35 Best Short Games You Can Finish In 5 Hours

Before Your Eyes

Metascore: 79

Before Your Eyes by Skybound has a unique way of playing that tells the story of a person’s whole life in an interesting and moving way. Players can control the game with their eyes by using the camera. For example, blinking moves the story forward. It is a unique idea that the game business hasn’t really looked into much, and it works well. The story of the game is about a guy named Benny who has just died. As the future approaches, players must go through Benny’s memories to decide if he deserves a good sentence. Starting with his childhood, the ad shows important times in his life while also dealing with serious and understandable issues.

Before Your Eyes might not be as well known as some other short but sweet games, but it should be praised for thinking outside the box without sacrificing player fun to try new things. The story is great overall, and it’s just the right length. You can use a mouse instead of a webcam, but it’s clear that the game was made to be played with a webcam, so that’s what you should do whenever you can.

The Room Trilogy

Metascore: 88

If you want a great puzzle game that’s not too long, you should check out The Room Trilogy. Although each of these games can be finished pretty quickly, the amount of time spent on them is directly linked to how long it takes to solve the tasks, and some of them are pretty tough.

Each of The Room games is carefully made to have stunning graphics and a scary atmosphere that make the player feel like they are in a safe but unsettling place to solve some pretty tough, mind-bending tasks. Additionally, there is a story going on underneath, for those who like games with plots.

Streets Of Rage 4

Metascore: 87

In a strict sense, most beat ’em up video games last less than 5 hours. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, The Punisher, and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game can all be finished in about two hours, but people who have never played any of these games before will probably need to spend a lot more time before they reach the end. Basically, these games are pretty tough, and they last longer by keeping the level of difficulty high. This came about during the arcade era, which saw both the best and worst of the beat ’em up genre. These kinds of releases don’t happen very often these days, and when they do, they’re usually throwbacks to the good old days.

Most people know Streets of Rage as the most popular beat ’em up series ever, and the trilogy from the 1990s is still great in most ways. Because of this, Streets of Rage 4 had to live up to a lot of expectations as it tried to respect the past while also taking the franchise into the present. The sequel mostly did what it set out to do by building on the formula of Streets of Rage in a way that kept the franchise’s history alive.

It’s possible that Streets of Rage 2 or 3 would have also been good, but the fourth game stands for the whole series.

Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon

Metascore: 82

When compared to new Assassin’s Creed games, Ubisoft’s Far Cry projects don’t take too long. Most missions can be finished in twenty hours, which is a pretty normal amount of time for open-world games. By the standards of the genre, they may not be endless, but they are also not short, and you can’t finish them in 5 hours, even if there are secret ends. The only one that isn’t is Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, which is an add-on that can be played and enjoyed without having played the main game first.

Blood Dragon is a parody of action movies from the 1980s. Players take on the role of a soldier who has to stop an angry agent with a bad plan that would make a great Saturday Morning Cartoon. Of course, to save the day, you have to blow everything up, which is something the game does very well. In Blood Dragon, there are open places where players can do tasks however they choose, similar to how the regular games are open-world.

GRIS

Metascore: 84

The story of Gris is about a girl’s hard journey as she tries to bring color back into her life. The game is beautiful and speaks to themes of grief and healing. This short independent game is an art project that was born in a world after Journey. It’s full of personality, charm, and creativity. The story of Gris isn’t very obvious, at least in the first hour or so. The movie’s main goal is to make you feel something through its images.

Because of a traumatic event in the past, Gris’ world is not only disorganized, but it is also black and white. As he heals, new colors slowly start to show up. This artistic choice goes wonderfully with the story and makes the experience more complete. When it comes to gameplay, Gris is pretty simple, but it’s never boring.

Firewatch

Metascore: 87

As Henry stands on his lookout, he looks out over a national forest that is both beautiful and lonely. Henry was hired as a watchman to keep an eye on the woods and make sure nothing bad happens. Things get confusing when some young girls show up and then leave.

