7 great games that you can beat in under 3 hours
There’s a certain stigma attached to short games, just because something is longer doesn’t necessarily mean that it is better and that’s what I’m out to prove with these 10 games. I find that the older I get the more I’m all for experiencing a well paced shorter game. Sometimes it has a tightly scripted narrative or other times it allows for more originality in its design. A unique concept or mechanic can often only carry a game so far before it starts to lose traction. Far too many games try to extend their runtime with needless bloat but if anything it takes restraint to understand that a short game of high quality can leave a far more memorable impact on the player. So without further ado here are ten games (In no particular order) that I think serve this topic perfectly
No.1 - No case should remain unsolved (Released Jan 2024)
The idea for this writeup came to me when I had just finished Spiderman 2 and I was recommended this indie detective game called ‘No case should remain unsolved’. It was the perfect pallette cleanser to carry on over to another AAA game and left just as much of an impact on me just in its short runtime of 2 hours. The premise was simple enough, you’re a retiring detective that tasks themselves with going back through the evidence of their one unsolved case before they hand in their badge for good. I don’t want to spoil too much because I encourage you to play it yourself but in summary as you begin to look through the evidence you begin to piece together messages and they help unlock key stages in the investigation. Then slowly but surely you start to see the big picture and find out that all is not exactly how it seems
No.2 - The Yawhg (Released May 2013)
The Yawhg is one of those underrated gems that has sadly been lost to time. A time when indie games were actually few and far between but still had to fight just as hard for recognition. What will immediately grab you even from the title screen is the incredible score from Halina Heron and Ryan Roth. It gives the game a real sense of place and atmosphere and elevates what is admittedly a simplistic but charming game to new heights. Although you can play alone, it also allows 4 player local co-op as well which is a neat touch especially these days. You take on the roles of various characters from around the town and are told that in 6 weeks a terrible storm will come. It is therefore down to the player to use this time as you see fit before everything is destroyed. I love how although each character is doing their own thing but the stories they live intertwine and cause effects to one another. Whether that be being struck down by an ancient illness or discarding some magic beans, the other characters can all carry on these narratives in interesting ways that always leave you wondering what could be different on another playthrough. In fact multiple playthroughs are almost a must because you start to familiarise yourself with the town and scenarios and in turn it lets you progress them to their natural end. Whether you fail or thrive the journey is always an entertaining one and leaves memories with me that have remained ever since my first playthrough back when it was first released. This one truly has a special place in my heart.
No.3 - Journey (March 2012)
I think it’s safe to say Journey is safely inside the theoretical indie game hall of fame so this really needs no introduction. Battling it out with heavy hitters like Mass effect 3, Borderlands 2 and Dishonored, Journey still managed to beat all of these to the punch with a handful of GOTY awards. In turn showing the industry that Indie games were overdue to be taken seriously and could fight up there with the big boys. Its a game that although simple in design is perfectly executed with great feeling controls, an amazing score by Austin Wintrory and stunning art style. The narrative is simple, you are a silent protagonist that is tasked with venturing forth up the mountain sighted way in the distance. Alongside you on your journey you encounter other online players however there is no means of communicating in game, instead it just seeks to provide you with companionship on your lonely travels. This is such a beautiful use of multiplayer as you never think of them as another human player but once you’ve completed the game it shows you all of the people who have joined you on your travels. I remember being late to the party in the PS3 era and it was one of the first games I bought for it. I was blown away as it was unlike anything i’d experienced up until then and maybe even since. I think you could go as far to say it really kickstarted the Playstation’s second era of dominance putting indie games front and centre and giving them a platform to thrive on
No.4 - Superhot (Feb 2016)
Personally I don’t think many things in gaming will come close to the rush of beating a level and seeing the words ‘SUPER HOT’ flash up sequentially. Its a game I find myself constantly coming back to in short bursts both in the original game and later the VR version and although short, has provided countless hours of enjoyment. What starts off being a clunky and chaotic game as you learn to master the controls and abilities turns into a beautiful ballet of bullets. Dancing and weaving though each stage, fragmenting your enemies one by one as they charge towards you. Its premise is wickedly simple, time only moves when you do. As you first learn to play it is almost taken for granted as you are presented with weapons your instinct is to run and gun, although this quickly turns into an impossibly option as the difficulty ramps up. Only with time and practice do you understand that its hardly a shooter at all but more of a strategy game and the one hit death only stands to emphasise that. Once you’ve gotten a grip of things you find yourself entering an almost flow state. Bullets are fired, time is stopped, you are thinking about and executing your next move before that bullet lodges itself into the previous foe. Its a near perfect loop I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of and I urge anyone else to try it too
No.5 - Stanley parable (Oct 2013)
At this point I think everyone who knows about this game can agree its reached an almost cult status and was such a breath of fresh of air in a time where the gaming industry was so desperate to have itself taken seriously. If I had to summarise the game id tell you it was about a worker named Stanley turning up to work one day and trying to unravel the mystery of where all of co-workers had gone of to. However anyone whos played it knows that is hardly the game at all. In fact maybe 90% of the game is about doing the EXACT opposite of that. You see, on your journey you are accompanied by a narrator and he will give you context and instructions on what to do next, the twist is that you don’t actually have to do any of it. In fact its actively discouraged if you want to find all of the funny side quests, where the narrator will get evermore increasingly annoyed with you as you delve deeper and deeper into the factory. Very few games make me truly laugh out loud but this game is full of funny twists and turns such as when you are told to just go and play minecraft if you aren’t having fun. To spoil anymore would ruin it as each individual run only last a few minutes but its definitely a game more than worth your time
No.6 - Before your eyes (April 2021)
Nothing on this list takes you on quite the emotional rollercoaster like you do with this game. Before your eyes is a game I experienced only last year when I picked up a PSVR2 and was looking for new games to play on it. Although it can also be played without, the eye tracking really is a massive part of the game and id say its near essential to get the most out of it. Its a short experience that takes you through the life of a lost soul in search of having their story told. However you quickly find that the wool has been pulled over your eyes and the story is not all that it seems. To say anymore would ruin it but the scenes are played out quickly and are gone in the blink of an eye (Yes literally, the eye tracking reacts to your movements). It may be light on interaction but its heavy on emotion and left me wrecked by the end of it. Quite simply its a story that will stick with me for a very long time and is an experience unlike any other.
No.7 - Thank goodness you’re here! (August 2024)
As someone from the UK this is possibly THE most British game ever made. Set in the fictionalised town of Barnsworth it perfectly depicts the Yorkshire area that it is created to spoof. With excellent voice acting Matt berry being a particular highlight with his impossibly distinctive sound) and laughs a plenty it feels like a game that was almost tailor made for me. You find yourself sent to the town to meet the mayor but are quickly side-tracked as you are roped in to helping various inhabitants around the place with their daily routines. You only really have one button command, a slap, however you’d be surprised how far that can carry you. I would find myself slapping anything in sight and smiling with delight, from cabbage patches to Big Ron’s big buns, id never get tired of it. Pair that with an easy platinum and some hilarious hidden achievements you have absolutely no excuse not to give this one a go
