wick simulator as video games have ever created. The unique slow down and speed up mechanics make it feel more like a puzzle game than a straight-up shooter, and its vibrant aesthetic makes Superhot even more unique. Past the strong gameplay, however, is an interesting narrative that dares to ask some tough questions.
Gone Home
Gone Home is a touching experience about a young woman returning to her childhood house after years away. With the rest of the family gone, players have to figure out exactly what happened, and uncovered secrets about each of the family members along the way. Gone Home is a thoughtful experience that encourages reflection across its few hours of runtime.
Journey
Journey has gone down as one of the greatest indie games of all time, and for good reason. The gorgeous title sees a mysterious traveler wandering through the dunes of an ancient civilization. A phenomenal soundtrack by Austin Wintory bolsters an already gorgeous and emotional experience of discovery. An emergent multiplayer system only adds to the mystique of everything, and even though it can be completed in under five hours, Journey is just what it sounds like, an unforgettable journey.
Portal
Portal is one of the most renowned puzzle games of all time, and its unique systems are still a cut above anything else. The mind-bending game can easily be completed in under five hours, but the puzzles are an absolute blast to play through, requiring players to think outside of the box on the placement of their portals. The humor also still holds up remarkably well to this day, and Portal is a perfectly compact experience.
A Short Hike
A Short Hike has the absolute perfect name, as that's exactly what it is. As strange as it sounds, A Short Hike is often compared to Breath of the Wild because of the free-form experience it creates. The goal of the game is to collect enough Gold Feathers to make it to the peak of the mountain, although players are free to explore as they see fit and interact with the other anthropomorphic creatures. A Short Hike is a charming game that has nearly the perfect amount of content for its four to five-hour runtime.
Star Fox 64
Star Fox 64 has defined the franchise ever since it was released, as it's nearly the perfection of the formula. Whether it's the original or the 3DS remake, Star Fox 64 holds up impeccably well with tight gameplay and a dynamic mission system that lets players go through multiple different routes. One route of Star Fox 64 can be completed in roughly 2-3 hours, but there's an immense amount of replayability.
Firewatch
Firewatch follows a man named Henry, who takes a job as a fire lookout in the Shoshone National Forest. The adventure game dives into the fascinating relationship between Henry and another fire lookout named Delilah, who he only communicates with via radio. The utterly gorgeous world is a joy to explore, and there's a fascinating story to uncover bolstered by fantastic voice performances.
Her Story
Her Story is essentially a detective game, and playtime can vary wildly between players. This is because the format of the game requires players to watch video clips and use terms or phrases in each video to uncover new ones. It's an incredibly unique experience that makes players feel like a detective combing through a database of video footage. The truth in Her Story can be uncovered in only a couple of hours, but there's more context to uncover even after the fact.
Inside
Inside is the second game from the studio behind Limbo, and it's even more of a mind trip. The game's narrative is intentionally ambiguous, but all the better for it. At the beginning of Inside, a young boy is on the run from a police-like organization. On the run, he stumbles into a horrific farm filled with parasitic worms. Inside improves on the platforming and puzzle-solving of Limbo, and although it's a fairly short adventure it all culminates in an utterly unforgettable way.
The Stanley Parable
The Stanley Parable is practically a critique of video games, as much as it is one itself. The first-person game tells the story of Stanley, employee 427 in a massive office building. A wonderful narrator presents the story to the player, although they can choose to disregard what the narrator says, which is then factored in. The Stanley Parable's brilliant storytelling is a commentary on the problems in the narrative design of modern video games. It's a hilarious, insightful experience that can be fully explored in just a few hours.
Resident Evil 3 Remake
The Resident Evil 2 remake was a brilliant evolution of the franchise, and while Resident Evil 3's remake may not hit those same heights, it's a strong reimagining of the classic. Resident Evil 3 is much more linear than the previous remake, but it doesn't suffer for it. Jill Valentine's trek through Raccoon City makes for a fantastic action game, and the remake has a breakneck pace that never lets up. Resident Evil 3 can easily be beaten in under five hours if players aren't exploring every nook and cranny, and that's especially true when the tougher trophies and achievements come into play.
Florence
Florence is a short game that can be completed in about an hour, but it's one of the most heartfelt experiences that can be found in all of gaming. The game follows 25-year-old Florence Yeoh, chronicling different parts of her life. Each of the game's 20 different chapters features a minigame based around a different piece of Florence's life, like figuring out how to put puzzle pieces together to represent the awkwardness of a first date. Florence is the rare game that realistically portrays the ups and down of romance, and how that plays into life in general.
Papers, Please
Papers Please is a harrowing test of morality that can be genuinely emotionally affecting. Taking place in a fictional dystopic country called Arstotzka, players take on the role of an immigration officer. Essentially being a cog in a police state, the main character knows their own family may be at risk as they screen various people coming into the country. Their job is to keep out terrorists, war criminals, and more, but things obviously aren't that simple. Papers Please has serious real-world parallels, and outside of being an incredible experience, it's one of the most important ones of recent years.
To The Moon
To The Moon is an emotional experience sure to pull a few heartstrings by the end. Sigmund Corporation offers a wish-fulfillment service to people on their death beds, offering to implant artificial memories. One client, Johnny Wyles, dreams of going to the moon, and two doctors have to comb through a compilation of his memories to find out why. The narrative adventure has some puzzle solving, as players have to figure out how to see more of Johnny's life and piece everything together. It may be a bit light on gameplay, but To The Moon tells an unforgettable story in a way that only video games could.