While games with massive open worlds, varieties of complex mechanics, and extra content have a strong fan base, they also take up a lot of time that could be spent playing several other well-regarded games.
AAA Games with tight playtimes and streamlined mechanics have been few and far between over the last few years, but indie games, out of sheer necessity due to their budgets, continue to provide short and replayable experiences. Furthermore, recent remakes of games like Resident Evil and Dead Space provide modernized versions of well-paced AAA titles from the past.
10 Resident Evil 2 (Original + Remake)
Although many of the Resident Evil games are prime candidates for this list, RE2 is a staple of the franchise. The 1998 classic originally took around 6-7 hours to complete for most players, and while the remake does bolster some portions of the game, it will still take most players around 8-10 hours to complete. Add to that the replayability factor from the two playable characters (who can also access different areas) and the scenario missions, and players are left with plenty to do post-credits.
However, it's worth noting that this depends on the player's playstyle; if a player were to take the game very slowly, die a lot, or simply spend a lot of time exploring, then they could expect to take an extra hour or two.
For Fans Of:
- Survival Horror
- Resident Evil
- Exploration
9 Mirror's Edge
Sitting on the lower end of the playtime spectrum, players can expect to beat Mirror's Edge in around 6 hours. Its heavy focus on freedom of movement makes it a great game for fans of parkour and/or platforming, as players will be spending more time running from the bad guys than they will be fighting them.
For Fans Of:
- First-Person Platforming
- Fast-Paced Gameplay
- Speed-running
8 INSIDE
Unlike many of the games on this list, even those who spend a lot of time with INSIDE are highly unlikely to spend more than 5 hours with the game. Developed by the creators of LIMBO, this puzzle-platformer is full of atmosphere, interesting puzzles, an intriguing narrative, and applaudable sound design.
In the game, players take on the role of a silent protagonist sneaking their way through various environments. Throughout the game's short runtime, players will platform their way to puzzle rooms backdropped by beautiful minimalistic vistas. INSIDE also features secrets and multiple endings, adding to the replayability and allowing players to get more out of the game's vague but effective narrative.
For Fans Of:
- Vague Narratives
- Puzzle-Platforming
- Simple Games
7 Endoparasitic
This top-down survival horror game, developed by YouTuber Miziziziz, has a brisk but intense runtime. The game features a unique hook wherein the player must control a manic researcher, whose arm is viciously removed at the beginning of the game, using only their mouse. The game makes the most of this hook by forcing players to manually equip and reload their weapons using the singular limb they control.
Players can expect to beat the game in less than 5 hours at the most, but with mod support and a new rogue-like mode on the way, the game still boasts impressive replayability.
For Fans Of:
- Survival Horror
- Unique Gameplay
- Minimalistic Graphics
6 Left For Dead 2
Developed and published by Valve, this renowned sequel has continued to maintain a consistent player base since its successful launch due to its high-octane cooperative gameplay and Steam mod support. Although the game has a lot of content, players that focus on playing through the various campaigns should be able to beat the game in around 10 hours.
For those uninitiated, players take on the role of one of four survivors amidst a zombie outbreak. The game is broken up into bite-sized "Campaigns" comprised of smaller levels. Each campaign takes roughly 30-60 minutes to beat, making it a perfect choice for a short or long game night with friends.
For Fans Of:
- First-Person Shooters
- Co-operative Games
- Arcade Action
5 Dusk
Created by popular game developer David Szymanski and published by indie powerhouse New Blood Interactive, DUSK is a non-stop retro-action experience from start to finish. On the upper end of the spectrum, DUSK boasts 33 levels (11 levels per 'Episode') and will take most players (that don't explore every nook and cranny) around 10 hours to beat.
The game borrows from movement-based 'boomer shooters' of the past, primarily taking influence from Quake. Fans of old-school shooters are sure to sink in more than the necessary hours required.
For Fans Of:
- Old-School Shooters
- Exploration
- Secrets
4 Dishonored
As one of Arkane Studio's biggest hits, Dishonored earned its great reputation by being a tight and accessible immersive-sim experience, something that, arguably, the games that inspired it failed to achieve.
Like many of the games on this list, Dishonored's playtime depends heavily on each player's playstyle and goals; many if not all of Dishonored's levels have a high amount of variables with multiple approaches, and that's on top of the player's ability, equipment, and moral choices. Despite this, experienced gamers should be able to beat the game in 10 hours or less if they focus on completing the main story.
For Fans Of:
- Stealth
- Immersive Sims
- Steampunk
3 Halo 2
Back when a solid, narrative campaign was a focus for AAA studios, the Halo franchise was the poster child for Microsoft's Xbox, and for good reason. Halo 2 not only provides arcade FPS action, but a story bristling with unique, icon characters. Furthermore, the game also features split-screen coop, which some newer AAA games are beginning to forgo entirely, such as Warhammer 40,000: Dark Tide, which likely sacrificed local coop as a result of its online-only format.
Although fans of the Halo franchise often contend over which game is the best, Halo 2's campaign arguably provides the most mission variety while still maintaining a streamlined yet satisfying playtime. Players can expect to beat the game in around 9-10 hours, depending on the difficulty setting.
For Fans of:
- First-Person Shooters
- Sci-Fi
- Co-Operative Campaigns
2 LEGO: The Lord Of The Rings
Despite boasting an impressive and engaging open world full of secrets and collectibles, LEGO: The Lord of the Rings follows the same structure as its source material; when followed, the main story will take most players around 10 hours to complete. Although the game follows much of the LEGO game formula, the open world of LEGO: The Lord of the Rings and its faithfulness to the films make it a truly unique experience.
Best of all, the game can be continued after completion, meaning that players can always dip back in to hunt for collectibles after beating the game.
For Fans Of:
- LEGO Games
- The Lord of the Rings
- Action-Adventure
1 Telltale's: The Walking Dead (Season One)
Each episode of Telltale's: The Walking Dead varies in both length and difficulty (where the challenge lies in the various puzzles and the making of tough decisions), but decisive players with point-and-click adventure experience should find the game a breeze; each episode flies by with its brisk pacing, heartfelt narrative, and variety of environment and characters.
Due to its episodic structure, the game can also be enjoyed a little piece at a time, and it's possible to play through an entire episode in one sitting quite comfortably.
For Fans Of:
- Point & Click Adventure
- Story-Rich Games
- The Walking Dead
