With so many games on the market aiming to command our attention for long periods of time — or indefinitely in the case of live service titles — finding the time to play an entirely new game can feel demoralizing. Beyond obligations at work, home, or even to your online friends, picking up another sprawling 100-hour RPG may not be in the cards for everybody.
However, that doesn’t mean we should eschew unique experiences in favor of familiarity. Shorter narrative-focused games allow us to take in new sights and sounds without the commitment required for their longer cousins, and do so without sacrificing quality or artistry. To that end, here are seven games that you can beat in under five hours.
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Firewatch
Escaping Isn’t Always Something Bad
The single-player first-person mystery game Firewatch is a slow burn, at least as much as a game this short can be. The opening moments recount a beautiful and tragic history that has led the main character, Henry, to his job on the Firewatch. When his lookout tower is ransacked on his first day on the job, it sets in motion a series of mysterious events, which Henry must follow so he can piece together what has happened in the forest.
The game’s dialogue is a major bright spot, with Henry speaking to his supervisor, Delilah, using walkie-talkies. Whenever you come across an item or a clue, the option to speak with Delilah appears on-screen, but you don’t necessarily have to take it. These small moments of player choice—choosing to speak to Delilah or not—shape the relationship between the pair, coloring everything that transpires thereafter.
While not difficult in a traditional sense, Firewatch is quite taxing, as it never pulls any punches along the way. Characters react appropriately to what they see and hear, throwing out jokes when appropriate, or responding in anger when warranted, and this emotional consistency helps ground the characters. Lacking a traditional map or objective markers, Firewatch asks players to explore, and that exploration should be applied equally to the forest you play in and the events of the narrative itself.
And Roger
Puzzles With a Purpose
Saying And Roger (stylized as “and Roger“) is under 5 hours long is a bit like saying an inch is under 10 feet long — the scale is just a bit off. Still, And Roger is a lot to chew on despite its short runtime. The story takes place over the course of three chapters, following a young girl as she wakes up with a strange man in her home. Who is this man, and is what the protagonist sees real?
The top-line point is that And Roger is extraordinarily inventive in its gameplay. Mechanics constantly shift, with players performing entirely bespoke actions scene-to-scene, and these gameplay elements tie into the narrative and story events as they transpire onscreen alongside the button prompts.
Truthfully, there are few ways to talk about And Roger without giving the game away (such is the nature of such short titles), but that makes it all the more imperative that you play it for yourself. It is devastating, subversive, heartwarming, and more, all within that small window given to us.
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Gris
Find Your Voice
GRIS
- Released
-
December 13, 2018
One of the most visually stunning games you’ll ever see, Gris is an emotional look at a single girl’s struggle in dealing with loss. Through this trauma, Gris (the main character) has lost her voice, her will to move forward, and her reason for being. Yet Gris persists, navigating those watercolor-esque environments to reclaim her own agency.
Throughout Gris, players will encounter puzzles, platforming sequences, and optional skill-based challenges. There is no danger or death to be found here; instead, Gris uses its evocative art and animation to communicate the titular character’s journey of acceptance. Every trial is an opportunity for growth, and each action taken in-game ties beautifully with the narrative Gris is weaving.
Even if platforming is not your thing, Gris’ simple controls, lack of text, and use of universal icons and symbols make it accessible to just about everyone who plays games across any culture or spoken language. This simplicity does allow for a more reflective experience, letting players take in the sights and sounds to internalize the imagery and events that transpire throughout Gris’ journey.
What Remains of Edith Finch
Lives Lived and Lost Still Leave Behind Memories
In What Remains of Edith Finch, players step into the shoes of 17-year-old Edith as she returns to her sprawling ancestral home in Washington state. This collection of odd tales is a hauntingly beautiful exploration of family, legacy, and the stories we leave behind. As the last living member of the Finch family, Edith endeavors to understand the curse that has claimed the lives of her relatives going back for generations.
