10 Games Worth Spending Hundreds of Hours On

Once, a 20–30 hour campaign was considered long. Today, hundreds of hours have become the new standard. But here’s the truth: not every game deserves that much of your time. Some feel more like unpaid overtime than fun.

The titles below are different. These are the games where every hour feels meaningful—whether through unforgettable stories, addictive gameplay loops, or worlds so alive you’ll keep coming back for more.

1. Monster Hunter: World

Monster Hunter: World isn’t just about slaying massive beasts for shiny loot. It’s about the unpredictable stories that unfold along the way.

One moment you’re coordinating a perfect trap with your squad, the next you’re clutching a desperate solo finish after your teammates fall. These hunts turn into “war stories” you’ll share long after your armor becomes outdated.

That’s why hundreds of hours don’t feel like grinding—they feel like adventure.

2. Stardew Valley

On the surface, Stardew Valley is a pixel-art farming sim. In reality, it’s a time sink that swallows nights whole.

Do you plant parsnips or potatoes? Spend the day fishing, mining, or chasing romance? Every small choice adds real progress, pulling you back in with a quiet, cozy rhythm.

Created by a single developer, ConcernedApe, Stardew is filled with tiny heartfelt details: seasonal festivals, unique dialogue, and changing weather that brings the town to life. It’s not about rushing to an ending—it’s about enjoying tomorrow.

3. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

Odyssey transformed Assassin’s Creed into a full RPG, dropping players into a vast, breathtaking version of ancient Greece.

The main campaign alone runs 60+ hours, but side quests, exploration, and naval combat can easily push you past 150–200 hours. It can feel overwhelming, almost like a second job—but it also gives you freedom to shape your own mercenary’s journey.

For explorers who want a playground as wide as the Aegean, Odyssey delivers.

4. Persona 5 Royal

Persona 5 Royal blends JRPG combat with a life sim set in Tokyo. By day you’re a high schooler juggling studies, friendships, and dating. By night you’re diving into surreal dungeons to fight corruption.

Each choice matters: studying boosts combat, hanging out unlocks new skills, and every day teases you with “just one more turn.” Before you know it, you’ve clocked 120+ hours.

Stylish visuals, addictive music, and layered storytelling make it feel less like playing a game and more like living your own anime.

5. Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2 isn’t designed to be rushed. Its slow pacing, meticulous details, and emotional storytelling create an experience closer to a novel than a blockbuster.

You’ll ride horses into sunsets, sit by campfires with gang members, and feel every moral choice Arthur Morgan makes. The result? RDR2 leaves emotional scars and unforgettable memories.

It’s not hundreds of hours of filler—it’s a journey through the end of an era.

6. Genshin Impact

Unlike traditional RPGs, Genshin Impact is a lifestyle game. Daily logins, resin caps, and gacha pulls keep you coming back.

Yes, it can feel like a second job—but its stunning open world and elemental combat system balance the grind with real joy. Frequent updates, new regions, and seasonal events mean you never truly “finish” Genshin.

For many players, it’s not just a game. It’s a daily ritual.

7. Baldur’s Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate 3 is massive—not just in hours, but in possibilities. Every small decision can ripple into major consequences.

No two playthroughs feel the same. One sarcastic dialogue choice might trigger a chain of events hours later. You can roleplay as a noble hero or chaotic villain, and both paths feel rewarding.

That’s why one playthrough isn’t enough. The urge to restart and try new classes or choices makes it endlessly replayable.

8. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Skyrim is more than a decade old, yet it refuses to die. Its freedom, exploration, and thriving modding community keep it fresh year after year.

Yes, you can follow the main Dragonborn quest. But the real magic is in wandering: joining guilds, stumbling on random encounters, or watching a dragon crash land mid-journey.

Thanks to mods, Skyrim is infinite. You don’t just play it—you return to it like a ritual.

9. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Witcher 3 is an emotional marathon. Choices carry weight, side quests feel like short stories, and Geralt’s journey blends politics, love, and tragedy.

Then come the DLCs. Hearts of Stone is dark and personal, while Blood and Wine expands into an entirely new region with a bittersweet finale.

Finishing The Witcher 3 isn’t just about beating bosses—it’s about surviving an emotional gauntlet that stays with you long after.

10. Elden Ring

Elden Ring is the ultimate test of patience and perseverance. Its open world hides endless secrets, optional bosses, and challenges that can break you—or make you stronger.

You can sink 200+ hours and still stumble upon caves, NPCs, and hidden stories you missed before. Every struggle feels personal, every victory hard-earned.

Elden Ring doesn’t just ask you to play—it dares you to endure.

Final Thoughts

These games prove that long playtimes don’t have to mean empty grinding. They transform hundreds of hours into stories, emotions, and memories worth carrying with you.

In the end, it’s not about how long you played—it’s about the moments that stuck. The desperate last-minute hunt, the quiet farm sunrise, the tearful farewell to a character you grew to love.

If you’ve lost yourself in one of these worlds, you know the feeling. And if you haven’t, maybe it’s time to dive in.