Nintendo Games That Are Too Short

Highlights

Don’t fear short games! Nintendo‘s titles cut out the filler, ensuring you’re in for a wild ride from start to end.
Short doesn’t mean disappointment. Sometimes the ideal game experience leads to wanting more, but can still be satisfying.
Dive into brief but excellent classics like Kirby’s Dream Land – despite playtime length, quality shines through replay value.

As someone who has spent countless hours traversing pixelated landscapes and conquering digital foes, I must admit that brevity is not always the soul of wit when it comes to video games. However, I have to give it up for these titles that pack a punch despite their short playtime.

Short games can be just as enjoyable as long ones. Unfortunately, some contemporary video game creators overload their productions with excessive filler material, which might frustrate players seeking an engaging experience rather than being compelled to wade through endless extra content to reach the meaty parts. That’s why many gamers appreciate Nintendo games – they tend to eliminate unnecessary fluff and deliver a thrilling adventure from start to finish.

Occasionally, creating a video game using this approach, which undeniably offers an excellent gaming experience, can leave players yearning for more, as they reach the end of the game prematurely. They might find additional content like New Game+ or post-game features, but these don’t alleviate the feeling of letdown when the main part of the game finishes sooner than anticipated.

Completion times courtesy of
HowLongToBeat

1 Luigi’s Mansion

Main Story Completion Time: 6.5 Hours

Prior to Luigi’s Mansion, there hadn’t been a main console game where Mario’s brother took center stage. Therefore, fans were delighted to see Luigi given his moment in the spotlight, and it was even more exciting because Luigi’s Mansion was one of the most innovative games introduced at the time. The idea of chasing down ghosts with a character who is terrified of them might seem absurd, but the dedication and craftsmanship poured into this game’s ghost-hunting mechanics made it evident that Nintendo recognized something unique in this franchise.

One potential rephrasing for the given text could be:

2 Cadence Of Hyrule: Crypt Of The NecroDancer Featuring The Legend Of Zelda

Main Story Completion Time: 6 Hours

An argument can be made that most rhythm-action games can’t go on for too long, since players may get sick of the gameplay loop after a point. However, this argument falls flat for Cadence for Hyrule once players see that the indie game that impressed Nintendo enough to greenlit a crossover with the Zelda series ran for almost fifteen hours. During this run, the catchy tunes and imaginative gameplay of Crypt of the NecroDancer were impressive enough for players to sink a ton of hours into this experience without any problems.

Unfortunately, Cadence of Hyrule doesn’t last as long as one might hope, however, fans of the Zelda series should still consider giving this intriguing crossover a try. The reimagined melodies from classic Zelda games are delightful and serve to enhance the charm of this game’s engaging gameplay. Despite appearing straightforward, the gameplay offers sufficient depth to keep players captivated throughout their journey.

3 Donkey Kong Land

Main Story Completion Time: 2.5 Hours

Donkey Kong Country stands out as one of the most legendary and tough platform games ever made. The developers at Rare really delivered with this side-scrolling gem, using inspired clay animation to create a stunning visual experience and making sure it was difficult enough to keep players engaged for hours on end. Players take control of Donkey Kong and his companion Diddy Kong as they pursue King K. Rool and try to retrieve their stolen banana hoard by any means possible.

I took on the portable adventure of condensing Donkey Kong Land for my Game Boy! This pocket-sized version of Country was a fantastic way to test out the platforming challenges, even when I wasn’t near my big console. Despite being shorter than its predecessor, it’s hard to believe they managed to squeeze such an incredible title into less than three hours of gameplay. Yet, it’s truly remarkable how they masterfully navigated the technical limitations of the Game Boy and allowed me to enjoy one of the best platforming games ever made.

4 WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Games!

Main Story Completion Time: 1.5 Hours

Platform: Nintendo GameCube
Release Date: October 17, 2003
Developer(s): Intelligent Systems, Nintendo R&D1
Genre: Party

Wario, an infamous adversary of Mario, first gained fame on the Game Boy. To preserve his notoriety, Nintendo released a series of quirky minigames titled WarioWare. These quick-paced games offer numerous activities that last just seconds and keep players entertained with a variety of tasks. These games are delightful to experience, and those who own a GameCube can enjoy the remake of the GameBoy Advance’s version called WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames! on this system.

WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Games! is jam-packed with addictive minigames that are a blast to delve into. If you’re keen on experiencing the game’s solo mode, you might be disappointed to find it barely stretches beyond two hours. However, the true charm of this game lies in its multiplayer offering. Although the initial excitement of this game might wane after some time, playing with friends can easily extend your playtime and make every moment even more enjoyable.

5 Kirby’s Dream Land

Main Story Completion Time: 46 Minutes

Platform: Game Boy
Release Date: April 27, 1992
Developer: HAL Laboratory
Genre: Platformer

It may be unfair to select Game Boy games given the storage limitations of the games on this portable console. However, there are times when some of the titles on this console are so short that players won’t even process that a game has ended mere moments after it started. Kirby’s Dream Land is a great example of this, with the game’s single-player mode being so short that players can potentially complete this title in just under an hour.

As a die-hard Kirby fan, I’ve always appreciated how approachable the Kirby series is within the Nintendo universe. However, I must admit that the gameplay length seems unusually brief compared to other titles in the same genre. Yet, the beauty of Kirby’s Dream Land lies in its replayability, offering opportunities for players to uncover hidden secrets and extend their playtime significantly.

2024-08-20 07:03