The gameplay is a masterclass in environmental storytelling. As you explore the labyrinthine house full of sealed-off rooms and bizarre contraptions, you interact with various mementos that trigger short vignettes. These vignettes transport you into the final moments of a family member’s life, each with a bespoke gameplay experience that continually surprises. Perspective, genre, visuals—nothing is set in stone from moment to moment.
Its story is a reminder that our lives and relationships are both complicated and beautiful, despite (or perhaps because of) the pain and hardships we have experienced along the way. It shows us that every one of us has inner workings, that all of us are valuable, and that it matters that we live.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
That Dragon, Cancer
An Interactive Memoir About the Weight of Love and the Pain of Loss
In That Dragon, Cancer, players step into the lives of Ryan and Amy Green as they navigate the terminal illness of their young son, Joel. This interactive memoir is a raw, heartwrenching exploration of faith, love, hope, and grief, developed to memorialize and honor the memory of Joel and his four-year fight against cancer. How do we face life when we are powerless against its worst moments?
Rather than traditional puzzles or interactivity, you engage with poetic and often surreal scenes that reflect the psychological state of the parents and the other characters in the game. For example, in the intro, you can see from the doctor’s perspective as they deliver the news of Joel’s diagnosis, and later, you are Joel himself going down a slide, while in another scene, you’re a duck being fed, and so on. These shifting perspectives from disparate moments in time are punctuated by real-life audio recordings and letters, monuments to the grief and pain this family has experienced. The same pain that many families feel every single day.
In truth, That Dragon, Cancer doesn’t offer easy answers to the questions it asks, nor does it depict a miraculous escape; instead, it honors Joel through the small, fleeting moments of joy between all the pain and anger that comes with such a diagnosis. Over the course of two hours, you will come to understand Joel and his family through this intimate and heartbreaking experience.
Indika
A Surreal Odyssey of Devotion and Devilry
An arresting journey through and through, Indika is the story of a young nun of the same name. It is clear from the early moments that Indika is not well-liked by her sisters, and eventually she is forced out of her convent and sent on a mission to deliver a letter.
While the overarching story may not be profound, the presentation of the material is exceptional. It frequently moves from a humorous or surreal tone to a more somber one, making each particular moment shine. The strongest aspect of Indika may lie in its character writing, with Indika herself expressing doubt in her faith, and her companion Ilya remaining steadfast in his beliefs all the way through, even as his arm shrivels and dies from necrosis.
The game is not difficult to play, either, with almost the entire experience amounting to walking slowly through tight rooms and hallways, with the occasional puzzle thrown in. Generally speaking, the care with which Indika handles all of its subject matter and the deliberate, pointed dialogue make it an easy game to recommend for anyone with a few hours to spare.
Sayonara Wild Hearts
Neon Dreams Set to Rhythmic Themes
A vibrant, kaleidoscopic video game that pulses with neon energy, Sayonara Wild Hearts is an exploration of heartbreak and the journey toward self-healing. Following a young woman whose heart has shattered, the game takes place on surreal, dreamlike roadways where she must restore the balance of her universe. As her alter-ego, The Fool, she hunts down the celestial arcana that represent her inner troubles.
The gameplay is a fascinating blend of rhythm, racing, and choreographed combat—all set to a custom-written pop soundtrack. Players chase foes through highways, forests, and virtual reality to see the healing through, and the rhythmic sword fights and flashing lights keep your blood pumping. Despite having a scoring system throughout, the focus remains on the experience, allowing the music and visuals to guide the player through the narrative beats. There are also riddles to solve, should players choose to do so.
For those who don’t typically play action or rhythm games, Sayonara Wild Hearts is remarkably approachable. Its intuitive one-button controls and forgiving checkpoint system mean that anyone can experience the spectacle without getting frustrated by complex mechanics. Its stylish, kinetic visual language creates a universal experience that feels thrilling to push yourself through, even if more traditional storytelling techniques are mostly forgone in the process.
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