There are only two main characters in Firewatch: Henry and his boss. The game’s exploration-based gameplay is pretty basic, but the story is well-written and the mood is very engaging. Players can change Henry’s future by the choices they make and how they connect with Delilah. This makes the game feel personal and stays with you long after the credits roll.

Pistol Whip

Metascore: 90

There are a lot of short virtual reality experiences out there that are meant to keep people amused for short periods of time instead of long runs. Most of these games are one-time events, but some of the best VR games are short enough to be played more than once. One of those games is Pistol Whip.

Cloudhead’s game is a first-person shooter with a rhythm core. It feels like an obvious step from arcade light gun shooters, and it works great in VR. Players are led through a maze of hallways where they have to avoid bullets and shoot anyone who gets in their way. Easy and fun.

Astro’s Playroom

Metascore: 83

Astro’s Playroom is a free-to-play game that comes with the PS5 and shows players how great the DualSense is. What it is basically is a tech demo meant to give people something to work on before they move on to bigger projects. Even with all of that, Astro’s Playroom is still one of the best PS5-only games, and it’s full of loving references to PlayStation’s past.

That game from Team Asobi is the best 3D platformer ever. It looks and plays like a dream. The gameplay in Astro’s Playroom is also changed up a lot, which is something that a 3-hour pack-in game could have easily avoided.

Unpacking

Metascore: 86

For many, moving is a stressful and unpleasant experience. However, it’s the beginning of a new period in their life. Unpacking is all about these times, showing a person’s things as they get settled in a new place and giving glimpses into their life. As you play this relaxing puzzle game, players only need to move the boxed things to where they belong while learning about the main character’s situation and personality.

The concept of Unpacking is both interesting and off-putting. At first glance, opening boxes might sound like a very dull task, but the idea is carried out with style and warmth. The result is an unexpectedly moving event.

Little Nightmares

Metascore: 83

Some people don’t think of side-scrolling games as horror games, but the style has been used in many great scary games. On the whole, these kinds of projects are creepy and disturbing instead of straight-up scary, and Little Nightmares fits those descriptions perfectly. As Six, players must find their way through the Maw, a future hellscape where each level is centered around a scary humanoid creature.

The main way that Little Nightmares is played is like a sneaky game, though most of the enemies you face are puzzles. By using little speech and focusing on setting the scene, Tarsier is able to craft a creepy story that builds a bigger world while also making Six a better person.

Doki Doki Literature Club!

Metascore: 78

Doki Doki Literature Club! does come in two different forms: the free basic game and the Plus! updated version. HowLongToBeat says that the main stories of both games can be finished in less than 5 hours, but players will have to play through the campaign more than once to see all the ways. So, even though a single run should only take 5 hours, most people might not be ready to stop at that point.

No matter what, Doki Doki Literature Club! is a great enough game to be talked about. At first, the game seems like a mix of a visual novel and a dating sim. But over time, it changes into something completely different, taking you on a fascinating and sometimes scary trip. The Better! The paid version has some extra stories that really help to flesh out the personalities, but the free version should be fine for most people who just want to try out a visual novel.

Metal Slug 3

Metascore: 78

It’s possible that Metal Slug 3 is the best run-and-gun game ever, and that could also be said about a few other games in the series. Because it was originally made for arcades, SNK’s game is very hard. In fact, most players need to practice a lot before they can finish the mission. Of course, full runs are easier to do on consoles, but Metal Slug 3 is tough no matter what platform someone plays it on.

Because Metal Slug 3 is so fun to play, you’ll want to play it again and again. The story even has a few different ways to keep things interesting. This 2000 release from SNK was great, with tight and rewarding gunplay, beautiful graphics, and awesome boss fights. The game still holds up very well.

To the Moon

Metascore: 84

The movie To the Moon is about a man who is dying and wants to go to the Moon. To meet this need, people from a business called Sigmund Corporation get into the man’s mind and create memories that make it seem like he has reached his unique goal. As they learn more about the client’s past, they slowly put together his story and personality.

When Freebird came out as an independent game in 2011, it got great reviews, and the game has held up very well over time. Right now, To the Moon’s story is so important that it barely has any gameplay that’s worth talking about. This choice might be off-putting to some players, but it makes sense in this case.

