As expected, the time it takes to complete a video game will vary. Certain genres often attract short games, while others are more likely to contain longer titles. Who made the game is also a factor. While fans would expect some quirky indie games or DLC packs to be short, some larger titles have also been ridiculously limited in length.
TheHow Long To Beatwebsite can be used to uncover some of the shortest games available and how long they take to complete. The website shows the time taken to complete the main story, main story plus extras, and to take the completionist route. It also offers an “all styles” average, which is the figure that will be used here. The data is based on players' submissions so more popular games are often more accurate. These PC games will take less than five hours to complete.
Updated July 12, 2025 by Ritwik Mitra:Not all games need to be 100-hour epics that players will get hooked on for months at a time. Sometimes, players appreciate games that can be completed in a few hours with little to no issues.
Short games don’t necessarily need to be bad experiences — in fact, games that respect a player’s time and allow for a tight gameplay loop that can be completed effortlessly end up being rewarding and engaging titles that gamers will remember long after they’re finished with the experience, regardless of how short their time with the title may be. The following games personify this notion and then some!
20I Love You, Colonel Sanders! A Finger Lickin’ Good Dating Simulator (1.5 Hours)
I love you, Colonel Sanders!is one of the shortest and also the most surreal games of 2019. Developed by Psyop and published by KFC, the dating simulator was created as a promotional tool for the fast food restaurant. It also aimed to cash in on the rising popularity of terrible dating simulator games by putting its mascot in the spotlight.
The game mimics popular anime-style dating simulators and it does it perfectly, creating a humorous and ridiculous game that has gained a vast number of positive reviews, despite its very short playtime of just90 minutes.
19Gone Home (2 Hours)
Gone Homeis a story-driven exploration game that sees the protagonist return home after a year abroad to discover that the house is empty and the family is nowhere to be found. Players will need to figure out what happened by exploring their family home and searching for clues.
The game focusesentirely on explorationwith no puzzles or combat to distract from the story. As fans discover personal possessions still around the house they’ll be able to put together an immersive and personal story in acouple of hoursthat’s time well spent.
18Jumanji: The Video Game (2 Hours)
This action-adventure game is very limited, despite the big-name franchise behind it. It contains just four levels and no real story. The length is just one of the reasons why the title has received such bad reviews, but it isn’t the only one.
Designed for multiplayer, yet lacking online matchmaking,Jumanji: The Video gameis a short and not-so-sweet battle game that has great potential that it doesn’t even come close to fulfilling.
The main story, such as it is, will take only90 minutesto complete. There is a completionist version ranked at six hours but this likely involves kitting out every single character to the max as the levels themselves are very, very short.
17Journey (2 Hours)
The beautifulJourneyis an adventure game that, while short, is wonderfully and uniquely executed. Players control a robed adventurer who must journey through the desert. Along the way, they’ll meet other anonymous adventurers. Players can help each other but they cannot communicate with words.
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The game can be completed within acouple of hoursbut is well worth the experience. It includes astunning soundtrackand beautiful visuals. Sometimes a small game can be perfectly executed andJourneyis a great example, having picked up several game of the year awards.
16Gorogoa (2 Hours)
Gorogoais one of the most beautiful and unique puzzle games to come out in quite some time. The idea of moving frames around and zooming in and out to align certain storyboards makes for a surprisingly engaging gameplay loop.
It’s unfortunate thatthe game is so short, butGorogoadoesn’t overstay its welcome at all. It gives players the opportunity to engage with its unique mechanics at length before ending on a high.
15Abzu (2 Hours)
Fans ofJourneywill have a great time exploring the vast depths of the ocean inAbzu. The game is a simple exploration title where the world itself tells a story during its short yet engaging runtime.
There’s no denying thatAbzuis a beautiful game, with its vast oceanic landscape instilling a sense of peace in players as they explore each andevery corner of these depths. It’s ashort experience, but an extremely memorable and rewarding one.
14A Short Hike (2 Hours)
Solo developers have managed to make a name for themselves in modern times since the indie scene in gaming has exploded. One solitary developer decided to spearhead the development of a simple yet engaging game calledA Short Hike.
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The game features a simple gameplay loop coupled with a fun world that is packed with interesting characters. The game is all about reaching the summit of a mountain to get cellphone reception, so it’s a testament to the skill of the developer that such a simple premise allowed for a brilliant game that fans ofshort and sweet experiencesshould check out.
13The Novelist (2.5 Hours)
The Novelistputs players in control of influencing a family containing a novelist. Fans can play in a straight storytelling mode or instealth mode, where they gain information by sneaking around the house and can influence the family, as long as they aren’t discovered.
Information comes out as the story progresses and one’s choices or actions will steer the storyline as the game progresses, giving it a slightly unique take on a choose-your-own adventure-type game.
This is another great example of a quirky game that, while short, is engaging and interesting to play. The reviews were mixed but for many, the game is worth the2.5 hoursit will take fans to complete it.
12The Stanley Parable (2.5 Hours)
The Stanley Parableis aninteractive walking simulatorthat was originally aHalf-Life 2mod. Players are tasked with exploring the environment around them as a narrator attempts to guide their journey. Players can then choose to either obey or disobey the narrative they are given.
Choices made will split the story into a huge amount of different directions, based on player choices. There are around ten endings and after each one, the game is reset. Fans can experience them all in around2.5 hours.
11Among The Sleep (2.5 Hours)
Indie titleAmong The Sleepis an engaging and pretty terrifying first-personsurvival action-adventure game. Players take on the role of a toddler, accompanied by a creepy sentient teddy bear, who must navigate the house to escape the monsters of their dreams and find their mother.
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Fans cannot defeat the monsters but instead must run and hide until they pass by, giving this title plenty of survival horror vibes. There are emotional undertones to the story, showing a sinister side to the child’s household. The engaging game will have players on edge for just2 1/2 hoursbut they’ll feel every minute of it.
