I Know It Sounds Hypocritical, But There Is A Lack Of Short AAA Games This Generation

Before I start penning down my thoughts, let me make this clear: This piece is in no way a complaint about some of the higher-quality and long-form games in the AAA gaming space, such as Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Cyberpunk 2077. If someone loves a game, it’s natural for them to want more of it, and these titles are out there delivering on just that front, no questions asked. 

For the rest of us, however, who crave shorter experiences because of various reasons, there’s not a lot offered by the AAA sphere this time around, except for a genuinely few options that hit the nail on the head with their overall immersion. PlayStation’s Astro’s Playroom is a premier example of the latter.

So why the disparity? I have anything but a clear idea because such games sell so well as well. Look at Stardew Valley, for starters, and what it’s managed to become over the years, being the passion project of the solo developer Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone. 

Time Constraints Can Often Tire You Out 

So, first things first. one of the main reasons that more iterations in this particular category of AAA experiences would fit in right well is the convenience offered to be able to sit through a title until the credits start rolling down. You catch my drift? 

This write-up does not come from a 14-year-old with no responsibilities. As you’ve started to make headway in adulthood as well, you probably realize that your time is a lot more valuable than it once was, so naturally, you’re going to pick your games accordingly as well. Absolute slog-fests that take north of 30 hours to finish are likely to get dropped by the average player if the experience offered on display is not up to par.

That’s just how it is in 2024. People’s attention span is at an all-time low.

But then again, it does come down to how you define “short” in gaming. There are titles out there that you can fire up for a quick and satisfying 20-minute session, while others are of a more focus-required nature, spanning anywhere between 15-20 hours of campaign length. 

The Value To Money Proportion Is A Real Concern Though

Now, get this. I’m understanding of what the typical expectations of a person paying about $60 for a brand-new AAA game are. Well, actually, while the anticipations for said game can vary, here’s one thing that I’m sure every single person wants first and foremost: Value. 

A piece of media setting you back more than $50 has to keep you occupied for a minimum 20-30 hours or so for it to pass as a “good game.” If the experience runs short because the game is, well, short, those reviews are going to come pouring in, and not a lot of people are going to want to pick that particular title up.

Be that as it may, because the length of a game has become the key selling point in the AAA gaming sphere, and there’s just now working around that. No one’s going to pay a premium and not expect value out of their purchase. That’s a given. 

 A glaring example of the latter is The Order: 1886. Absolutely fantastic game with visuals that far surpass many AAA titles of today, but its major sin? It’s too short, and people flocked to label the game as “worthless” upon that unsettling discovery. History, therefore, has not been kind to shorter experiences in this particular avenue of gaming.   

High-Quality Yet Shorter AAA Experiences Are Few And Far Between

I won’t say that the generation at hand has been completely lackluster in the “short games, good games” department, but, yes, like I said before, the absence of abundance is clear. On the flip side, though, Returnal has managed to keep me utterly satisfied with the quality it sports, but I’ve noticed over time that different players will get different opinions out of this shooter as far as the play length is concerned. 

Some folks tend to take 10 hours to get to the end, while others take that much to clear the first section. Your mileage may vary, but for me, I spent about 17 hours going through it from start to finish. Absolutely phenomenal title.  

Do let me know what you think about this particular occurrence in the industry, and whether developers should start focusing on shorter games of AAA nature.