20 Longest Single Player Games of The LAST 5 YRS.

Why It Matters

Extended playtimes reshape consumer expectations, prompting studios to prioritize content depth while risking player fatigue, and influencing how value is measured in modern single‑player releases.

Key Takeaways

• Modern single-player titles regularly exceed 100‑hour playtimes on average.
• Average completion data sourced from HowLongToBeat provides objective rankings.
• Sandbox and RPG genres dominate the longest‑playtime list.
• Expansions and definitive editions significantly inflate total hours.
• Length often reflects content depth, not necessarily player enjoyment.

Summary

The video ranks the 20 longest single‑player games released in the past five years, using average completion times from the HowLongToBeat database to create an objective leaderboard.

Across the list, many titles push past the 100‑hour mark. Stalker 2 averages 65.5 hours (up to 132 hours for completionists), Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord sits around 80 hours (170 hours max), and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth stretches to roughly 90 hours, with completionists hitting 165 hours. The most extreme examples include The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom at 113 hours average (248 hours for completists) and Baldur’s Gate 3, which easily tops 150 hours. Sandbox RPGs, expansive open worlds, and post‑launch definitive editions dominate the rankings.

Falcon repeatedly emphasizes the “absurdly long” nature of these games, noting how titles like Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 feel like survival simulations that force players to craft and explore methodically. He also highlights the unique case of Mass Effect Legendary Edition, treating three separate games as a single narrative experience that can total over 100 hours. The commentary underscores how side‑quests, DLC, and iterative content updates inflate playtime.

The trend signals that developers are leveraging sheer content volume as a selling point, positioning length as a proxy for value. However, the data also warns of potential player fatigue and the need for meaningful content to justify extended hours. For consumers, understanding these metrics helps set realistic expectations about time investment and informs purchasing decisions in an increasingly content‑rich market.

Original Description

Looking for a LONG video game to pour hundreds of hours into? We've got you covered with these.

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0:00 Intro

0:46 S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

2:34 Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord

3:36 Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

4:46 Metaphor: ReFantazio

5:47 Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

7:02 Crimson Desert

8:19 Octopath Traveler 0

9:42 Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

11:01 Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition

12:27 Valheim

13:09 Elden Ring

14:29 Mass Effect Legendary Edition

15:59 The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

17:31 Baldur’s Gate 3

18:48 My Time at Sandrock

19:54 RoadCraft

21:30 Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous

22:43 UFO 50

23:57 Satisfactory

25:17 Caves of Qud