Top Longest Video Games To Finish Main Story
Hey guys! Ever wondered which video games take the absolute longest to beat? We're not talking about 100% completion here, just the main story. Some games offer sprawling worlds and narratives that can keep you glued to your screen for dozens, even hundreds, of hours. So, let's dive into some of the longest video games out there, perfect for those of you looking for a serious time commitment. Get ready to clear your schedules!
1. Monster Hunter Series
The Monster Hunter series is renowned for its extensive gameplay, with titles often requiring players to invest hundreds of hours to complete the main storyline. The core gameplay loop involves hunting increasingly challenging monsters, crafting better gear, and honing your skills. This process alone can take a significant amount of time, but the real time sink comes from the sheer amount of content and the difficulty of some of the hunts. Players often find themselves repeating quests multiple times to gather the necessary materials or to simply improve their strategies. Moreover, the games are designed to encourage cooperative play, which can either speed up or slow down the completion time depending on the skill and coordination of your hunting party. For many, the Monster Hunter experience is not just about completing the main story, but about mastering the various weapons, understanding monster behaviors, and forming a deep connection with the game's world. The sense of accomplishment after finally defeating a particularly tough monster is unparalleled, making the lengthy playtime feel worthwhile. Ultimately, the time investment in Monster Hunter is a testament to its depth and replayability, making it a standout title for gamers seeking a long-term commitment.
2. The Elder Scrolls Series
The Elder Scrolls series, particularly titles like Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim, are infamous for their massive open worlds and seemingly endless quests. While the main storylines themselves can be quite lengthy, the real time sink comes from the sheer amount of side content available. Players often find themselves sidetracked by exploring dungeons, completing faction quests, and engaging with the game's intricate lore. This freedom to explore and pursue different storylines is a key part of what makes The Elder Scrolls so appealing, but it also means that completing the main quest can take a backseat to other, more immediate goals. For example, a player might start out with the intention of following the main questline, but then stumble upon a fascinating side quest that leads them on a completely different adventure. Hours later, they might realize that they've barely made any progress on the main story, but they've had a ton of fun along the way. This is all part of the Elder Scrolls experience, and it's why these games can take so long to complete. The allure of exploration and the abundance of engaging content make it easy to lose track of time, turning a relatively straightforward quest into a sprawling epic.
3. Fallout Series
Similar to The Elder Scrolls, the Fallout series offers vast post-apocalyptic worlds filled with countless distractions. The main quest in games like Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, and Fallout 4 can take a significant amount of time to complete, but the real draw is the freedom to explore and interact with the game's world. Players can spend hours wandering through the wasteland, discovering hidden locations, completing side quests, and building settlements. The choices you make in these games also have a significant impact on the story, leading to multiple playthroughs and even longer completion times. The Fallout games are designed to be highly replayable, with different factions to align with, different skills to develop, and different ways to approach each situation. This means that even if you do manage to complete the main quest, there's always something new to discover. The combination of a compelling main story and a vast, explorable world makes Fallout a series that can keep you occupied for hundreds of hours.
4. Persona Series
The Persona series, known for its blend of JRPG mechanics and social simulation, demands a significant time investment due to its intricate storytelling and character development. Games like Persona 4 Golden and Persona 5 Royal require players to manage their time effectively between battling shadows in the Metaverse and building relationships with their confidants. This dual focus means that completing the main story is not just about progressing through dungeons; it's also about understanding and connecting with the characters around you. Each confidant has their own storyline and unique abilities, which can enhance your combat prowess and provide valuable insights into the game's world. However, building these relationships takes time and effort, often requiring players to make careful choices about how they spend their in-game days. This intricate web of social interactions adds depth and complexity to the Persona experience, making it a rewarding but lengthy endeavor. The need to balance combat, social interactions, and personal growth ensures that players are constantly engaged, but it also contributes to the game's overall completion time. The rich narrative and compelling characters make the time investment worthwhile, but be prepared to dedicate a significant portion of your life to unraveling the mysteries of the Persona universe.
5. Xenoblade Chronicles Series
The Xenoblade Chronicles series is celebrated for its expansive open worlds, complex storylines, and intricate combat systems, all of which contribute to its lengthy completion times. Each game in the series, including Xenoblade Chronicles, Xenoblade Chronicles X, and Xenoblade Chronicles 2, offers a massive world to explore, filled with hidden locations, challenging enemies, and countless side quests. The main storylines themselves are quite substantial, often involving political intrigue, philosophical themes, and epic battles against powerful foes. However, the real time sink comes from the sheer amount of optional content available. Players can spend hours exploring the vast landscapes, discovering new areas, and completing side quests for the various NPCs they encounter. The combat system, which combines real-time action with strategic decision-making, also requires a significant amount of time to master. Players need to understand the strengths and weaknesses of different characters, learn how to chain attacks effectively, and optimize their party's equipment. All of these factors contribute to the overall length of the Xenoblade Chronicles games, making them a perfect choice for gamers looking for a long-term commitment. The rich world, compelling characters, and engaging gameplay make the time investment worthwhile, but be prepared to dedicate a significant portion of your life to exploring the mysteries of the Xenoblade universe.
6. Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 is an epic Western adventure that demands a significant time investment due to its immersive open world, detailed storytelling, and slow-burn pacing. The main story itself is quite lengthy, but the real draw is the opportunity to explore the game's vast and beautifully realized world. Players can spend hours simply riding their horse through the countryside, hunting animals, fishing in rivers, and interacting with the various characters they encounter along the way. The game is designed to be savored, with a deliberate pace that encourages players to take their time and appreciate the details. This means that even simple tasks, like traveling from one location to another, can take a significant amount of time. However, this slow pace also allows players to become fully immersed in the world and to develop a deep connection with the characters. The combination of a compelling main story and a vast, explorable world makes Red Dead Redemption 2 a game that can keep you occupied for dozens of hours. The detailed graphics, realistic physics, and immersive sound design all contribute to the overall experience, making it a truly unforgettable adventure.
7. Assassin's Creed Series
Certain Assassin's Creed titles, particularly those with a strong emphasis on open-world exploration and side content, can take a considerable amount of time to complete. Games like Assassin's Creed Odyssey and Assassin's Creed Valhalla offer massive maps filled with quests, collectibles, and activities, often extending the playtime far beyond the main story's duration. The sheer scale of these games, combined with the need to level up your character and acquire better gear, can easily add dozens of hours to the overall completion time. Assassin's Creed Odyssey, for example, allows players to explore the vast world of ancient Greece, engaging in naval combat, hunting mythical creatures, and participating in political intrigue. Assassin's Creed Valhalla, on the other hand, takes players to the Viking Age, where they can raid monasteries, build settlements, and forge alliances with different factions. Both games offer a wealth of content to explore, making them a perfect choice for gamers looking for a long-term commitment. The combination of a compelling main story and a vast, explorable world makes these Assassin's Creed titles a series that can keep you occupied for hundreds of hours.
Conclusion
So there you have it, folks! Some of the longest video games out there to complete, focusing on the main story. These games offer massive worlds, compelling narratives, and endless hours of gameplay. If you're looking for a game to really sink your teeth into, any of these titles would be a fantastic choice. Just be sure to clear your schedule – you're going to need the time!
