In an age dominated by open-world and live-service projects, streamlined games can make for a refreshing change of pace. As immersive and enjoyable as it can be to drop 100 hours intoPersona 5 Royal,The Witcher 3, or the latestAssassin’s Creed, sometimes nothing hits as hard as a story consumed in a single sitting.
While there are not all that many AAA titles that can be completed in the span of a few hours, the same cannot be said for the indie scene. In fact, some of the greatest independent releases of all time are roughly the length of a movie. What are thebest short games?
Updated on June 18, 2025:In the right situation, there is nothing better than a 100-hour masterpiece that completely immerses players in an expansive universe that seems to hold secrets around every corner. The recently releasedElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreeis probably satisfying that desire for a lot of people, with the expansion garnering near-universal praise. However, sometimes, agreat short gameis more enjoyable. An accessible beat ‘em up game has been added to this discussion.
To qualify, a game’s average “main story” length onHowLongToBeatmust be under 5 hours. Roguelikes will not be considered since repeat playthroughs are the norm, and fighting games will be omitted since they (typically) focus on multiplayer.
Skybound’sBefore Your Eyesuses a unique gameplay gimmick to tell an engaging and moving plot that chronicles a person’s entire life. Using the webcam, players can exercise control through their eyes, with blinking sending the story forward. It is a unique idea that has not been explored all that much by the gaming industry, and it is executed well. Narratively, the game revolves around Benny, a guy who has just died. Asthe afterlife awaits, players are tasked with experiencing Benny’s memories to determine whether he is worthy of a favorable judgment. Starting from childhood, the campaign covers important moments from his life, all the while tackling mature and relatable themes.
Before Your Eyesmight not have the name recognition of a few othershort but sweet games, but it deserves appreciation for thinking outside the box without succumbing to innovation at the expense of player enjoyment. The story is generally great, and it is the perfect length as well. While it is possible to use a mouse instead of a webcam, the game was designed with the latter in mind, and that method should be used whenever possible.
Ground Zeroeswas, essentially, a glorified demo forThe Phantom Pain, albeit framed as a prologue. More than anything, the 2014 release introduced long-time fans to the upcoming entry’s gameplay loop, one that emphasized player freedom and preparation. Revolving primarily around one map, players must complete a series of missions, with each one encouraging creative thought and different solutions.The Phantom Painwould build nicely onGround Zeroes’ free-flowing nature, delivering by far the best gameplay in theMetal Gear Solidfranchise.
Nowadays, there is very little reason to revisit this prologue, relegatingGround Zeroesto a footnote in the license’s history. Nevertheless, this release was a big deal when it originally came out and did its job of building up momentum for its successor.
On paper, a game that lasts roughly an hour being free-to-play sounds about right; however,Sheepy: A Short Adventureoozes so much quality that it could have easily gotten away with charging a bit of money. As it currently stands, this short but sweet title sits among Steam’smost memorable freebies, particularly when talking about single-player projects that are meant to be completed in a solitary sitting. Utilizing a clean and atmospheric graphical style reminiscent of theOrifranchise,Sheepyfollows the eponymous toy as it explores a fallen world that has seen far better days.
Considering its extremely brisk length, this campaign feels surprisingly complete. Players unlock a few abilities, the stages have some collectibles, and the story even incorporates a couple of boss fights. While not necessarily unique to the platformer genre,Sheepyexecutes the basics extremely well, delivering an experience that is compact and satisfying.
Those looking for a great puzzle game without exceptional length should check outThe Room Trilogy. Each of these titles can be completed relatively quickly, though the amount that a player spends in these adventures is directly related to how long it takes them to solve the puzzles (and some of them are pretty intense).
Each ofThe Roomgames is meticulously crafted with beautiful visuals and an incredible atmosphere, giving players a calm yet creepy space to solve some pretty intense mind-bending puzzles. There’s an underlying story as well, for those seeking something a bit narrative-driven.
