10 Longest Video Games to Beat and Average Playtime Hours

matth816

Oct 4

4 min read

Some games are weekend projects. Others feel like a second hobby. This list ranks story-driven games and RPGs by typical average playtime to finish the main campaign, not full 100% completion. Completionist runs can double, triple, or wildly exceed these numbers.

Playtime varies by skill, difficulty, side quests, and how much wandering a player enjoys, but these are fair averages for the longest video games most players can actually “beat.”

Wide-angle view of a cozy gaming setup with a controller and a fantasy game on screen — Huge games are easier to enjoy when you know what kind of time you are signing up for.

1. The Longing

Average playtime: 400 hours

The Longing is in a class of its own because the game is built around waiting. The story unfolds across 400 real-time days, though players can shorten parts of the experience by exploring and solving puzzles.

It is less about action and more about patience, loneliness, and curiosity. For players looking for the longest time to beat games, this one is the obvious outlier.

2. Persona 5 Royal

Average playtime: 100 to 120 hours

Persona 5 Royal mixes turn-based combat, social simulation, dungeon crawling, and a long, character-heavy story. Even a focused run takes a long time because the calendar system moves day by day.

The best tip is simple: do not rush it. The relationships, school life, and side stories are a huge part of why the game works.

3. Dragon Quest VII

Average playtime: 75 to 100 hours

Dragon Quest VII is famous for its slow build and massive quest. The adventure spans many islands, timelines, towns, and party changes.

It is a traditional JRPG, so much of the time comes from battles, exploration, and story scenes. Players who enjoy classic role-playing structure will get a lot out of it.

Close-up view of hands holding a controller during a long role-playing game session — Long RPGs often reward players who settle in and take their time.

4. Xenoblade Chronicles 3

Average playtime: 60 to 90 hours

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is a huge sci-fi fantasy RPG with large zones, layered combat, and many optional hero quests. A direct story run is long, but the side content is hard to ignore.

The game is best played with breaks. Its systems keep expanding, so shorter sessions can make the combat easier to understand.

5. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

Average playtime: 60 to 90 hours

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is one of the biggest entries in the series. The main story sends players across several regions, each with its own arc.

The average user spends dozens of hours raiding, building settlements, hunting gear, and clearing map icons. A completionist run can stretch far beyond the main campaign.

6. Elden Ring

Average playtime: 55 to 80 hours

Elden Ring can be shorter for expert players, but most first-time players spend a long time exploring, dying, learning, and trying new builds.

The open world encourages curiosity. A cave, castle, or strange enemy can pull a player away from the main path for hours. That freedom is the point.

Eye-level view of a controller beside a notebook filled with quest notes — Big open-world games can turn into personal checklists of bosses, builds, and discoveries.

7. Red Dead Redemption 2

Average playtime: 50 to 80 hours

Red Dead Redemption 2 is long because it wants players to live inside its world. The story moves at a deliberate pace, with hunting, travel, camp life, and random encounters adding to the experience.

Players who stick to missions can finish faster. Players who role-play as an outlaw in the wilderness will spend much longer.

8. The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt

Average playtime: 50 to 70 hours

The Witcher 3 has a long main quest, but its side quests are the real time sink. Many of them feel as detailed as main story missions.

The average playtime rises quickly if expansions are included. With Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, the full experience can easily pass 100 hours.

9. Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age

Average playtime: 40 to 65 hours

Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age combines a political fantasy story with wide zones, hunts, and a programmable combat system called Gambits.

A focused player can move through the plot at a steady pace. Anyone chasing hunts, rare enemies, and optional bosses should expect a much longer run.

10. Cyberpunk 2077

Average playtime: 25 to 60 hours

Cyberpunk 2077 can be surprisingly flexible. A player who focuses on the main story can finish in a modest amount of time, but many players spend far longer on gigs, side jobs, builds, and exploration.

The city is dense, so the average playtime depends heavily on how much side content feels essential.

Overhead view of a game controller, headphones, and a paused open-world map on a TV — The longest games usually come down to how much optional content a player chooses to chase.

The top pick for sheer length

If the question is pure time, The Longing wins by a huge margin at about 400 hours. If the question is the best long traditional game, Persona 5 Royal is the standout. It offers a full story, memorable characters, and enough structure to make its huge runtime feel intentional.

For most players, the sweet spot is not just picking the longest game. It is choosing a world that still feels exciting after 50, 80, or even 100 hours.