5 Great Open-World Games That Are Too Long
Ah, open-world games. What once felt like sprawling adventures of endless possibilities now feel like digital marathons designed to crush your spirit and monopolize your free time.
Bigger, they said. Better, they claimed. But at what cost? Nowadays, it seems like the industry’s motto is: “Why give players 20 hours of fun when we can stretch it into 100 hours of repetitive fetch quests and map markers instead?”
Let’s face it—these games are long. Unnecessarily long. Their runtime isn’t because developers wanted to give you more bang for your buck; it’s because publishers need to justify bloated budgets and keep you tethered to their game until the heat death of the universe. Side quests? Sure, they’re there.
But finish them all, and you’ll likely forget the plot—or your own name.
Now, we’re not just talking about the longest games ever made. These are fantastic games, mind you, but ones that may leave you wondering halfway through, “Am I playing for fun or fulfilling some contractual obligation I didn’t sign up for?”
Whether it’s a storyline that overstays its welcome, endless busywork disguised as “content,” or a pace that drags like molasses, these open-world epics test the limits of even the most patient gamers.
Horizon Forbidden West
Coming in at a breezy only 28 hours for the main story, Horizon Forbidden West is practically a speedrun compared to its open-world peers. But don’t celebrate just yet—its 88-hour completionist time ensures you’ll still be stuck in the Forbidden West until Aloy grows gray hair.
The game’s “shortcomings” are twofold. First, the opening hours crawl slower than a Tallneck in quicksand. Cutscenes interrupt gameplay like an overzealous friend who just has to tell you their life story, while the first upgrades are handed out at a pace that could generously be described as “glacial.” It’s almost as if the game is trying to pad its length. Imagine that!
Second, Forbidden West suffers from an affliction that plagues modern open-world games: map clutter. Points of interest are scattered everywhere like confetti, but not all of them are worth celebrating.
Some are fun! Most are filler. Worst of all, Aloy can’t interact with many of these points until she unlocks specific tools locked behind story progression.
So, prepare to backtrack across the map to unlock a treasure chest containing… wait for it… a rock. Truly rewarding.
Death Stranding
Ah, Death Stranding—a masterpiece or a nap in digital form?
Well, that depends entirely on how much you enjoy trudging through barren wastelands delivering packages. Some gamers adore its bold attempt at reinventing the post-apocalyptic genre, while others would rather sit through an entire tutorial on how to paint a fence.
Let’s be real—Death Stranding feels like it could’ve been 30 hours shorter, if not for its gloriously monotonous, almost meditative gameplay. Carrying packages across sprawling landscapes might seem profound to some, but to others, it’s the perfect recipe for counting sheep.
Add in Kojima’s love affair with indulgently long cutscenes (a trademark from his Metal Gear days), and you’ve got a game that feels like it’s dragging its feet on purpose.
Sure, Kojima’s design choices are all about solitude and reflection, but that doesn’t change the fact that many players will find themselves staring at the screen, asking, “Is this game a philosophical journey or a slow-motion snooze fest?”
For some, reaching the story’s climax feels more like a quest for patience than an actual destination.
Far Cry 6
Ubisoft learned a long time ago that if something works, keep doing it—again, and again, and again. Enter Far Cry 6, a game that feels like the overzealous little sibling of its predecessors.
Sure, it’s not awful, but it certainly doesn’t bring anything new to the table. Its main story clocks in at a reasonable 24 hours, but for many, it still feels like it’s been stretched thinner than the plot itself.
The problem? Despite Giancarlo Esposito delivering a masterclass in villainy, the story itself is as compelling as a soggy napkin. It never quite manages to grab your attention the way Far Cry 3, 4, and 5 did.
The real kicker, though, is the progression system that practically forces you to dive into tedious side content just to stay on track. This means the game’s pacing goes from 60 mph to a grinding halt faster than you can say “optional mission.”
And let’s not even get started on the map—packed with collectibles, points of interest, and side activities that all quickly become repetitive. Enemy AI? About as sharp as a rubber knife.
Mission structure? A rinse and repeat affair that leaves you wondering if Ubisoft is just playing a prank on you at this point. Far Cry 6 is the open-world equivalent of a fast-food meal – filling but ultimately unsatisfying.
Ghost Recon – Breakpoint
Ghost Recon: Breakpoint earns its spot here with a little asterisk—because, let’s face it, it’s only too long if you’re playing solo. Team up with friends, and suddenly, those hours just melt away.
But if you’re flying solo? Well, the game feels like an endurance test with a side of grind.
It’s another Ubisoft open-world affair, which means you can expect a giant map packed with distractions and pointless side content that’s as relevant as a soggy napkin.
The main story may only take around 23 hours to finish, but it feels like a lot more due to its disjointed pacing. The freedom to choose missions in whatever order you like sounds cool in theory, but in practice, it makes the narrative feel like a jumbled mess.
And while the stealthy, badass moments are fun at first, once you’ve found your perfect loadout and play style, the game quickly turns into a repetitive slog.
Sure, you’ll keep exploring, but mostly to grind out slightly better weapon stats—riveting stuff.
Kudos to Ubisoft for salvaging Breakpoint after its disastrous 2019 launch, though.
It’s undoubtedly better now, but the bloated nature of the game still makes it a test of patience. Wildlands never felt this tiresome, and that’s saying something.
Dragon’s Dogma 2
Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a rare gem in the modern open-world landscape—no bloated filler, no endless grind for the sake of longevity. The main story stretches to a reasonable 30 hours, and the side quests?
Surprisingly engaging, with most of them offering their own unique stories.
The map is vast and brimming with points of interest that are actually fun to explore (and deadly, too). It’s a great game… until you realize that everything in it takes far too long.
First, let’s talk about fast travel—or rather, the lack of it. With limited fast travel options, you’re stuck hoofing it across the world or riding a cart, neither of which are particularly leisurely.
Sure, the developers wanted to make every journey feel like an adventure, but after the fifth time you’re ambushed by bandits or mauled by wolves on your trek, that “adventure” starts to feel more like a chore.
And don’t get me started on inventory management. It’s sadistic, really. The constant fear of being over-encumbered is enough to make you reconsider whether it’s even worth picking up that extra sword.
All in all, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a game that can test the patience of even the most saintly of players—and trust me, you’ll need all the patience you can muster.
Concluding Thoughts
In the end, open-world games are a double-edged sword—massive, immersive, & often brimming with content, but sometimes to the point where it feels like you’re playing just to play, rather than enjoying the journey.
While some of these titles get the balance right, offering engaging narratives and satisfying side content, others fall into the trap of bloat and repetition.
Whether it’s endless backtracking, overly complex systems, or an inventory management nightmare, these games can often feel longer than they need to be.
But hey, if you’ve got the time and the patience, these sprawling worlds are ready for you to lose yourself in. Just be prepared for a lot of walking—and possibly a few naps along the way. You can also browse games here at level 5 shop.
