Role-playing games are popular because they often let you embark on incredibly long adventures. You typically start as an ordinary character and slowly become a legendary hero – it’s this epic journey that draws many players in. However, some RPGs go overboard with the length, requiring a full day or more just to complete the main story.
Game length isn’t automatically a positive or negative. Some games feel drawn out, artificially extending the story to seem worth the price. Thankfully, shorter games are becoming more popular, as people with busy schedules appreciate being able to finish them. A longer game really needs to be exceptional to hold a player’s attention when they have so many other commitments.
Final Fantasy 14 Is A Full-Time Job
It feels a bit unfair to include an MMO on this list because of the sheer amount of content they offer, but Final Fantasy 14 deserves a mention. Unlike many other online role-playing games that push players to the newest additions right away, Final Fantasy 14 focuses on storytelling, allowing each player to become immersed in their own unique journey.
The main story in Final Fantasy XIV, from A Realm Reborn through Endwalker, is a massive undertaking that will take most players hundreds of hours to complete – and a new storyline has already started with Dawntrail. If you experience everything the game offers, including cutscenes and side quests, expect to spend around 200 hours getting caught up. The good news is the story content up to Shadowbringers is free to play, giving newcomers a great opportunity to try out Final Fantasy XIV before committing.
Dragon Quest 7 Needed Multiple Remakes To Bring Down The Runtime
When Dragon Quest 7 first came out on PlayStation, its graphics seemed outdated next to games like Final Fantasy. It used 2D characters in a simple 3D world. However, the developers at Enix made up for this by filling the game with tons of content! In fact, it’s the longest single-player RPG available for the PS1, tasking players with restoring a world sealed off by an evil god.
Luckily, Dragon Quest 7 has been remade twice – once for the Nintendo 3DS, and again later. While these remakes cut a lot of content and made the game shorter, they’re still quite long compared to most JRPGs, so be prepared to spend a significant amount of time playing before you reach the end.
Xenoblade Chronicles Is The Perfect Introduction To Its Franchise
Any game in the Xenoblade Chronicles series could be considered a huge undertaking. However, many fans consider the original to be the strongest entry because it avoids some of the more over-the-top elements found in the second game and the repetitive gameplay of the third. It’s not that the sequels are poor – just that the first Xenoblade Chronicles feels the most streamlined and well-focused.
Xenoblade Chronicles takes place in a world where humans are constantly battling attacking machines. The main character, Shulk, wields the Monado – a powerful, futuristic sword capable of damaging these machines. The game tells an expansive story full of mysteries surrounding both the Monado itself and the long-running war between organic life and robots, making it a truly memorable experience.
Persona 5 Royal Somehow Topped The Original Game In Length
The first Persona 5 game was quite long, taking place over almost an entire school year. Persona 5 Royal expanded on that by adding a whole extra semester, introducing a new playable character, and giving players more options during battles to make them less challenging.
It’s unfortunate this content comes after the main game’s story, forcing players to replay familiar events to reach the new third semester. However, the effort is worthwhile, as this semester delivers a fantastic ending to the Phantom Thieves’ story and provides a deserving character with a chance to redeem themselves.
Elden Ring Dares Players To Spend Hours Exploring The Lands Between
Very few games create such a powerful first impression as when you step out of the underground into the stunning world of The Lands Between in Elden Ring. Remarkably, almost all of this vast landscape – from crumbling castles to dense forests and towering mountains – is open for exploration. Simply mark your map, hop on your spectral steed Torrent, and begin your journey.
Don’t be surprised if you die around twenty times before finishing Elden Ring – everything in the game is trying to kill you, and that’s actually part of what makes it enjoyable! Beating the game is a huge undertaking, with tons of required content and challenging fights. It might be the most difficult game FromSoftware has ever made, demanding a lot of skill and dedication if you want to become Elden Lord.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses Is Daunting To Anyone Who Wants To See Every Route
Fire Emblem games are known for being long, especially if you try to complete everything. This is because you play as a teacher at a military academy where you choose one of three houses to guide. Each house is led by a character involved in world affairs, and their choices impact the story and events at the school.
Let me tell you, finishing just one playthrough of Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a huge time commitment – there’s so much story packed in there! But if you’re like me and want to experience all the different paths each house offers, you’re looking at hundreds of hours. And forget about getting some sleep if you’re aiming to romance everyone – it’s a real dedication!
Morrowind Is The True Challenge For The Elder Scrolls Fans
Most players don’t finish The Elder Scrolls games. They get sidetracked by all the interesting things to do – joining guilds, getting powerful equipment – and often forget to follow the main story. By the time they’ve explored everything, they’re usually tired of the game and move on to something else.
If you’re not rushing through the game, Morrowind likely offers the most playtime. It’s a slower-paced game, and the constant attacks from Cliff Racers make getting around really frustrating. However, if you’re up for a challenge, Morrowind is worth checking out – just be prepared to watch out for those annoying flying creatures!
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Fans Will Be Lucky If They Ever Get Around To Saving Ciri
Like the Elder Scrolls games, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is full of fantastic side quests that can easily distract you from the main story. You’re supposed to be saving Ciri and stopping the end of the world, but it’s tempting to spend all your time playing Gwent instead!
One thing that makes The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt stand out compared to The Elder Scrolls games is its captivating main story. The search for Ciri and the looming threat of the Wild Hunt really draw players in, especially those interested in the romance with Yennefer. This strong narrative makes the game’s length feel less overwhelming and encourages players to see it through to the end.
Pathfinder: Kingmaker Players Go From Rags To Riches In Record Time
Many tabletop role-playing game campaigns typically start with simple tasks, like battling giant rats in a dungeon. But Pathfinder: Kingmaker throws you right into a much bigger adventure: you’re given your own land to rule! All you have to do is defeat the monsters and bandits causing trouble there. Sounds manageable, doesn’t it?
In Pathfinder: Kingmaker, you start by building humble settlements from salvaged materials, then rise to become a powerful ruler leading a vast kingdom. This growth happens while dealing with conflicts with neighboring lands and facing an ancient evil threatening to destroy the world. As the sole monarch, it’s your responsibility – and will take many hours of gameplay – to stop this destruction and save Golarion.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Has A Lengthy Quest (For Those Who Can Escape Act I)
Many players are deeply engrossed in Baldur’s Gate 3, perhaps more than they realize. The game’s incredible story and how responsive it is early on – in Act I – makes it hard for people to move forward. Some even get stuck perfecting their character’s appearance, spending hours on details like hair and makeup, only to restart the process much later after investing dozens of hours into the game.
It’s disappointing that many players stop playing or start a new game when they get to Moonrise Towers in Baldur’s Gate 3, because Act III has fantastic content. The final part of your character’s journey, the fight against the last of the Dead Three’s followers, and facing the Elder Brain are all truly impressive experiences. However, many players seem to prefer continuing with earlier battles or exploring different dialogue options with the Druids instead.
2026-07-27 04:11