10 Best AAA Games With Short Runtimes

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Given the rising costs of AAA games, it makes sense to expect extended playtimes and abundant gameplay from them. However, high-budget projects that prioritize their narrative or gameplay direction should not be underestimated either.

Instead of creating vast open-worlds that stretch out endlessly, certain AAA games choose to invest their resources in delivering exceptional gameplay experiences spanning approximately 10 hours.

It’s clear that if you aim for 100% completion or struggle significantly with a game, it can take a considerable amount of time to finish. However, when discussing the main storyline (the critical campaign elements), some top-tier games can provide an enjoyable and lasting impression within a shorter time span, even considering side activities.

These ten games might not stay around for an extended period, but you can certainly expect them to provide enjoyable entertainment.

10.
Astro Bot

No One Does Fast Like Platformers

When discussing games that excel at being straightforward, platformers often prove to be a dependable choice. In essence, these games can be as simple as “move forward and jump,” which highlights their streamlined nature.

Less frequently do we find AAA gaming spaces featuring platformer games. However, this scarcity made Astro Bot all the more remarkable: it was both a large-scale production and comparatively concise, taking approximately 11 hours to complete.

A significant aspect that makes Astro Bot stand out lies in the fact that most of its resources have been channeled towards enhancing gameplay and visual appeal. The characters are kept minimalistic, and there’s not much narrative complexity, allowing the game to concentrate solely on delivering a fun and innovative experience across multiple platforming levels.

Astro Bot’s charm lies in its entertaining gameplay experience; essentially, it serves as a demonstration of PlayStation’s offerings and cutting-edge technology like the DualSense controller. We aren’t discrediting high-budget, cinematic games, but even AAA titles must prioritize engagement above all else.

9.
Titanfall 2

Selling Point Turned Major Draw

Initially, Titanfall 2, similar to its forerunner, was primarily envisioned as a multiplayer-centric game. However, unlike its primary focus, it also featured a single-player mode. Yet, this mode served more as an accompanying element rather than the main attraction.

Despite the fact that the multiplayer aspect of the game has seen a decline in participants over time, its single-player mode continues to be an attractive feature, even though it’s only about 6 hours long.

The campaign offers a sequential, action-packed experience that shares certain characteristics with traditional corridor shooter games, but with unique twists such as increased mobility options and, not forgetting, colossal mechas.

Battles occur in vast arenas, mainly for the sake of accommodating robots. With your wall-running capabilities and jump boosters, you can nimbly maneuver around enemies with impressive agility and speed. The rapid pace hardly decreases when you enter your Titan, as its colossal weapons and charging frame bulldoze through opponents at an astounding speed, resembling a burning shopping cart plowing through obstacles.

Despite its swift pace and brevity, the narrative effectively maintains interest and coherence, largely due to the exceptional vocal performance by Glenn Steinbaum, who brings your Titan, BT-7274, vividly to life.

8.
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales

A Bite-Sized Manhattan Adventure

Among the key attractions that made Marvel’s Spider-Man stand out was the freedom to navigate through Manhattan, emulating the authentic web-slinging and scaling capabilities of the iconic superhero known as Spider-Man.

Due to the game being extremely ambitious, it incorporated an extensive map along with a detailed narrative to cover all essential aspects of the latest Spider-Man concept. Conversely, Spider-Man: Miles Morales doesn’t require as much development, resulting in a more concise playtime of approximately 7.5 hours.

Miles Morales’ game incorporates a large portion of Marvel’s Spider-Man’s map, but it presents a standalone tale focusing on Miles as the only spider-themed guardian in the city.

In this version of the game, there aren’t many fresh faces among the characters or antagonists, likely because it continues directly from the last one, thus maintaining a focused and consistent narrative flow.

Certainly, given that Miles Morales is an open-world game, it could extend far beyond its initial playtime if you choose to explore extensively. However, for those seeking a more compact Spider-Man experience, it can certainly cater to that as well.

7.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

Decimate The Multiverse In A Few Easy Steps

The Ratchet & Clank series has consistently given a sense of grandeur due to their habitual setting on various distinct planets. However, if you consider them individually, these games primarily consist of levels, with each planet serving as a separate level.

One effective method for creating an illusion of grandeur in a game, which Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart employs masterfully, is by employing a clever trick that makes the game appear larger than its actual size. Despite exploring multiple universes, the game can typically be completed within about 11 hours.

In most cases, Rift Apart’s worlds appear expansive due to their open spaces and sandbox-like qualities, but upon closer examination, you’ll find that the areas you can physically explore are surprisingly compact, despite the impressive skybox and environmental details.

It’s not necessary for an AAA game to allow exploration of every hidden corner of its maps, as is often assumed.

A more focused layout on corridors makes the game subtly secretive about hidden items and treasures. Keeping an eye out for unique vantage points and access points can help you discover additional content that lies just a bit off the main route, should you choose to explore.

6.
Control

Work Days Pass Quickly

Many people who have spent time working in an office would likely agree that the daily routine can seem as though it distorts the structure of space and time. Alternatively, it might simply feel that way when you’re constantly checking the office clock throughout the day.

In essence, time flexibility is prevalent in an office environment, but it’s particularly noticeable at Control’s FBC. Here, an entire interdimensional intrusion can often be managed within just over 11 hours.

The FBC features an intricate, partially open layout with expansive chambers and winding pathways that sometimes deviate from standard geometry. Delving into every nook and cranny can add up to 10 more hours to your playtime, but for those focused solely on completing the primary narrative, the game does a commendable job of guiding you through the main storyline.

