Some big games take hours and hours to finish. However, games don't have to be long to be great. There are a bunch of iconic titles that are under five hours long. This is good because not everyone has the time to dedicate 100 hours to a game.
Sometimes, you just want to stay in one evening and play all the way through a great adventure. Thankfully, there are plenty of games on Steam that are short enough to allow you to do that. Here are the ones that stand out the most.
10
Portal
Portal is an iconic puzzle game where you have to complete trial after trial with the help of your fancy gun that allows you to shoot portals. Each test room gives you an exit, but there are usually a lot of obstacles. The puzzles are very creative and well designed.
The AI that tops this puzzle's title is GlaDOS, who forces you to do all the tests. She may be a robot, but she has bags of personality and will taunt you throughout the three-five hour game.
9
Untitled Goose Game
The untitled goose game lets you play as a mischievous little goose as you wreak havoc around a small village. All you can do is walk around, honk and grab things, but that's all you need to terrorize people.
On each screen, you have a to-do list, and the goal is to check them all off and move on to the next area. Figuring out how to use honking and grabbing to complete the tasks you set is the fun part of the game. It's a pretty silly game, but the puzzles are actually really clever and fun to figure out. It takes about three to four hours to beat the whole thing.
8
Firewatch
In Firewatch, you play as a man who gets a new job as a fire lookout. Every day, you go out and check the surrounding area. Along the way, you have a conversation with your supervisor.
These discussions are what really make the game. The two characters have great chemistry and engage in some interesting conversations that naturally deepen as they begin to bond. The story goes in some amazing directions, and you can experience it all in about four hours.
7
travel
In just two hours, you can fully experience a fascinating journey on the journey. You control a desert-clad man who must make it to a distant mountain. In the process, you need to get past obstacles by jumping, flying a bit, and using the powerful music sound you have.
Along the way, you may meet others online. There is no in-game chat, so you have to bond and communicate through actions alone. This creates a unique multiplayer experience that enhances an already beautiful game.
6
inside
Inside is a unique 2D puzzle-platformer that puts you in control of the boy in the red shirt. That shirt is one of the few bright things in this game, as you wander through a dark dystopia. As a boy, you have to move forward and stay out of danger as much as possible.
Usually, this means completing puzzles, and most of them are well-designed and fun. The game also has great atmosphere and beautiful art direction. This is why it is considered one of the best of its generation. And you can beat the whole adventure in less than five hours, and it'll stay with you for a lot longer than that.
5
Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe
In The Stanley Parable, you play as an office worker named Stanley, who finds himself in a deserted office building. You walk around the place, and there's a narrator to guide you. You can do as he says, but a big part of the game is going places and doing things he doesn't want you to do. He reacts to everything you do in a fun way. That's the beauty of the game, because the writing is great for the narrator.
There are many different endings for you to find in the game. Once you find one, you start over to try more. Since there are multiple endings, it is unclear what counts as ending the game. But you will be able to see most of the endings in one evening.
4
Superhot
Superhot is a unique puzzle game that is as fast as you are. This is because every time you move, even time. So, if you are stationary, so are your enemies and their bullets. The objective is to plan your moves while eliminating them all while avoiding enemy fire.
Everyone, including you, is taken out with a single shot, so things are tense. When you do it right, you feel like a true action star. There aren't many puzzle titles like this, and it's only three to five hours long.
3
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter tells the story of a paranormal investigator who travels to a small town after receiving a letter from a child named Ethan Carter. When he gets there, he discovers that Ethan is missing and that strange paranormal events are happening all over town.
You have to head around the place and investigate it all while trying to piece together what happened. You do this without much hand-holding, as the game gives you free rein to explore and research yourself. It makes for a fascinating adventure that only lasts four hours.
2
Little nightmares
As far as puzzle-platformers go, Little Nightmares is much darker and scarier than most. During the game, you have to make your way through dark areas filled with strange looking creatures that can kill you instantly. So, you have to time your tricks and complete the puzzles to get through the areas where these animals don't see you.
The gameplay is fun, but the presentation could be better. This is because it has a beautiful art style and the sound is fantastic. Together, they help the game feel very atmospheric. Overall, this is a great title that you can beat in three to five hours.
1
Donut County
If you want a chill, two-hour experience, Donut County might be the game for you. This is a simple title where you control a hole in the ground. This hole keeps getting bigger as you eat things on the surface. You usually start with small things like bricks, then you move on to vehicles and other larger objects.
Sometimes you can even pull things out of the hole to help others knock them into place for you to eat. The food remains satisfying during the two-hour game. There's also a nice, quirky story to enjoy about raccoons being the reason for these large holes.
