(video game music chimes) - [Falcon] A long game can
provide you with an odyssey, a journey, but sometimes you
don't have time for that. It's not that you don't want an odyssey. It's that you don't have
an odyssey worth of time. We got you covered here at Gameranx. Hi, folks, it's Falcon, and today 15 of the best single
player games you can finish in five hours or less for that matter, because we're starting off with number 15, "Portal with RTX." The original "Portal" that
shipped with "The Orange Box" back in 2007 is still a classic. One of the all time great puzzle games. You can finish it in
just about three hours. It's short, but it's very sweet. And if you got a nice powerful
rig, it's a great benchmark with all the new ray
tracing features built in. - [Computer] Unbelievable. You, subject name here,
must be the pride of, subject here. - [Falcon] This is just
about the perfect game to add ray tracing to. The simple environments really pop with everything cranked up to the max. Even if you don't have or don't care about cutting
edge graphics, it's "Portal." It's still an incredibly good game, but the ray tracing is an easy excuse to jump back into this seminal
puzzle game one more time. At number 14 is "Resident Evil 3." Some people honestly dislike how short "Resident Evil 3" remake is. How Long To Beat says it
takes about six hours. But you can clear it pretty
easily in under five hours without really trying too hard. For some, the short length
is a disappointment, but for others, it's a good thing. I love the "Resident Evil 2" remake, but the "Resident Evil 3" remake is the one I find myself
returning to the most probably because of its short length. It's just a really fun experience. Yeah, Nemesis isn't quite
as terrifying as Mr. X, and the game isn't as innovative overall, but its more streamlined,
action oriented gameplay makes it a smooth experience. Also, of course it looks great. All these new "Resident Evil" games have been visual showcases,
and this one is no exception. I do understand that some
people are disappointed the remake misses some sections
from the original game, and also Nemesis doesn't
actually appear that often. (suspenseful music) It's probably the most flawed out of the new crop of
"Resident Evil" games. But also for whatever reason,
I keep going back to it a lot. It's a great and short game. At number 13 is "Brothers:
A Tale of Two Sons." This Xbox Live indie is
getting a remake soon, so that's all the more reason to talk about it in my opinion. Made by Josef Fares, the guy who went on to make "A
Way Out" and "It Takes Two," this game's sort of the opposite of his later co-op centric games. It's a single player game with the gimmick that
each brother is controlled by a separate stick. It takes a little getting used to. And a lot of the challenge
of the game comes from trying to mentally coordinate
two characters at once. It's a less polished game. And it could be a huge pain, but "Brothers" is also made
as tightly as they come. You're moving through
environments pretty quickly. No single gameplay challenge
goes on for too long or feels too difficult. It's just really good. Honestly, it probably
served as the blueprint for all of his later games, despite the fact that
it's kind of the opposite. Somebody probably said to him, "You know what'd be great
is if this was two player." It's more of an experience game
than a legitimate challenge, which makes the short length
work in the game's favor. It's only around three hours. But it's pretty fantastic
the whole way through. The controls can be a
source of frustration for people who struggle
to mentally multitask. But once you get into the right headspace, this one is a winner. At number 12 is "Alien vs. Predator." I'm cheating a little bit here 'cause this Rebellion made game actually takes about eight and a half to nine hours to finish, but each individual campaign
only takes about three. So I'm just gonna say it fits. It's not one of those types of games where each campaign is meant
to be played in sequence or anything. They're all basically standalone games. So yeah, kind of a cheat, but whatever. But do we get to mention
this one a whole lot though? No, we don't. This game lets you play as
a colonial Marine, an alien, or a predator. Each campaign's completely different, and each playable character
has their own mechanics and gameplay. The colonial Marine is
exactly what you'd expect, but the alien can do things
like climb on walls and leap, and it makes 'em feel totally different. (gunshots)
(alien grumbles) Predator, however, probably the most fun. Pure power fantasy. They can turn invisible,
rip enemies limb from limb, blow guys up with their plasma caster. I mean, there's plenty they
can do that's just crazy. You really feel like a hunter when you're playing as this one. And while I think all
three campaigns are fun in their own right,
predator's the standout. (alien grumbles) At number 11 is "Carrion," an
indie game that's the reverse of what you normally get in games. Instead of being the
human fighting monsters in the secret underground lab, you're the monster trying to get out. You play as this bizarre
tentacle blob of meat and teeth, basically just an amorphous horror, and you consume scientists and guards, you're able to spread
corruption, become stronger. You're basically the Alien
crossed with Eldridge Horror. It's a dark pretense, but it's fantastic. Depending on your biomass, you either have to play
as a stealthy mouse in a game of cat and
mouse to take out captors, or if you've got a bunch of
biomass you can just go nuts, grab people, throw 'em
