10 Great Video Games That Are WAY Too Long

Over the years, video games haven’t just advanced in terms of visuals or mechanics, but in size. What could once be beaten in a single afternoon can now take up most of the year.

When it comes to modern marketing, games don’t just show off the graphics and gameplay but how much stuff is packed into them. That way, consumers know they should get their money’s worth if the game takes forever to win. 

Although this sort of gameplay mightn’t suit casuals, it shouldn’t be a cause for alarm. Even though Breath of the Wild and Elden Ring are immense, you can get through them in a fraction of the time if you don’t bother with the optional missions.

However, this becomes a problem when the main campaign itself is enormous. Even if you focus on what needs to be done, it can still be a slog. What’s worse is when the game in question seems to be tying up every loose end, before throwing in a whole new plot or antagonist, padding it out further.

These ten entries are phenomenal, but they would’ve been better if they were a little (or a lot) shorter.

After 20 years and almost 20 games, you’d think Like A Dragon (originally known as Yakuza) would be out of steam.

But considering the most recent instalment, Infinite Wealth, is among the few games to receive a perfect score from Famitsu, the wacky mob saga is looking to be stronger than ever. 

Which is ironic since the latest entry suffers from a shameless amount of bloat. From beginning to end, the game is filled with overly long cutscenes and drawn-out exposition. Though these sections can be skipped, you’ll miss out on integral plot points. 

As can be expected from Like a Dragon, Infinite Wealth has a bunch of mini-games and side-quests, including treasure hunts, photo missions, and delivery tasks. Although similar bonus features appear in previous instalments, they’re usually for hardcore players since they take hours to accomplish. However, several mini games tie directly to the central characters, compelling you to take part in them to get the full experience. 

Also, the random encounters become disproportionately tough later on, so you’ll be forced to grind if you don’t take part in these so-called voluntary missions.

Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth is superb, but the way it artificially lengthens the main campaign is annoying.