Summary
Some gamers prefer quick, sweet experiences that can be squeezed into a few afternoon sessions after work or a long weekend free from plans. Others, however, prefer to jump in for a long haul, playing through deep stories, learning about mountains of lore, and spending countless hours getting to know a character.
Thankfully, among its long list of cozy games, action RPGs, and strategy titles,Xbox Game Passhas a host of games that can easily keep players busy for countless hours. Though many do this through endless endgame content or the open boundaries of a sandbox world, this list is going to focus on some of thelongest experiences on Game Passbased on the average time it takes to complete their main story.
Spending time exploring the rolling, mutant-infested hills of Appalachia is endlessly addictive, especially when paired with a fitting soundtrack.Fallout 76is full ofthings to lootand side quests to complete, and though the main story takes on average just under 35 hours, there is what feels like an endless number of things to do once it’s done or throughout the process.
Unlike previousFallouttitles, players aren’t alone in this wasteland, so find some friends, search for nuclear codes, and reap the rewards through hours of playable content that will only get longer as Bethesda continues to update the game.
The farming format featured in many cozy games makes for a long experience on its own, endlessly driving players to grow more crops and search for the highest value seeds. InRune Factory 4 Special,that addictive farming loop is paired with dungeon exploration, relationship building, and an encyclopedia of different recipes to discover and craft that help drive character progression, and by association, completion time.
More so than other titles on this list, the main story can be extended out as long as players want, based on the actions they decide to focus on and the tasks they decide to complete. A crit path of the game’s campaign won’t provide as many hours of playtime as a playthrough where players take a moment or two and really explore what the game has to offer.
Narrative seekers look no further! Not only isTales of Arisea lengthy experience full of fast-paced, combo-based action combat, but it features one of the most compelling and well-told stories on this list.
TheTalesseries boastsover 15 titles, withTales of Arisebeing the most recent entry. Of course, having played the other games offers an additional layer of context, but it’s in no way required.Tales of Arisedoes plenty to explain what’s going on for players new to the series. The semi-open world is massive and full of arena-style fights, and there are plenty of combat options to play around with. Just prepare for a lot of dialogue, especially in the opening hours.
A real-time strategy title for and from the history books,Age of Empires 2: Definitive Editiondoubles as an addictive game and a collection of history classes mashed together into one satisfying experience. The campaigns take place across a handful of different civilizations and each features scenarios based on historical events. Even on a lower difficulty, some of these scenarios canprovide a real strategic challenge.
Thanks to an in-game map editor, the opportunity for new scenarios is endless, and just because players finish all the campaign scenarios doesn’t mean the experience is anywhere close to being over.
A surprisingly lengthy title,Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witchis a great place to look for players interested in creature collecting, anime, or charming stories. Featuring a host of creatures to collect, tame, and use in battle, this Studio Ghibli-inspired action RPG has an immense amount of completion work to be done for those willing to take on the task.
The game takes place mostly on an overworld-style map, with combat happening in arena battles, making exploration not particularly immersive, but extremely rewarding. The main story is quite lengthy, with an extremely engaging narrative, and the game remains fun well after the credits roll.
Long known as the formidable stomping grounds for some of the best brawler combat in gaming,Yakuza: Like a Dragontook a drastic, yet incredibly enjoyable, turn on the series, taking it down the path of turn-based RPGs. For the over 40-hour campaign, the combat remains incredibly engaging as the developers decided to keep some hallmarks of theYakuzaseries present, such as the ability to interact with the environment mid-battle in interesting ways.
Many lengthy gaming experiences draw out the list of available activities by introducing simple, copy-paste style side quests and activities. TheYakuzaseries, however, takes side quests very seriously, designating them as subplots and giving each a decent amount of depth worth experiencing.
All the titles in theDragon Ageseries are long enough to land them on this list, butDragon Age: Inquisitionis the most extensive. As is tradition for BioWare titles, choices are impactful and play out dramatically through players' relationships with NPCs.
Though on its own the main story takes nearly 50 hours to complete, the long list of side quests available shouldn’t be ignored. Each features its own interesting narrative arc, ranging from an endearing insight into a character’s pastto a dark truthabout a faithful party member.
It’s not every day that high school students take it upon themselves to battle monsters as an extracurricular activity, but such is the case inPersona 3 Reload. A remake of the originalPersona 3released in 2006,Reloadbrings a complete graphical overhaul with additional improvements introduced in newer titles of the series. ThePersonafranchise is close to a genre in itself, relying on a heavy focus on both classic RPG combat andcozy relationship building.
Persona 3 Reloadputs a heavy focus on the story, and though there isn’t a mountain of additional content post game, the main questline is long enough that players can expect a good 60 hours or more of play time.
Classic RPG fans rejoice. AlthoughPillars of Eternity 2: Deadfirestrays from the classic systems of turn-based combat, its roots are deeply entwined with the likes ofBaldur’s GateandIcewind Dale. There is no shortage of choices to make, characters to meet, or builds to explore, and thankfully, a well-written narrative wraps all these features up in a nice bow.
Different choices inPillars of Eternity2mean different stories, and a long list of class choices ranging from transforming druidsto powerful magesmakes experiencing the different story outcomes fresh and unique. For players looking for replayability, there is a lot to find here.
The sheer scale of the map inAssassin’s Creed Valhallais impressive on its own. Add in the long list of activities, hidden secrets, and quests to complete, and it quickly rises to the top of the charts in terms of overall length. Its campaign alone typically extends beyond the 60-hour mark.
Valhalla, like the twoAssassin’s Creedtitles before it, puts a very different spinon the series. Even though the debate over whether that’s a good or bad thing is endless, there is no doubt that players looking for a lengthy experience will find one here.