Superhot

Metascore: 84

The main idea behind Superhot is that monsters will only move when the player does. With this change, the game becomes more strategic, as players have to carefully look at a situation and decide what the best thing to do is.

Superhot is a short and sweet game with a single-player story that spans 31 levels, including the ending. The game does, however, give players a lot for their money because it has an endless mode that lets them play it over and over again. Still, this one can be done quickly if someone just wants to go through the steps.

Flower

Metascore: 91

Flower is an art game that takes players into the dreams of flowers. It is peaceful and beautiful. Players take control of the wind and move petals through fields. Each gust brings new life to the area around them. Flower is a short and sweet game with only six easy levels. Despite its short length and easy gameplay, it manages to cover a lot of different ideas.

That game company later made Journey in 2012, which is more well known than Flower. The first one is the more remembered experience overall, but the second one is still a unique and classic release.

Donkey Kong Country

Metascore: N/A

Few companies have made as many great games as Rare does. The Donkey Kong Country series may be the company’s ultimate success. People often say that Diddy’s Kong Quest is the best game in the series, but it takes just over 5 hours to play. Luckily, the first DKC also meets those standards and is a classic.

The pre-rendered graphics of the game were amazing in 1994, and they showed that the SNES, even though it was getting old, could still WOW people. Even though some parts of the package look a little out of date now, DKC still works well for being about 30 years old. Rare’s game will be played again and again because of its gameplay, music, and unique design.

What Remains Of Edith Finch

Metascore: 92

What Remains of Edith Finch is a story-driven travel game about the main character’s return to her family home. It is a classic example of the controversial “walking sim” genre. There, Edith sees the rooms of her cousins to figure out why the Finch family is full of tragedy.

Even though the story is about grown and heavy topics, What Remains of Edith Finch is a strangely relaxing read. The Finch farm is mostly open for exploration, and the world is broken up by minor natural stories.

Kirby Super Star

Metascore: N/A

Even though not every game they’ve made has been a hit, HAL Laboratory usually makes great platformers, especially when Nintendo’s resident plush toy is in the lead. A lot of popular Kirby games are longer than 5 hours, but the series does have a few great short games. Krisper’s Adventure and the Dream Land games from the 1990s are all classics. Kirby Air Ride is a fun spin-off. But if I had to pick one, Kirby Super Star from 1996 would be my choice. This SNES game is a great example of the series’ classic formula, though it can be a bit annoying when compared to newer games like Planet Robobot and Return to Dream Land.

In contrast to previous games, which all follow the same path, Super Star has several modes that can be played separately, creating a sometimes confusing but always fun experience. As good as it is, “Milky Way Wishes” is the best mode in the package, making Super Star one of the best Nintendo games of the 1990s. The other modes don’t quite hit the same heights, but they are all still better than average.

A Short Hike

Metascore: 88

Claire, a bird, is going to spend the day at a park in A Short Hike. Since she has an important call coming up, she chooses to go to the top of the trail because that’s the only place with a connection. Along the way, Claire can talk to other people in the park and do side tasks.

A Short Hike is a beautiful and surprisingly open game that makes you want to take a deep breath and enjoy your surroundings. Claire needs to collect feathers to get the skills she needs to get to the top, but the game lets the player choose how fast they want to go.

Gone Home

Metascore: 88

Gone Home is about a woman who goes back to her family home, like What Remains of Edith Finch. But in this story, the main character is shocked to find no one waiting for her. Katie slowly starts to figure out what happened to her family as she looks into the house.

Gone Home has both a beginning and an end. In one way, players can move around the house as much as they want, and they will have to check out every room carefully to find the truth. On the other hand, reading messages is the main part of the game, and there isn’t much interaction. No matter what, Gone Home is a success because of its compelling atmosphere and intriguing main secret.

P.T.

Metascore: N/A

This one hurts – P.T. can’t be properly downloaded anywhere, even though it looks like the perfect psychological horror game. As a gift to let people know that Silent Hills was being worked on, P.T. was taken off the PlayStation Store after Konami dropped the project.