around, devour 'em outright. You wanna stay big, but sometimes the only
way you can progress is to shed some weight and become smaller, which makes you weaker
and more vulnerable again. So the game mixes things
up pretty regularly. Not just a pure power fantasy. Sometimes it feels like a 2D stealth game because you can die pretty
quickly if you're not careful. This is really a good one. How Long To Beat says takes
about four and a half hours, which is give or take the
same amount of time I spent with it, maybe a little longer honestly. There are some things that I
intentionally took time with just because they were fun. But even at four and a half hours, I think there's enough
time to have some fun without the gimmick getting too stale or the environment getting too repetitive. This is one of the more interesting indies of the last few years. And if you haven't played
it, you really should. At number 10 is "Titanfall 2"'s campaign. "Call of Duty" campaigns are short. They usually run four
to six hours these days. And while the most recent
one is pretty weak, "Modern Warfare 3," they're
normally pretty decent. There's a lot of good campaigns in the series I could pick for the list. "Call of Duty 4" is a classic. So is the sequel, "Infinite Warfare." Highly regarded as one of the best. I have a soft spot for most
of the "Black Ops" campaigns. I mean, I've even done before
you buys for some of 'em if I remember right. But the best "Call of Duty" campaign isn't even a "Call of Duty" game. It's "Titanfall 2." Rather than trying to be
this gritty military story, "Titanfall 2"'s campaign
is all about being fun. Every level is constructed for
maximum entertainment value. The game is always mixing things up and throwing in new
situations and scenarios. Just a roller coaster
ride from start to finish. How Long To Beat has it listed
as six hours on average, but for me, I always end up finishing in about four and a half hours. It's one of those games
that you can take it slow, but the movement
mechanics are just so fun. I'm looking for spots to
wall run, backstab guys. (wind roars) - [Soldier] We got the drop on 'em. - [Falcon] You can't help but
progress as fast as you can. Like, I'm not gonna say
it's like speed run fast or anything, but I'm usually finishing this
thing in under five hours. It's a fantastically
put together campaign, and it's a real shame it's
never really gotten a follow up. Like, they're the masters of
the "Call of Duty" campaign. I mean, this is the company
started by the original founders of "Infinity War" we're
talking about here. It doesn't have to be "Titanfall 3." Just give us an "Apex"
campaign or something. Anything. At number nine is "Cocoon." In the world of short games,
you've got your AAA hyper-focus and tested cinematic single player modes, and then you've got your
quiet contemplative indies. "Cocoon" definitely the latter and one of the best
indie puzzlers from 2023. Made by one of the guys
behind "Inside" and "Limbo," "Cocoon" isn't quite as
deadly as those games, but it's just about as mysterious. It's one of those games that
drops you into an alien world, tells you to figure it all out, and half the challenge is
trying to figure out the rules of the place you're in. It's a game with an
almost "Myst" like vibe where you're basically just
wandering around solving puzzles with little to no direction. But it works really
well in this game's case 'cause the world in itself is
just incredibly intriguing. This is a game where going
into it knowing as little as possible is the best way to experience. So it's good that there's not
that much of a commitment here in terms of time. Only about five hours is what it'll take to finish this thing. So I mean, it's one of those games that sticks in your mind way
longer than its short run time. At number eight is "Vanquish." Ever wonder what
"Bayonetta" would look like as a third person shooter? Well, that's basically
"Vanquish," and it's fun as hell. Back in the Xbox 360 era, third person shooters were synonymous with slow plot and gameplay. You'd slowly trudge up to
cover, remain completely still, hide from the enemies, maybe
pop out to fire a shot or two, but otherwise you just sat there. I mean, I'm not being completely
fair about those games, but that was the impression
a lot of people had. So when "Vanquish" came out,
it was like a revelation. It's a third person shooter with cover. But instead of sitting
around like a chump, you're rocket boosting all over
the place, flipping around, zipping all over the battlefield. It's fast and chaotic, and it's honestly sometimes a little hard to keep track of what's going on. The game's extremely interesting because all of Platinum's
action game sensibilities bleed into it, like giving you a scorecard
after every enemy encounter, the way the game constantly
throws new enemies and bosses at you. It's not perfect. There's probably a little
too many cut scenes, and they break up the
pacing a little too much. But honestly, you can skip most of them, and it really wouldn't matter. Even if you're watching everything and attempting to follow
along with the story, this is a game that can be
beaten in under six hours. How Long To Beat lists
the average playtime as about six hours. But like "Titanfall,"
it's one of those games where if I'm not rushing forward, it feels like I'm doing something wrong. (dramatic music) (gunshots) And I always end up beating
it in five hours or less. This game came out at a weird time when Japanese devs were trying
to appeal to a western market and usually those games
ended up being kind of crap. But "Vanquish" is not. It is the exact opposite. It's so cracked out and crazy,
