It’s tough to find time for long games during the week, and many of us want to feel accomplished by finishing a game over the weekend. If you’re looking for a relaxing and complete gaming experience that fits into a weekend, there are plenty of cozy, open-world games that are perfect for a shorter playthrough, rather than sprawling RPGs that take weeks to complete.
We looked at average playtime data from HowLongToBeat.com to get an idea of how long it takes to finish the main story, the main story plus side quests, and to fully complete each game. These are just estimates, and your experience might be different. We only included games that take less than 15 hours to complete, focusing on those with expansive open worlds to enjoy.
The Best Short Open-World Exploration Games To Play This Weekend
| Open-World Game | Main Story Completion Time | What It’s About? | Who It’s For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alba: A Wildlife Adventure | 2h30mins | Tidy up a Mediterranean island by helping the local wildlife thrive | Nature and animal lovers |
| Eastshade | 9h | Use your painting skills to assist the inhabitants of Eastshade | Friends of art and picturesque scenes |
| A Short Hike | 1h30mins | Hike to the summit while enjoying the local wilderness | Cozy game enjoyers and animal fans |
Little Kitty, Big City
Return Home, But Not Without Some Cat Shenanigans
If you love cats and want a charming, open-world game that won’t take forever to finish, Little Kitty, Big City is a great choice. You play as a black cat trying to find its way home in a bustling city, and you’re free to explore and cause a little playful trouble along the way!
Wander around and discover all sorts of playful mischief as a cat! You can knock things over, swipe objects, and just race around, plus meet other animals. It’s similar to Goat Simulator, but you play as a charming cat, and you can even customize it with unlockable hats. Getting around is a blast, and it’s a fun experience for anyone who’s ever wished they could live a simple life as a feline.
How To Finish It In A Weekend
You can finish Little Kitty, Big City in a weekend, even if you aim to complete everything, as it takes around 6 and a half hours. The main story is shorter, clocking in at 2 and a half hours, and playing through the main story plus all the side quests will take about 4 hours.
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure
Be Good To Nature, And Plant A Tree With Your Download
If you’re looking for another heartwarming game, check out Alba: A Wildlife Adventure. It continues the animal theme, taking you to a beautiful Mediterranean island filled with charming creatures. You play as Alba, and your mission is to help the island’s wildlife by cleaning up trash, discovering and photographing new animal species, and restoring the island to its former beauty.
Here’s a great bonus: every time someone downloads the game, a tree gets planted! If you care about the environment, you’ll love this game. You’re tasked with improving the island, but you can take your time and play at your own pace – there’s no rush or pressure to finish quickly. Just relax and work on it little by little.
How To Finish It In A Weekend
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is a quick game to finish, even faster than Little Kitty, Big City. Players aiming to complete everything can do so in around 4 hours, while just the main story takes about 2 and a half hours. Including all optional side activities brings the total playtime to 3 and a half hours, meaning you could easily beat the game in a couple of days.
Eastshade
A Longer, Picturesque Adventure
If you’re looking for a relaxing game to enjoy over a weekend or even a long Friday afternoon, Eastshade is a great choice. It’s a cozy open-world adventure set in a fantasy world with unique animal creatures. The game is visually stunning, and you play as a traveling painter. You’ll spend your time painting landscapes, solving puzzles, exploring the world, and helping the people you meet along the way.
This game focuses on fantasy and mystery, perfect for players who love exploring immersive, open-world RPGs but prefer a shorter, more relaxed experience without intense combat or character progression. Even if you mostly enjoy wandering and taking in the scenery, you’ll still feel the magic of the world. As you help characters and complete paintings, you’ll uncover more of the story, gaining access to new abilities and locations.
How To Finish It In A Weekend
The main story of Eastshade takes about 9 hours to finish. If you enjoy completing all the side quests, plan for around 12 and a half hours. For those who aim to fully complete everything, it will take approximately 13 and a half hours. However, if you like to take your time and enjoy the beautiful scenery, it might take more than a weekend to experience everything Eastshade has to offer.
A Short Hike
Bite-Sized Climb Through A Cute World
Looking for a charming game? Check out A Short Hike! It’s a delightful experience with a sweet art style, fun animal characters, and a wonderfully cozy world. If you love hiking but can’t get outdoors right now, this game lets you play as a cute bird making their way up a mountain in Hawk Peak Provincial Park.
Similar to Little Kitty, Big City, you can finish the game quickly if you want, but you’ll get much more enjoyment by taking your time. There are multiple paths you can take, which encourages exploration and discovery. You can also swim, fish, and meet other characters along the way. Keep an eye out for hidden treasure, but remember that the real fun is in the experience itself.
How To Finish It In A Weekend
If you’re short on time but want a charming open-world experience, A Short Hike is a great choice. You can finish the main story in about 1 hour and 30 minutes, and complete everything, including side quests, in around 2 hours. If you’re aiming for 100% completion, set aside roughly 4 and a half hours this weekend to fully enjoy everything the game offers.
Firewatch
An Emotional Journey With A Dash Of Mystery
If you’re looking for a game that offers a good balance of playtime – not too short, but not overly long like Eastshade – Firewatch is a great choice. It’s perfect for players who enjoy stories that are emotionally impactful and surprisingly complex. You play as Henry, a fire lookout seeking escape and personal resolution in the wilderness. His only connection to the outside world is Delilah, his supervisor, who he communicates with over the radio, creating a sense of mystery and subtle tension.
In the days ahead, you’ll experience unusual happenings in the park and have heartfelt talks with Delilah. Your choices really matter – each conversation offers different options, letting you replay the game and see how different decisions change the story. It’s not a scary game, but expect some unsettling and mysterious moments. And be prepared to feel emotional – you might want to keep some tissues handy.
How To Finish It In A Weekend
Firewatch has a relatively short main story, taking about 4 hours to complete, with another half hour for optional side quests. It’s primarily an exploration game—you mostly walk around and experience the world. If you aim to find everything, plan for around 5 hours. While different choices can add replay value, you can finish the main mystery in a single afternoon.
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2026-03-27 16:05