Short but sweet: Games for busy gamers

Says it on the tin. I'll use howlongtobeat.com to check the length of the games. Recommendations are welcome.

The actual length for qualification may vary. Around 5 hours max is optimal (I'll allow longer if you really love a game), but I'll allow longer for genres like RPGs. Being easy will also help because it means progress can be made quicker. Ordered by shortest to longest.

Underrepresented Genres:
-Castleroid
-Strategy/Tactical RPG
-Racing

15 Minutes

Recommended by @BlazingWaters

Tet

15-25 minutes according to @BlazingWaters
1800 Seconds

@PunnyPeace told me to put it here.
37 Minutes

Genre: 3D Platformer

I think this game sucks but @DeemonAndGames suggested it so I ended up putting it here.
56 Minutes

Genre: Beat Em Up
39 Minutes

Thank @Lot0 for this one.
1 Hour

Nominated by @AlphaOne2
1 Hour

Suggested by @Conman
1 Hour

Suggested by @Loto
1 Hour

On-Rails Shooter

May need a few replays to get the best experience, but still short.
1.5 Hours

Recommended by @BlazingWaters
1.5 Hours

Recommended by @BlazingWaters
1.5 Hours

Genre: 3D Platformer
1.5 Hours.

Genre: Beat Em Up/RPG

Suggested by @Weatherby
1.5 Hours

Genre: Gallery Shooter
1.5 Hours

Recommended by @Naduriense
1.5 Hours

Genre: Rhythm Game

@Drax recommended it.
2 Hours

Suggested by @pinkadot89
2 Hours

Genre: 3D Platformer
2 Hours

Genre: Run n' Gun
2 Hours

Genre: 3D Platformer
2 Hours

Genre: Action Platformer
2 Hours

Recommended by @BlazingWaters
2 Hours

Genre: 2D Platformer
2 Hours

Genre: 2D Platformer

Suggested by Weatherby

(Note that 2 and 3 are also short).
2 Hours

Genre: 2D Platformer
2 Hours according to @AlphaOne2
2 Hours

Genre: Walking Sim/Story-focused

Suggested by @Naduriense
2 Hours

Genre: 3D Platformer
2 Hours

Genre: Action Platformer

I hate the NES version of this game but @Lot0 said the GameBoy version was far superior.
Genre: Arcade-Style Mecha

2 Hours

Suggested by @DoubleSergio
Genre: Action Platformer

2 Hours

Rez

2 Hours

Recommended by @Drax
2 Hours

Genre: Take a guess

Suggested by @Fauxscerf
2 Hours

Genre: Adventure

Recommended by @Penumbra
2 Hours

Genre: On Rails/Gallery Shooter
2 Hours

Suggested by @cowboyjosh
2.5 Hours

Genre: 3D Platformer
2.5 Hours

Genre: Action Platformer
2.5 Hours

Genre: Action Platformer
2.5 Hours

@Lot0 said one could use the password ILOVEU for a level select, so keep that in mind.
Genre: Flying Combat sim

2.5 Hours

Recommended by @DoubleSergio
2.5 Hours

Suggested by @Naduriense
2.5 Hours

Suggested by @Naduriense
2.5 Hours.

Genre: Beat Em Up

Has Multiple endings, but most are satisfying enough.
2.5 Hours

Suggested by @pinkadot89
3 Hours

Genre: Stealth

@Drax recommended this one
3 Hours
Genre: Puzzle (?)

