Sega has been a major player in the games industry for years. Of course, they aren't the powerhouse they were in the 90's, but they still hold clout. Their franchises remain some of the most iconic, and their brand is only growing in value. With Sonic, Yakuza, Phantasy Star, and many other names, on their own they have might. Now, thanks to studio acquisitions, Sega has even more influence than before.
Sega's games range across different genres. This means that a Sega game ranges highly in playtime. Yakuza may take a quite a while to finish, but the average Sonic game can be beaten in an afternoon. For the average playtime across all playstyles, the list is mostly predictable, but there are some shocking entries. Unfortunately, Atlus titles are excluded from this list. However, for those curious, every single Persona game after Eternal Punishment would've been on this list otherwise.
10 Valkyria Chronicles 4 (49h 40m)
Sega has multiple series of turn-based tactics titles under their umbrella. One of those is Valkyria Chronicles, a series of tactics games that's more reminiscent of X-COM than Fire Emblem. The series takes different time periods, but focuses on warfare from around the era of World War I and II. Valkyria Chronicles 4 is the latest entry in the series.
VC4 brings the series back to home consoles and is considered by fans to be a return to form. In terms of length, however, it's on the shorter end. The game averages a playtime of 49 hours and 40 minutes. However, completionists get the good end of the deal, as the numerous optional missions and trials will provide the extra challenge fans crave.
9 Yakuza 5 (60h 22m)
The Yakuza series has hit it big in the West recently. Although the series was relatively niche, its accessibility across multiple platforms makes it ideal for any game player. Considering Xbox Game Pass holds a majority of the games in its library, it's easier than ever to get started. Yakuza 5 is one of those titles, and it's a long one. On average, players took 60 hours and 22 minutes to finish the game.
Yakuza, as a series, is focused on the crazy world of its characters and all the interconnected substories. Yakuza 5 features (appropriately) five different protagonists in a story that spans five different cities. Each protagonist gets their own set of extensive sub-plots, minigames, and sidequests. It's an all-encompassing title, and it's not a surprise that it takes so long to clear.
8 Yakuza 0 (61h 19m)
Another title currently available on Game Pass, Yakuza 0 gives the origin story of its series's iconic characters. Set in 80's Tokyo and Osaka, the game features all of the distractions of the era intertwined with the chaos of organized crime. It's all the Yakuza goodness fans come to expect, and serves as a good jumping-in point for new players.
It also has quite a bit of meat on its bones. Yakuza 0 clocks in 61 hours and 19 minutes averaged, which is still not a surprise. Considering how many insane substories the game brings to the table, there's always something to do. It's exciting just to explore Tokyo and see what it has to offer. Plus, it's still satisfying to smack people upside the head with a bicycle as it always is.
7 Valkyria Chronicles 2 (63h 28m)
Valkyria Chronicles 2 was the first title in the series released on a handheld, the PlayStation Portable. The console ended up being a great platform for longer RPG's, as portability is shown to be a plus for these games. Although Valkyria is a strategy game at its core, the RPG elements are even more prevalent in the sequel than in the original. The game clocks in at 63 hours and 28 minutes.
The sequel sees players controlling a scrappy rebellion army in mid-20th century Europe, similar to other titles. It revamped the battle system and added greater customization to equipment, units, and squad composition. It also added co-op, a popular trait of PSP games. Although some fans felt it missed the mark, there's still a lot of good to experience within the game.
6 Sonic Rivals 2 (64h 30m)
An appearance from Sonic on this list is likely a surprise. Considering the way HowLongToBeat aggregates user data, it might just simply be an oddity of the averages. Despite that, the numbers don't like, and Sonic Rivals 2 makes its way onto the list. Although its main story takes a mere 5 hours to clear, on average players will spend 64 hours and 30 minutes in playtime.
Sonic Rivals 2 is a competitive 2D platforming game, where players will pick their favorite Sonic character and compete in action-packed arena. The game featured more characters, stages, and updated gameplay from the original title. It's unclear how anyone could spend more than 20 hours with this title, but the numbers happen to be in Sonic Rivals's favor.
5 Yakuza: Like a Dragon (68h 49m)
The latest entry in the Yakuza series, Like a Dragon takes a new spin on the established formula by embracing the format of a turn-based RPG. Despite this new twist, it still features all of the quirks of the series fans have come to expect. The RPG-style lends itself even more to sidequests and the absurd substories, so it's appropriate the game clocks in at 68 hours and 49 minutes on average.
Like A Dragon features tropes of both the turn-based RPG genre and the rest of the Yakuza games. A likeable, underdog protagonist and a group of rag-tag party members take Japan by storm, cracking skulls and taking names. It's loaded with charm, and prior knowledge of the series isn't required for entry. It also seems to be the direction the series will go in the future, which is an interesting prospect.
4 Shining Force Neo (73h 46m)
The Shining Force series serves as Sega's answer to Fire Emblem, offering a collection of turn-based tactics titles set in a stylish fantasy world. The Genesis games are some of the finest on the console, even though their age certainly shows. However, Shining as a series goes in different directions, and Shining Force Neo on the PS2 is one of those twists.
Neo showcases a similar narrative to the first title, but abandons the turn-based tactics to instead embrace real-time action. It clocks in at 73 hours and 46 minutes on average, making it the longest game in the Shining Force series. It's possible, however, that the low-number of submissions weighed this game on the longer end. It's regarded as a fairly average game in quality, and might not be worth revisiting.
3 Valkyria Chronicles 3 (75h 57m)
The third entry in the Valkyria series, this game is another PSP entry that embraces the platform to create a more fulfilling experience. The game is improved on the previous title, but wasn't localized in the West due to poor sales of VC2. The game clocks in at 75 hours and 57 minutes on average to beat.
VC3 follows a story that runs parallel to that of the first game, with a small black ops military unit that handled more discrete, dangerous missions. The difficulty of the game was toned back, and it was a more accessibly entry to newer players. It may not be available in the West, but a fan translation makes it possible to experience this game for those that want to see the series all the way through.
2 The Football Manager Series (63h - 611h)
In a series of games most people probably don't associate with Sega, Football Manager is indeed under the Sega umbrella and has been for years. The popular series of sports management simulators with a focus on European football (soccer) contains a lot of depth, and huge campaigns to complete. While some entries are not as extensive as other games on this list, games like Football Manager 2014 clock in at 611 hours on average.
Fans of these titles know what to expect. As a yearly sports franchise, they're fairly consistent in quality, and there's always something to enjoy in the new games. They obviously aren't games for everyone, though. For the people it is for, however, it provides enough content to keep anyone content for some time.
1 Phantasy Star Online 2 (1658h 45m)
Is it fair to include an MMO on the list? While some will argue it's a stretch, Phantasy Star Online 2's focus on adventures and a consistent story indicate it deserves a seat at the table. PSO2 is a free-to-play title that many players are likely already addicted to. Those who love anime MMO's but aren't already playing absolutely should give it a shot.
The number on this game is a formality. As an MMO, it holds as much content as the player is able to squeeze out of it. As long as the developers continue to support the game, there will never be a cap on completion for the title. Those who are bored with other MMO's like Final Fantasy XIV or World of Warcraft may get a fair bit of enjoyment checking this game out.