Games That Spent The Longest Time In Development

Summary

The Last Guardian took over 8 years to develop, skipping a generation to release on PS4.
Duke Nukem Forever holds the record for the longest development period at over 14 years.
Star Citizen has been in development for 13 years, raising over $800 million and still not released.

Although some terrific indie games can be developed swiftly, it’s important to note that many video games, especially those of high quality, require considerable effort, perspiration, affection, sorrow, and above all, ample time for their creation.

While some games may surprise us with their extended development periods, it’s worth examining those produced by gaming giants, whose production timelines exceeded expectations significantly. Notably, this was an era when the general consensus was that game releases would happen much more swiftly.

6. The Last Guardian

Over 8 years in Development

Following the extraordinary critical and market triumph of Shadow of the Colossus, a game renowned as one of the finest on the PS2, one might assume that Team ICO’s subsequent project for the PS3 would be promptly released. However, this was far from the case. The delay was so substantial that The Last Guardian bypassed an entire generation and ultimately debuted on the PS4 instead.

The Last Guardian, although it may be Team ICO’s most contentious game, is undeniably their most stunning and daring title. While some gamers struggled with Trico, an AI creature that exhibits unpredictable behavior much like a real animal would, there’s plenty to appreciate for both newcomers and long-time fans of the developer.

5. Team Fortress 2

9 years in Development

Despite being overlooked due to Valve’s changing priorities, Team Fortress 2 served as a significant influence for contemporary hero shooter games like Overwatch and was once a global gaming sensation. This game originated as a mod for the original Quake, even before the debut of Half-Life, gradually evolving and discarding much of its predecessors’ work to eventually shape the beloved version we know today.

Initially conceived as a hardcore, tactical military shooter similar to what later developed into Counter-Strike, it ironically evolved over almost a decade into arguably the funniest shooter ever in gaming history.

4. Final Fantasy 15

10 years in Development

In a more relaxed and engaging manner:

The game “Final Fantasy 16” has been under development for over 7 years before its release, but it’s not the pinnacle of Square Enix’s leisurely game-creation approach; that title goes to “Final Fantasy 15”. Released in 2016, this game had roots far deeper than you might think. Originally known as “Final Fantasy Versus 13”, it was initially planned as part of the Fabula Nova Crystallis universe, the same world as “Final Fantasy 13”. However, due to fans’ lukewarm reception to “Final Fantasy 13” (which took a whopping 5 years to create), “FF15” evolved into something much more complex.

Final Fantasy 15 received mixed reviews from both critics and players due to its blended nature, seemingly a fusion of diverse concepts that were initially in development along with elements that emerged during the game’s creation. Despite its messiness, FF15 offers a captivating and emotionally resonant experience that most gamers are likely to find appealing, boasting unique beauty in many aspects.

3. Duke Nukem Forever

Over 14 years in Development

Duke Nukem Forever is notoriously known by gamers and history buffs as the game with the longest development period. A staggering 14 years elapsed before its release, which is quite significant, particularly given that the final product didn’t meet expectations.

Despite undergoing numerous overhauls during its 14-year journey, Duke Nukem Forever retains the title of the longest-developed game in Guinness World Records history. However, it’s worth noting that as-yet-unreleased games have already surpassed this lengthy development period.

2. Star Citizen

13 years in Development and Counting…

Star Citizen commenced development following a highly successful Kickstarter campaign initiated in the early 2010s. This game enticed players with the prospect of immersive space exploration, intense ship-to-ship combat, and an exceptionally grand single-player storyline titled Squadron 42. Although it has already delivered playable content, it hasn’t yet fulfilled most of its initial promises, continuing to generate significant revenue from its dedicated fanbase.

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but marvel at the staggering figures surrounding Star Citizen’s development. With nearly 14 years spent on its creation, and over $800 million raised through crowdfunding and in-game purchases, if we were to quantify this time investment, it would undoubtedly claim the title of the longest game development project ever. Yet, there’s a game still in the pipeline that has already surpassed Star Citizen in terms of sheer time units – a testament to the patience and support of its community.

1. Beyond Good & Evil 2

Over 17 years in Development

Over 17 years in development.

Initially, “Beyond Good & Evil” might have been Ubisoft’s most successful under-the-radar game. Despite not matching the sales figures of series like “Assassin’s Creed”, it quickly won over critics and a small group of players. With positive word-of-mouth encouraging them, Ubisoft hinted at a bigger sequel with a short CG trailer in 2008 – what eventually became “Beyond Good & Evil 2“.

For nearly a decade, players only had a glimpse of Beyond Good & Evil 2, with just a stunning gameplay trailer showing a new character exploring a sprawling city filled with futuristic flying cars. Though it looked incredible then and still does now, there haven’t been any updates for quite some time. Despite significant changes at Ubisoft leading the original director to leave the project, Beyond Good & Evil 2 is still being developed. Fingers crossed that we eventually get to play this highly anticipated game, as it’s one of Ubisoft’s most intriguing titles yet.

2025-08-08 05:35