it still holds up today. At number seven is "Furi." The indie action game is
unique as it is difficult. Takes classic boss rush
type action game popularized by games like "Gunstar
Heroes" and "Alien Soldier," turns it into a 3D action game that inexplicably has
bullet hell elements. The plot here is simple. You're the stranger or the rider. I don't really know. The game calls you both. And you're fighting through
10 guardians to do something. I don't really know. That's the plot. Doesn't matter. Only thing that does matter
is these crazy boss battles, and they are fantastically
designed all around. (upbeat music) It is a game that can be completed in way less than five hours. But actually beating some of the bosses is what makes the whole thing take longer. Some of the fights are no joke, and certain parts of the game feel like brutal difficulty spikes if you're not mentally prepared for what the game is going
to throw at you next. If you're the type who
loves a good boss fight, "Furi" has some of the best out there. At number six is "Call
of Juarez: Gunslinger." Only about five hours average. And you'd think this
"Call of Juarez" spinoff would feel pretty slight
with that runtime, but this game manages
to pack a lot of game in how short it is. What makes it unique
is the framing device. It's a story being told at a saloon, so the whole thing is larger
than life and exaggerated. This doesn't just play into the story. It actually affects
everything about the game in really clever ways. Like, you can literally dodge bullets when you're about to die. Shooting feels powerful. You're basically a walking
tank that's surprisingly fast. Every level mostly consists
of blowing away enemies by the dozens with very little effort. Sounds brainless, but
it's very entertaining. It's done in a way that goes well above and
beyond what it sounds like. The environment changes on the fly when the narrator realizes
he remembers something wrong or said something that doesn't
work, which can be annoying, but it's actually a pretty solid mechanic given the pretty solid writing. The game also has one of the best quick draw
mini games I've ever seen. It's tense without being annoying. It's not long, but it's extremely fun, and it's one of those games
that's really easy to return to, works perfectly on the PC still, which is not the case
from games from 2013. - [Person] He's in town somewhere. - [Game Narrator] Me and the kids shared a certain similarity
in build and color. I was just glad I had Deputy
Bob's mean ass shotgun. - [Falcon] At number five is "Inside." The follow-up to "Limbo" is a masterclass in mystery and mood. The cinematic adventure
game immediately throws you in the middle of this bizarre scenario that's never explained. It only gets more bizarre and confusing by the time the end credits hit. It's probably one of the most disorienting action
adventure games of all time. You start out as a kid in the woods, and suddenly people are shooting at you, dogs are chasing you, there's
mind controlled humans, a giant research facility. It's a wild experience that's
aggressively alienating. It's like they're daring us
to understand what's going on or even what we're supposed to be doing. Good thing actually
playing the game is so fun. All you can do is run,
jump, and grab stuff, but the game manages to throw you in all kinds of crazy situations that are either really
dangerous or just mysterious. And it's so masterfully paced. There's never any time
spent on any one thing, and you're always moving forward. This one only takes about
three and a half hours, which isn't super long, but it's one of the most
memorable games I've ever played. A certain segment is just
seared into my memory at this point. If you played this game also, you know exactly what I'm talking about. (eerie music) At number four is "Mirror's Edge." This first person parkour
game by DICE and EA is unusual for a lot of reasons. For one thing, it's an FPS game from 2008 where you don't have to shoot anything. It's got a super unique art style that still looks great today. I would say if you took
inspiration from "Mirror's Edge" and pulled it back just a bit, you get the art style from "The Finals." And oh yeah, it's also really short. How Long To Beat puts the
playtime for this game at six hours, but that
seems pretty generous. If you're just playing the campaign, you can really get in at like
two and a half, three hours. Single setting. Normally that would be a complaint, but for this game it really isn't. The parkour controls are excellent. The environments are
beautifully designed, varied, really just like balanced in a way that a lot of the time level
design really just isn't. It's another one of those games that really encourages speedy play. The story of the game is that
you're a runner in the city, so like you should run through this city. It's one of those games I've
played through multiple times because yeah, it's really short, and also moving around
is really satisfying. It's a game you can
finish in an afternoon, and it's still great. (dramatic music) At number three is "Little Nightmares" and "Little Nightmares 2." I don't know what it is about these games that stand out so much, but
as far as short games go, these are some of my favorites. The first one can be finished in about three and a half hours, and the sequel is a couple hours longer, but they're both short enough
to qualify for this list. And honestly, I like 'em
both just about equally, so let's mention 'em both, right? Like "Inside," these games throw you into a disorientingly weird world where something as simple
