Short but Brilliant Trilogies You Can Beat Without a Huge Time Commitment

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Recently, many gamers who prefer shorter, more focused experiences have felt overlooked. The popularity of open-world games has significantly changed game design, and even games with strong stories now often include expansive open areas, side quests, and extra things to do.

Luckily, a few game series offer complete stories in just three games, providing satisfying experiences without requiring huge time commitments. These games let you enjoy a complete narrative or see how the gameplay evolves with each new installment. The playtime estimates listed here are based on average main story completion times from howlongtobeat.com.

Jak and Daxter (Precursor Trilogy)

Full Trilogy Playtime: 38.5 Hours

Games:

  • Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy
  • Jak 2
  • Jak 3

Available in One Package?

  • Yes – The Jak and Daxter Trilogy

The Jak and Daxter series is notable because each game feels distinct. The first game, Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy (released in 2001), is a classic, colorful platformer focused on collecting items. However, Jak 2 took a very different approach, swapping the cheerful atmosphere for a darker, cyberpunk world and adding a variety of weapons and mission types.

Jak 3 continued the series’ trend toward a grimmer atmosphere, blending platforming, shooting, and racing gameplay, similar to the previous installments. While there have been spin-off games, like the racing-focused Jak X: Combat Racing, the original Precursor Trilogy represents the core of the Jak franchise.

Tomb Raider (Survivor Trilogy)

Full Trilogy Playtime: 37.5 Hours

Games:

  • Tomb Raider
  • Rise of the Tomb Raider
  • Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Available in One Package?

  • Yes – Tomb Raider: Definitive Survivor Trilogy

We could have included the updated versions of the original Tomb Raider games, but since several older games have been remastered recently, we’ve chosen to highlight the newer Survivor Trilogy instead.

The 2013 reboot of Tomb Raider surprised many, as the series had a mixed track record. Players and critics enjoyed its action-packed sequences and fun gameplay, which drew inspiration from games like Uncharted. The following games, Rise of the Tomb Raider and Shadow of the Tomb Raider, continued to improve on this foundation, creating a strong and connected story. Now, you can get all three games together in Tomb Raider: Definitive Survivor Trilogy for a great value.

Spyro the Dragon (Reignited Trilogy)

Full Trilogy Playtime: 30.5 Hours

Games:

  • Spyro the Dragon
  • Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage!
  • Spyro: Year of the Dragon

Available in One Package?

  • Yes – Spyro Reignited Trilogy

The first Spyro the Dragon games are classics, originally released only for PlayStation. Like Crash Bandicoot, Spyro was created as a fun, platforming game to compete with Mario and Sonic. Thankfully, the games lived up to expectations, and in 2018 they were beautifully remade as Spyro Reignited Trilogy. This remake is the best way to experience these beloved adventures today.

The original Spyro games and Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy share a similar style of gameplay – you explore levels collecting items and jumping between platforms. The third Spyro game, Year of the Dragon, kept that core gameplay but added a lot more variety. It introduced new playable characters like Sheila the Kangaroo and Sergeant Byrd, and even let Spyro ride a skateboard, creating fresh and interesting challenges.

Sly Cooper (Original Trilogy)

Full Trilogy Playtime: 30 Hours

Games:

  • Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus
  • Sly 2: Band of Thieves
  • Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves

Available in One Package?

  • Yes – The Sly Collection

Early in the 2000s, the popularity of games starring cute, animal mascots was fading. But Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus brought the genre back to life by cleverly blending platforming action with stealth gameplay – two styles that don’t usually go together. Sucker Punch Productions created a successful formula with this game, launching one of the most popular series on the PlayStation 2.

After the first Sly Cooper game proved popular, Sucker Punch Productions focused even more on stealth in the following games and added new playable characters to keep things interesting. Currently, all three Sly Cooper games are available to play as part of Sony’s PS Plus Premium subscription.

Max Payne

Full Trilogy Playtime: 24 Hours

Games:

  • Max Payne
  • Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
  • Max Payne 3

Available in One Package?

  • No – Although a remake of Max Payne and Max Payne 2: The Fall is in the works and will be sold together.

The Max Payne series is unusual because the first two games came out just a few years apart, followed by a nearly ten-year wait for the third. Unlike many franchises, there haven’t been any spin-off games released since.

The Max Payne games are a thrilling, action-packed series. These third-person shooters, heavily inspired by The Matrix, feature awesome bullet-time effects that make you feel like you’re in a movie. The whole trilogy takes around 24 hours to finish, making it a perfect, incredibly enjoyable gaming experience for fans of classic shooters.

Crash Bandicoot (N.Sane Trilogy)

Full Trilogy Playtime: 15 Hours

Games:

  • Crash Bandicoot
  • Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back
  • Crash Bandicoot: Warped

Available in One Package?

  • Yes – Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy

The first three Crash Bandicoot games were a real challenge to Mario and Sonic, and they made the PlayStation a popular choice for fans of platforming games. Players couldn’t miss out on Crash Bandicoot and Spyro! What’s surprising is that the way these games guide you through narrow levels is still pretty rare today – very few other series have tried to copy that distinctive style, which is so closely linked to the orange bandicoot.

Like most classic platforming games, completing the main story of the Crash series takes around 15 hours. However, each level is packed with collectibles – boxes, gems, and relics – which can significantly increase playtime. The relics are especially appealing for players who enjoy replaying levels, as they offer a reason to master the well-designed stages. While Crash Bandicoot: Warped originally featured time trial relics, the N.Sane Trilogy added them to the first two games in the series as well.

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2025-11-26 06:05