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


11 months ago

Nice list, really love the idea. Here are some of my suggestions:

—Superliminal (2h)
—Superhot (2h)
—Monument Valley (2h) / Monument Valley 2 (2h)
—Unpacking (3h)
—Little Nightmares (3h) / Little Nightmares 2 (4h)
—The Stanley Parable Ultra Deluxe (4h)
—Mirror's Edge (6h)
—Mutazione (6h)

11 months ago

@Drax My previous statement was meant to be declarative instead of imperative, but thanks for the games regardless.

@Fauxscerf Added

@Lot0 Added all. I'm not huge on Kid Dracula but I added it anyway and simply expressed my opinion in the note.

@Naduriense Added most. I left out the two sequels because they seem pretty dependent/similar on the original. If you can confirm that's not the case I'll add them.

11 months ago

@DeltaWDunn You're welcome! Seems like I was a bit off with some game lengths, hahah...
btw, Kid Dracula GB >>>>>> Kid Dracula Famicom

11 months ago

I'm making a few adjustments:

-If I don't like a suggested game I'll just put in the notes that I personally don't like it.

-If a sequel is very similar/requires playing the original, I won't put it. I think Castlevania III is one of the best NES games, but it's fairly derivative of the first game. If someone likes the first one, I'm sure they can decide to play III without this list.

If you suggest something over 5 Hours, it should be something you really like or an RPG, which are traditionally much longer.

To everyone, thank you for your contributions. I'm going to be doing summer classes along with work soon, so I'll be sure to play many of these with the spare time I have.

11 months ago

@Lot0 That's interesting. I definitely felt crazy because I absolutely despised the NES version when most others seemed to enjoy it. Maybe I got the versions mixed up. I'll note the best version above.

11 months ago

@DeltaWDunn That's fair, still and all i'm glad i could help with the list

9 months ago

Turnip Boy Commits Tax evasion - 2-2.5 hour metroidvania
Sumire - 3 hour adorable walking sim
Luna's Fishing Garden - 3 hours of fishing and fetch quests
Frog Detective The Entire Mystery - 3.5 hours for three point-and-click mysteries
Dordogne - 4.5 hour narrative point-and-click
The Big Con 4.5 hour '90s inspired adventure
Planet of Lana - 5 hour puzzle platformer
Bramble: The Mountain King - took me 6 hours, but that's because I was bad at it, but it's an amazing dark puzzle platformer

9 months ago

@pinkadot89 Thanks for the entries!

9 months ago

Ghost in the Shell and Ace Combat 2, both for PS1 and last less than 2 hours.

9 months ago

@DoubleSergio Didn't know Ace Combat 2 was so short. Definitely gotta play that soon. Anyway, added both.


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