3 Hours
3 Hours

Suggested by @Drax
180 Minutes

Recommended by @Drax
3 Hours

Thank @Drax for this one
3 Hours

Recommended by @pinkadot89
3 Hours
3 Hours

Suggested by @Penumbra
3 Hours
3 Hours

Genre: Beat Em Up
210 Minutes

Props to @Schmliff0 for this one
3.5 Hours

Genre: Run n' Gun
3.5 Hours

Suggested by @Naduriense
3.5 Hours

Genre: Action Platformer
3.5 Hours

Suggested by @Naduriense
3.5 Hours

Genre: JRPG/Walking Sim

Suggested by @Lot0
3.5 Hours

Suggested by @cowboyjosh
3.5 Hours

Suggested by @pinkadot89
4 Hours

Genre: Action Platformer
4 Hours

@pinkadot89 suggested this.
Genre: 2D Platformers

4 Hours

(Note that the sequel is also short and is great).
4 Hours

Haven't played this one yet but I heard it's good and I thought we could use some rhythm rep.
4 Hours

Yet another suggested by @pinkadot89
4 Hours

Genre: Rhythm

@Drax told me to put it here so he's cool I guess.
4 Hours

Genre: Boxing? Puzzle Action? IDK...
4.5 Hours

Proposed by @AlphaOne2
4.5 Hours

Genre: 2.5D
4.5 Hours

Suggested by @pinkadot89
4.5 Hours

Recommended by @pinkadot89
4.5 Hours

Genre: Arcade Style?
Genre: Puzzle

4.5 Hours
4.5 Hours

Put forward by @Kago
4.5 Hours

Genre: 2D Action/Stealth

Warning: Leaves on a cliffhanger.
5 Hours.

Genre: 2D Platformer

Can be beaten much quicker as well. Also, this game's predecessor, Super Mario Bros 3, is also short
Genre: 3D Platformer, Sociopolitical Thriller

5 Hours
5 Hours

I will take every chance to recommend this game it is the best Indie 3D Platformer PLAY IT!!!!!
5 Hours

Genre: 2D Platformer

(Note that Wario Land 4 is also rather short and is an excellent game)
Genre: Racing

5 Hours
5 Hours

Genre: Castleroid
5 Hours

Genre: First-Person Shooter
5 Hours

Genre: Rhythm Action Platformer (No, I'm not kidding)
5 Hours

You're not gonna believe this: @Drax suggested this one.
300 Minutes

Suggested by @Penumbra
5 Hours

@Schmliff0 Recommended this one
5 Hours

Suggested by @AlphaOne2, Who says it's not super great.
5.5 Hours

Genre: Pinball Castleroid
Genre: 3D Castleroid

5 Hours.
5 Hours

Genre: First Person Shooter

Nominated by @AlphaOne2
6 Hours

A little long, but I wanted a bit more Rhythm Rep. @Drax is responsible for it being here.
6 Hours

Recommended by @Naduriense
6 Hours

Suggested by @Naduriense
7 Hours

I'll add it in because there's not many Survival Horror games here (LOL). Thank @NOWITSREYNTIME17 for this one.
7 Hours

One should probably do at least 2 playthroughs, so a little longer, but still rather short for most RPGs.

40 Comments


10 months ago

The Bouncer has like, maybe an hour's worth of cutscenes and 45 minutes of gamelpay.

10 months ago

Sonic games would be good, too. 1 and 2 are maybe an hour and a half on the long end of things, Sonic 3 & Knuckles is maybe 3 hours, same with Mania. CD is pretty short too.

10 months ago

@Weatherby I heard that game isn't good but I'll put it on anyway.

10 months ago

@DeltaWDunn Some would say the physics are at least Very Funny

10 months ago

According to my Xbox profile I beat Donut County in 104 minutes. Mondo chill Katamari-like.

I'm told the playtime on Ravenlok is extremely short as well (especially for what could generously be described as an RPG), but I dunno it just keeps throwing quests at me.

Great list!

10 months ago

@Weatherby Idk how I forgot about Sanic. I'll add the original trilogy because they're each distinctive enough from each other.

10 months ago

@cowboyjosh Thanks pal. I added your suggestions.

10 months ago

Wiz n Liz & Blind Drive - takes about 2 hours to finish both of these

Metal Storm - a little under an hour if you quickly get used to the levels, perhaps two if not

Tet & Samorost 1 - 15-25 minutes each

10 months ago

@BlazingWaters I've been meaning to check out Metal Storm. Also, I'm gonna take your word on Tet because howlongtobeat.com doesn't have it.

