These 7 Short Video Games That You Can Finish Under 20 Hours Are A True Comfort

Fellow brethren who’ve got their 9-to-5s may not be able to commit to gargantuan such as No Man’s Sky, Red Dead Redemption 2, or The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. As enjoyable as those games are, finding closure in such titles can be hard and often detrimental to your productivity. I can’t be skipping my dedicated time for doing house chores just to squeeze out another main quest of these games again and again.  

That’s why I’ve decided to talk about some of the games I’ve played over the years that don’t warrant spending entire days on them to be able to get somewhere. That’s why if you ever find yourself strapped for time, make sure to check the forthcoming entries out, and you’ll be golden.  

No Time For Lengthy Campaigns? No Problem

I will have you know that the list ahead does not amount to a definitive ranking or anything of the sort. Instead, it’s an opinion that I’ve acquired after playing a range of different video games over time. Feel free to suggest like-minded titles down in the comments section though. 

1. The BioShock Games 

While this particular section assesses the BioShock games as individual entities, HowLongToBeat tells us that beating the entirety of BioShock: The Collection, which comprises three different BioShock titles takes about 35 hours at least. That means beating each game in the bundle takes somewhere around 11 hours, which is very respectful of my time and hopefully yours as well.

While all BioShock games have their own unique experience to offer, I hold BioShock 2 to be a personal favorite, which is also a title that’s in desperate need of a revival by current-gen standards. A terrific atmosphere, great gameplay, catchy art direction, and a thrilling story are some of the strongest points of the game that you can expect before playing. 

2. Ratchet And Clank: Rift Apart 

Coming across as a tasty showcase of the PlayStation 5’s potential and the magic of the DualSense, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is a delightful experience with a play length that lasts about 11 hours. That’s just the perfect amount of time I can invest into gaming at times, especially when I’m on the go, and when you have the likes of Rift Apart at your disposal, consider it a blessing from God almighty. 

Just so you know, the title has rolled over 4 million units to date, instilling demand that the rest of the Ratchet and Clank games be looked into for a modern-day resurgence.

3. Astro’s Playroom 

It only takes 3 hours to beat Astro’s Playroom, but let me tell you this—no other game has harnessed the capacity of the PS5’s hardware and DualSense yet, and for that reason alone, you’re going to be playing this game a lot more than a couple of hours. This may sound counterintuitive, but there’s no denying how genuinely amusing Astro — the unofficial PlayStation mascot — can be. 

4. Titanfall 2

There’s no reason why we shouldn’t already be playing a new Titanfall game (come on, Respawn!), considering how excellent this IP has turned out to be, aging like nothing but fine wine over the years. Titanfall 2, in particular, doesn’t even take 10 hours to be beaten in single-player, which is what makes it so convenient.

However, I highly recommend going through the game in multiplayer mode, which is what Titanfall 2 naturally incorporates in its campaign. It’s a fantastic shooter with some of the best gunplay mechanics in the business.  

5. Inscryption 

How can anyone make a card game scary? That’s what you should be asking Daniel Mullins Games for making an intense psychological horror that might not end up as everyone’s favorite game ever, but certainly a memorable experience all the same. Inscryption has remained underrated over the course of its release, but make no mistake that it can make you doubt the AAA experience without breaking a sweat. 

6. Resident Evil 4

Capcom really pulled out the recipe of love for this one, finally giving fans what they’ve longed for, for years on end. The OG Resident Evil 4 back from 2005 has a runtime of about 15 and a half hours; the same goes for this faithful reimagining of the classic third-person shooter more or less.

And while the story events may feel lengthy at times, the sequences are set out well and fairly spaced, giving you enough room to finish the mainline campaign at a moderate pace. After all, you don’t become your franchise’s fastest-selling title in history for nothing. 

7. What Remains Of Edith Finch 

At last, the final game that I’d like to jot down here is one that’s the shortest on the list, averaging a 2-hour playtime, but making sure that those 2 hours are some of the best you’ve ever spent. What Remains of Edith Finch is played from a first-person perspective, with a heavy focus on environmental storytelling, narration, and the plot itself. 

I’d be willing to trade a lot to be able to play this game for the first time again.