From a first-person point of view, P.T. The player is dropped in an apartment that loops and is said to be haunted. Players must stay out of reach of Lisa, a scary ghost, while they try to answer tasks to break the loop. Since the idea and loop are pretty simple, P.T. It really works, and it shows that sometimes plain old simplicity is best. Most long horror games have trouble keeping the tension high throughout their campaigns because, over time, getting used to something makes you lazy. On the other hand, P.T. Over the course of an hour-long game, it keeps getting scary.

Cocoon

Metascore: 92

Cocoon gets the attention. Geometric Interactive made a puzzle game about a monster that looks like a bug that feels incredibly big and bold. From one end of the wasteland to the other, players will find orbs that hold whole worlds that they need to explore. The idea is great, but the way it was carried out might be even better.

Even though it only lasts about 5 hours, the game is surprisingly big and satisfying. The game’s challenge starts out pretty easy and builds up slowly, but it stays fun and easy to play throughout.

The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe

Metascore: 90

The Stanley Parable, which came out in 2013, is funny, strange, and memorable. The 2022 computer port includes both the base game and a lot of new content, making it even better than the original, which was very well received. Players take charge of Stanley, an office worker who walks into a building that is mostly empty. Stanley is led by a storyteller and can choose to follow the voice-over’s story beats or go in a different direction. The latter is the better choice.

Most likely, players will play Geometry Dash Lite for more than 5 hours. It’s a bit of a strange case. The game can be played through pretty fast, but finding all of its ends is a big part of its appeal. In the big picture, The Stanley Parable is still a short game, but the Ultra Deluxe version has a lot of material (especially).

Star Fox 64

Metascore: 88

It was close between 1993’s Star Fox and its follow-up, but Star Fox 64 wins because it builds on the ideas of its predecessor so well. In addition, some people think it’s the best rail shooter ever, though Sin and Punishment and Panzer Dragoon are very close. Nintendo seems content to ignore Fox McCloud these days, which is a shame because the early games in the series have held up pretty well over time, at least when it comes to how they play.

Star Fox 64 has more than two hours of nonstop action, and you can play it again and again thanks to some extras and a plot that can go in different directions. However, the game can be easily finished in one sitting. There is still something fun about the original, but new players should try to get the 3D remake for the Nintendo 3DS.

Mega Man 2

Metascore: N/A

This can be talked about for almost all of the main Mega Man games, as well as a good number of the X-and-Zero spin-off games. It’s pretty much up to the dealer because Capcom’s series has been pretty stable over the years. However, Mega Man 2 not only made the franchise famous, it also hit a peak that not many of its titles were able to reach again.

Mega Man 2 has more than proven itself to be a lasting gem, even though it came out more than 30 years ago. The core principles of the game are almost perfect, and the levels, music, and bosses are all great. Since it’s pretty hard, it might take someone who has never played Mega Man before a little longer than 3 hours to finish.

Braid

Metascore: 93

The short length of Braid does not take away from the fact that it is an interesting and beautiful 2D sidescrolling platforming and puzzle game. What at first glance seems like a pretty simple indie plot turns into a twisty tale that will make players wonder what they just played. Sometimes the tasks are hard, but Braid is easy enough that you can finish it in one sitting if you work hard enough.

While stories aren’t usually a big part of 2D platformers, Braid adds a unique twist to the Super Mario formula and has an ending that is still talked about a lot of years later. This part wouldn’t be important if the main gameplay wasn’t so good, but it gives it a unique quality that makes it stand out from other games in the same genre.

Portal

Metascore: 90

When you hear that Portal 2 is about 8 hours long, you might forget that its original is a lot shorter. You can easily finish Valve’s Portal in three hours, and the game gets a lot done in that short amount of time. As Chell, players wake up in a study center run by GLaDOS, one of the most famous AIs in video games. personality traits. The second one gives the human a series of puzzles to solve while saying funny one-liners that are meant to make the main character doubt himself.