A remake of a PS2 classic,Katamari Damacy Rerollis just a good time. The right type of absurd, the story follows the Prince as he travels across the universe to collect enough items to create the moons and stars, a result ofhis father, the King of All Cosmos, destroying them. The gameplay revolves around rolling huge balls, with the scale expanding as the campaign progresses. While the core concept is bizarre,Katamari Damacy Reroll’s gameplay is accessible and immediately understandable, and it is simply gratifying to gradually roll up gigantic makeshift balls.
A playthrough that focuses on the main story will not take very long to complete, butKatamari Damacy Rerollis quite replayable as levels can be revisited to achieve a better score. Provided the loop hits the mark with someone, they might find themselves returning to this title endlessly.
Strictly speaking, mostbeat ‘em up arcade-style gamesare under 5 hours; however, the genre’s classics tend to be extremely difficult and will likely require way more time to master. Basically, these games pack a considerable punch, and they extend their mileage by maintaining a high level of difficulty. This is a byproduct of the arcade age, an era that brought the best (and worst) out of the beat ‘em up genre. Nowadays, these sorts of releases are not all that common, and when they do appear, they are usually throwbacks to yesteryear.
Streets of Rageis probably the most famous beat ‘em up franchise of all time, and the ’90s trilogy is still great by most metrics. Consequently,Streets of Rage 4needed to carry a heavy legacy as it tried to honor the past while bringing the license into the present. For the most part, the sequel achieved its goal by successfully expanding on theStreets of Rageformula in a way that preserved the franchise’s lineage.
Streets of Rage 2or3could have made the grade as well, so the fourth entry serves as a representative for the franchise as a whole.
Compared to modernAssassin’s Creedgames, Ubisoft’sFar Cryprojects do not tend to be discouragingly long. Most campaigns can be completed in roughly 20 hours, which is a fairly accessible length for open-world releases. While they might not be endless by the genre’s standards, they are still not short and cannot be completed within 5 hours, secret endings notwithstanding. The only exception isFar Cry 3: Blood Dragon, a standalone expansionthat can be played and enjoyed without prior knowledge of the main game.
Parodying ’80s action movies,Blood Dragoncasts players as a commando who is on a mission to stop a disgruntled agent with a sinister plan fit to carry a two-part episode in a Saturday Morning Cartoon. Obviously, saving the day involves blowing everything up, something the game excels at.Blood Dragonfeatures open areas that grant players the freedom to approach missions how they see fit, mimicking the open-world nature of the mainline entries.
Grisis a beautiful game about grief and healing, with the story chronicling a girl’s trying journey as she tries to bring color back into her life. An art project born in a post-Journeyworld, this short indie title oozes charm, personality, and creativity. Narratively,Griscan be quite subtle, at least in its opening hour or so, and it is mainly seeking to elicit an emotional and visceral response through its visuals.
Due to a past trauma, Gris’ world is not only in disarray but also in black and white, and the recovery process is represented through a steady introduction of colors. This creative decision perfectly complements the story, creating a holistic experience in the process. Gameplay-wise,Grisis quite straightforward, although it is never boring either.
From his watchtower, Henry gazes across a national forest, a place that radiates beauty and loneliness in equal measure. Hired to serve as a lookout and to ensure nothing terrible happens to the woods, Henry’s life becomes complicated when a few teenage girls show up and, eventually, disappear.
While it might have fairly simplistic exploration-based gameplay and just two main characters, Henry and his boss,Firewatchmakes up for it with a well-written storyand an immersive atmosphere. Players are allowed to shape Henry’s future through the choices they make and their interactions with Delilah, creating a personal experience that lingers in the mind long after the credits roll.
The virtual reality scene is filled with bite-sized experiences designed to keep someone entertained for short bursts rather than extensive marathons. Most of these releases are one-and-done affairs, but some of the best VR titles manage to be short and replayable.Pistol Whipis one of those games.
A first-person shooter with a rhythm backbone, Cloudhead’s game feels like a natural progression of arcade light gun shooters, and it is a perfect fit for VR. Players are guided through a series of corridors as they must shoot everyone that stands in their way while avoiding bullets. Simple but fun.