as what are you even doing is in question, and death
comes fast and often. Everything wants you dead in these games, and you're gonna get killed a lot, but the checkpoints are pretty plentiful, and death is usually only
a few seconds of a setback, so you're usually making progress. The monster designs are
just fantastic in here. They're grotesque, and every encounter with them
is scary, fun, and exciting. And the game is always about
giving you something new to do. It's never really terrifying or anything. It's not "Amnesia: Dark Descent," but these games manage to be really creepy with their themes and ideas, and I like that better honestly. Not that "Amnesia: Dark
Descent" isn't fantastic. I just kind of like the style
of this type of thing more. (gunshot) (gunshot) (suspenseful music) At number two is "Super Liminal," an indie puzzle game
you don't have to worry about getting horribly murdered in, which is, you know, interesting. But "Super Liminal" is less of a game and more a series of optical illusions, but damn, if they're not impressive. That's the game's entire gimmick. It's about seeing things from a different perspective literally. Depending how you look at something, it can completely remake the environment. In some ways it's more of a
tech demo than a full game idea, so it makes sense that it's short. It only takes about two
and a half hours to finish, but that's the perfect length
for an experience like this. Any longer and the tricks
might start getting a bit old. But this game manages to
consistently wow you the whole way. (gentle music) - [Game] During I-LIDS, you will lose the ability
to awaken suddenly due to realizing that this is a dream. Evidence, I have already informed
you that this is a dream. You did not wake up. Please complete the remaining
orientation activities. - [Falcon] And finally at number one, it's "Sayonara Wild Hearts,"
an extremely short rhythm game that can be beaten in
just an hour and a half, which makes it easy to dismiss
as a little throwaway game, but there's a reason so
many people praised it back when it came out in 2019. It's a short game, but it's fantastic. There's an actual honest
to goodness story here, but like a lot of the games on this list, it's kind of nonsense. Like, everything from
the visuals to the music, this is a game of about vibes rather than anything
specific, a mood piece. And it pulls that off very, very well. The music is fantastic. The gameplay deceptively simple, but they're pretty inventive about it, and it's satisfying as hell as a result. A lot of games have tried to be these audio visual
music experiences, but few have really pulled it off. There's "Rez," there's this game, and I mean, probably something
else I'm forgetting about, but off the top of my head, not a lot. Either way, this is one of the
best and highly recommended. (upbeat music) I have a couple of bonuses for you. I mean, there's a lot of short games, so here's a lightning round. Just gonna quickly touch on a few that I don't have a lot to say, but it would feel incomplete
without mentioning them. First off, "Metal Gear
Solid Rising: Revengeance." Duh. This one's slightly too long to just plop on this
list like it's nothing, but it's short, and
it's absolutely amazing. The combat's so smooth and satisfying. The boss fights are legendary. And everything about it is
utterly bonkers in the best way. Next, "Katana Zero." Basically "Hotline Miami," but a side scroller with a
slightly more coherent plot. "Katana Zero" is so much fun. The story is legitimately intriguing too. About 4.5 hours on average to beat. The instant replay at the end
of each section is brilliant. And watching back what
you did at full speed, it's satisfying. Next is "Ruiner." Takes about 5.5 hours. Top down 3D action game that
doesn't get a lot of love, but I think it deserves it. It's basically "Cyberpunk Hotline Miami," but it's a little more forgiving than that and actually plays out pretty differently. It's also an awesome
looking game in general. Beautiful. Ton of fun to play. Next is "Sonic Mania." 5.5 hours. Short fast games. How can you not mention "Sonic"? All his classic games can be
finished in just a few hours, but honestly, my personal favorite is probably the most recent
in the fully 2D "Sonic" canon. "Sonic Mania" is just awesome. It's a game that just really understands
what makes "Sonic" games fun, which is not just the physics, it's also the incredible level design. And "Sonic Superstars" is good and a big step for Sega to
internally create something that works nearly that good, but the "Sonic" fans
just get it better still. Next is "Slay the Princess." Three hour average. Take "The Stanley Parable," turn it into choose your own adventure, got "Slay the Princess." A weird and intriguing game from late 2023 that doesn't have a lot
going on in terms of visuals, but is one of the most
interesting games of the year just because of the
quality of the writing. And finally, "Pizza Tower." Six and a half hours average,
four and a half rushed. It's "Sonic" mixed with "Wario," and it's completely
bizarre and fun to play. It might seem basic at first, but what really surprised
me is the very level themes and unique power ups. Genuinely, it gives you
something new almost every level. And it's that variety that makes it work. That and the music, which is fantastic. And that's all for today. Leave us a comment, let
us know what you think. If you like this video, click like. If you're not subscribed,
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for watching this video. I'm Falcon. You can follow me on
Twitter @FalconTheHero. We'll see you next time
right here on Gameranx.