Portal has a lot of the same great qualities as its follow-up, but it’s not as well known. The games really should be played as a whole; start with the 2007 version and then move on to the one that came out after it.

Doom (1993)

Metascore: 84

Anyone who played Doom back in the day (or one of its many, many ports) would have been hooked for hours and hours. It’s just that clever. It does take about 5 hours to finish a single mission, though, and pros are likely to be able to get through a run much faster. Now that the Doomguy has assassinated all the demons, it would be normal for him to start over at a deeper level of challenge. That’s the way of Doom.

Some of the later games in the series are much longer than Doom, but Doom is meant to be a dash, not a run. In first-person shooters, players need to be alert and moving all the time, because a single lull can cause serious damage or death. Now, even if a run only takes 4 hours, it will still be a tough and fun one.

Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons

Metascore: 90

In Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, the main characters, two brothers, go to the Tree of Life to get special water that will heal their dying father. Starbreeze made the game to be single-player, even though it lets you handle two characters. Co-op was added to the Switch version, though.

The second version is a good way to experience this powerful trip, but the first version really shows how the boys relate to each other. Players have to learn how to handle both figures at the same time. As the game goes on, the brothers grow closer as a result of this try to work together.

Metroid: Zero Mission

Metascore: 89

Even though the first Metamorphosis game is very important, Zero Mission might be the only way to enjoy this part of Nintendo’s famous series. The GBA “remake” is not only better than the NES version in almost every way, but it’s also one of the best games in the Metal Gear series, which is saying a lot. Now, Zero Mission used some of the same ideas as 1986’s Metamorphosis, but it made enough changes to be its own thing.

That being said, this GBA gem still plays and looks great after almost 20 years. Zero Mission is still fun to play, and the mission is easier to understand now that the map has been reduced. The images are still beautiful.

Journey

Metascore: 92

Even though all of Thatgamecompany’s short games are great, Journey is without a doubt their best work. The game takes players through a beautiful but empty world and gives them characters that aren’t very clear. Adventure doesn’t use speech to tell a typical story. Instead, it encourages players to get lost in the moment-to-moment gameplay.

For the most part, the experience is done alone, but at some point, a stranger can join the player on their trip. Even though you can’t directly connect with them, these times add a sense of surprise that makes each run feel different.

Papers, Please

Metascore: 92

Papers, Please is a big book. The game makes players feel like they are stuck in a machine and can’t do anything, but they can also make a choice that can change the life of a stranger. As a customs worker, the player has to decide if someone should be allowed to enter Arstotzka, a country known for being oppressive and depressing.

The best thing about the game is how it makes both the people trying to cross the border and the main character seem like real people. Everyone involved, including the agent, is affected by what the latter does. At some point, they will have to choose between putting their family first or other people’s lives.

Sonic The Hedgehog 2

Metascore: 87

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is easily one of the best games that can be played in less than five hours, though it will take most new players a while to finish the story. Like many classic platformers, Sega’s famous game keeps you playing for a long time by making each stage hard and demanding that you learn how to beat it.

Sonic 2 is all about speed, and as you get better at the game, you’ll simply get faster. Yes, a lot of Sonic’s old 2D adventures can be finished in about two hours, but players have to work hard to get that far.

Inside

Metascore: 93

Following up the great Limbo, Playdead made Inside, a game that almost beats its inspiration. In this scary sci-fi world, players take control of an unnamed boy as she travels through a world where people have been turned into dumb drones and dangerous robots walk the streets.

Inside is a superb puzzle game with a powerful but quiet story. The game chooses not to tell the player what happens in the story. Instead, its mysterious finish is meant to spark conversations.

Super Mario Bros. 3

Metascore: N/A

There are many well-known mascots in the video game business, but there is only one Mario. Super Mario Bros. saved the video game business, and the original game from 1985 still plays amazingly well after all these years.

Even though it’s been out for a long time, Super Mario Bros. 3 could be the best 2D platformer ever, at least among games that are less than 5 hours long. For a NES platformer, Super Mario Bros. 3 has a lot of content—about twice as much game play as the original game from 1985.