10 months ago

I'm not surprised Tet isn't on HLTB since it's still very lowkey in terms of release notability, but you can check w/ every review on its page and they'll also mention it has a super short length!

10 months ago

@BlazingWaters After a peer reviewed study I have verified that the game Tet is indeed short.

10 months ago

Fatum Betula, one of my favorites. Takes anywhere from 1 to 2.5 hours

10 months ago

my genuine recommendation since it's at the forefront of my mind is for 24 Killers, available on steam! while the overall playtime is lengthier than most on the list, the day-by-day gameplay and completion structure encourages an easygoing pick up and play experience that works really well for jumping on after a long work shift :)

i also second conman's Fatum Betula recommendation for the moodier gamer

10 months ago

Hotline Miami takes about 4-5 hours, but I'm pretty sure I've ran through it in less time

10 months ago

Since you're looking for JRPGs, I'll throw in a rec for Parasite Eve; most people should be able to beat the main story in under 10 hours.

10 months ago

Untitled Goose Game ~4 hours
Concrete Genie ~6 hours
Abzû ~3 hours

10 months ago

Boomerang X ~ 2 Hours
Cultic ~ 4 Hours
Gunman Clive ~ 1.5 Hours (Add half an hour for additional characters)
Kero Blaster ~5.5 Hours (2.5 Hours for normal ending)
Quake ~ 5.5 Hours (Base Game)
Raji: An Ancient Epic ~ 4.5 Hours (Not a huge recommendation, but not many have played it in general)

10 months ago

Just noticed the Toree games aren't here and they fit perfectly! Super short but fun games, especially the secong one, they both take not longer than an hour but they are worth it!

10 months ago

Luigis Mansion 1 is pretty short (and also awesome) coming in at 7 hours at most if going for 100%

10 months ago

@Conman Added.

@01156 This one seems neat. Apparently it's inspired by moon so I might check it out.

@Kago Added. I should probably play Hotline Miami soon.

@Drax Thanks for that JRPG Rep. I played a bit of Parasite Eve 2 but I haven't played the first one yet.

@Penumbra Added.

@AlphaOne2 All of those added.

@DeemonAndGames I'm not adding Toree 3D because I thought it sucked but I'll add Toree 2 since it's a great game as far as I know.

@NOWITSREYNTIME17 Added. It's a little long but I'll make an exception in this case.

10 months ago

I completely blocked The Bouncer out of my mind.

10 months ago

You should add Persona 5 Royal

10 months ago

@Schmliff0 Yah I'll add Dragon Quest VII too.

10 months ago

Furi and Inside are good for indie games. They took like 3 and 5 hours respectively. Undertale is only 7 hours.

10 months ago

Fostering Apocalypse (1 hour)

10 months ago

For shorter Rhythm games, Gitaroo Man, Rhythm Heaven, and Space Channel 5 come to mind. I'll also recommend Rez as a "musical rail shooter" which took me less than 2 hours to beat

10 months ago

@Schmliff0 Added them. Undertale is a little long especially considering the game works best when replaying it but I'll allow it because it's an RPG.

@PunnyPeace Added.

@Drax you keep coming with the goods my guy. Added all.

10 months ago

No problem, got you covered.

For short stealth games, try looking into Timelie or Gunpoint. For short horror games, Detention, Devotion, and the original Clock Tower should do the trick.

10 months ago

Ridge Racer Type-4. Two hours for a single Grand Prix and you get the whole experience.

10 months ago

Ristar - Use the Password ILOVEU to select any level. It helps to not start again.
Emily is Away - Around 1 hour
Ihatovo Monogatari - Is it a JRPG? A walking sim? It's around 5/5:30 hours I'd say.
Three Fourths Home - Depends on how fast you read, but less than an hour. Replayable.
Kid Dracula (GB) - Fun platformer. I'd say like 3/3:30 hours...


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