The enigmatic and cryptic style of the game’s narrative contributes significantly to keeping the action moving swiftly, as you won’t find yourself stuck in extended dialogue scenes since the creators deliberately hold back information.

5.
Resident Evil 7

Made It Better Without Making It Longer

Almost every installment in the primary Resident Evil series has featured compact playtimes, a tradition that dates back to the initial release, which was approximately 7 hours in duration.

Among all Resident Evil games, the longest playtime is roughly 16 hours for the remake of Resident Evil 4, but this is still shorter than many AAA titles. However, we find the perfect balance in Resident Evil 7, which runs approximately 9 hours.

The more concentrated approach of Resident Evil 7 significantly helped in revitalizing the series’ reputation, as Resident Evil 5 and 6 seemed to veer off course somewhat.

This game undeniably falls under the category of AAA titles, yet instead of spending its substantial budget on typical elements, it invests in crafting intricate, labyrinthine settings. Moreover, it introduces some truly revolting creatures that have left a lasting impression within the series.

In Resident Evil 7, the game designers prioritize intensity over expansiveness, guiding players through a continuous succession of suspenseful scenes and interactions to preserve an overall atmosphere of dread.

4.
Portal 2

Longer Than The Original, But Still Short

In my opinion, one of the key factors that propelled the original Portal into stardom was its compact size when compared to other games dominating the scene back then. It was so concise that I managed to complete it within a few hours, even fewer if my puzzle-solving skills were up to par.

Indeed, the initial Portal game served primarily as a prototype, whereas Portal 2 represents a fully-fledged follow-up that benefited from a much larger financial backing. Regardless, if you’re skilled at tackling problems, you should be able to complete it within roughly 8 hours.

If we were to organize it like a book with separate sections, the first Portal game essentially consisted of two main parts: the traditional tests and the part where you navigated the inner workings of Aperture. On the other hand, Portal 2 is divided into nine primary chapters that shift between various locations within the decaying Aperture facilities, newly constructed testing areas, abandoned sub-basement chambers, and test chambers controlled by Wheatley.

In my perspective, Portal 2 boasts an impressive tripling of unique puzzles compared to its predecessor, and it artfully intersperses these brain-teasers with dynamic running and transition scenes that keep the gameplay fresh and engaging.

Regardless, the majority of these testing areas have been constructed with a focus on being solved relatively fast. Therefore, if you don’t encounter an extremely difficult situation, it’s unlikely that you will take longer than a few minutes in each one.

3.
Doom (2016)

Demon Destruction Done Fast And Cheap

Did you know this trivia? The original Doom game turned out to be quite extensive compared to its contemporary titles, typically requiring about 5 hours to complete.

Despite the increase in budgets, the length of Doom games has expanded only moderately, reaching a level where even the Doom reboot, which revitalized the series, falls short when compared to most other AAA games, offering only about 11 hours of gameplay.

The importance of speed has always been a key element in the gameplay of Doom, even before it incorporated vertical aiming. This remains true in the 2016 version, as the game confines you within enclosed arenas and zones, requiring you to swiftly eliminate the demonic threats to prevent yourself from being overpowered.

In contrast to methodical, tactical cover-and-shoot games that encourage careful planning against enemies, Doom is all about charging headfirst into the fray. There’s a horde of demons to eliminate, and you’re the harbinger of the end times; there’s no need for hesitation when diving into the action.

2.
Devil May Cry 5

It’s All About Action Setpieces

It’s worth noting that the original version of Devil May Cry actually served as a prototype for Resident Evil 4. This means that in current times, both series have a significant amount of shared genetic characteristics.

It seems that the DNA of the Devil May Cry series includes tight focus and shorter playtimes, as all games in this franchise, including the elaborate Devil May Cry 5, can typically be completed within 11 hours or less.

In essence, action games centered around characters tend to follow a structured, focused path due to their design nature. Creating an engaging, spectacular combat system that seamlessly blends with a bustling open world is often challenging.

Maintaining a focused approach within specific boundaries, and dividing battles into distinct battlefields, guarantees that the game’s most appealing aspect remains prominent and unforgotten.

In essence, Devil May Cry 5 appears tailored primarily for series enthusiasts, offering over-the-top action sequences that allow players to embody their beloved, eccentric “wacky pizza uncle” character and his unconventional kin.

1.
Wolfenstein: The New Order

A Few Battles Can Turn A Tide

Similar to Doom, the original Wolfenstein was developed during a period where the idea of a “shooting game” was still quite novel, requiring little else beyond providing a platform for swiftly eliminating targets.

In contemporary Wolfenstein series, there’s still a significant focus on combat, but it leans more towards strategic shooting which can make gameplay slightly more deliberate. Notably, Wolfenstein: The New Order is completed within approximately 11 and a half hours.

In the new system, there’s a heavy emphasis on compact play areas and dramatic sequences, yet it encourages a more cautious approach by requiring a certain level of strategic play.

In contrast to the robustness of the Doom Slayer, BJ requires a greater degree of caution when it comes to health and armor collection, as he’s more vulnerable. Additionally, using sneaky, evasive strategies such as hit-and-run tactics can help you avoid getting hit.

Regardless of its details, the game’s progressive structure maintains a consistent pace, ensuring that if you avoid getting bogged down in specific battles, it can be completed within several play sessions – at least, up until Wolfenstein II comes along.

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2025-05-02 16:10