10 Best Open-World Games With Short Runtimes

For some players, a video game’s runtime is just as essential as the genre, gameplay loop, or overall plot. After all, sometimes, people want something short and simple.

However, for open-world games, short and simple is a bit harder to come by. Most open-world games can easily surpass 50 hours, potentially making its way into the triple digits in HowLongtoBeat.

That said, there are still open world games that end up being less than 30 hours. Sure, while 30 hours is intense for most games, for an open world game, it’s considered to be on the shorter end.

These open-world games with short runtimes are just as fun as their longer counterparts, being a bite-sized version of the enjoyment players are looking for. They’re still able to go on that adventure, without spending literal months chipping away at it.

Just keep in mind that these runtimes are mostly the main campaign, but with a few side quests included to represent the average gaming experience since most players tend not to strictly do one or the other.

10 Fallout 4

Runtime: ~29 Hours

The Fallout games are vast, representative of a post-nuclear wasteland that spans several maps and territories. In the case of Fallout 4, you’re traversing the aftermath of this devastation in Boston, referred to as the Commonwealth.

It takes about 27.5 hours to complete the main campaign, pushing 30 hours if you tackle a couple of side quests or make time for wholehearted exploration. Or you could spend these 30 hours simply building and upgrading your Settlement, since that will definitely chip away at your time.

It’s just you and Dogmeat against the world, navigating a world outside your Vault and doing everything you can to scavenge and stay alive. It’s an immensely rewarding survival system, one that’s well worth the slow-burn wait.

The Commonwealth is a sweetly condensed experience for those who want to satisfy a quick Fallout craving without dumping countless hours before you finish the starting quest.

9 Far Cry 3

Runtime: ~25.5 Hours

Far Cry 3 is an excellent open-world stealth game that is often considered one of (if not the) greatest in the Far Cry series due to this stealth system. Thankfully, it’s not too long, either, as it only takes 16 hours to beat the main story.

Of course, once you include all the various side quests and the endless hours crafting in this game, you’re looking at a game that’s closer to 25 hours or so.

This first-person shooter game dives into themes of morality and insanity, especially within human nature, with Jason in particular being the shining star of this message. It’s an island with no government, so what of the civilized world ends up surviving?

It’s a story of violence, first and foremost, but it’s not too long to take in.

8 Cyberpunk 2077

Runtime: ~30 Hours

When hearing about Cyberpunk 2077, the last thing that players tend to think of is a short runtime. In fact, they remember the game as a massive time-sink, with endless hours of content to keep things entertaining for years.

However, surprisingly, the main campaign takes only 25.5 hours to complete, leaving the rest of Night City open to whatever gigs players want to do. If they want something even shorter, the Phantom Liberty DLC is only 13 hours for the main story, being about 23 hours when including all the side quests.

Plus, the random encounters in this game really help pad and fill in that time, making the city (and world overall) feel much more lived-in and alive. And, thankfully, V has much more time than what’s originally anticipated, so players don’t have to rush.

I promise you, I know the game got a bad rep for how it was at launch, but it’s nothing like that if you were to play it today. It’s more than worth investing the time and energy into; it’s far more polished and engaging than all those years ago. Players won’t end up leaving the experience disappointed but thrilled instead.

7 Assassin’s Creed: Rogue

Runtime: ~22.5 Hours

One of the last games with the classic, Assassin’s Creed feel in the franchise, Assassin’s Creed: Rogue ended up becoming a turning point of how the series will devolve.

It’s also one of the shortest games in the series, too, coming at about 10.5 hours to complete the main story. Of course, when side quests and other intricacies of the world are added into the mix, you’re looking at about 22 hours’ worth of gameplay.

You play as the assassin Shay Patrick Cormac, who ends up betraying the Brotherhood and joining the fight with the Templars. It’s a unique approach of documenting the POV of a traitor, one that will leave lasting effects for future generations. It’s a short, simple story, one that makes your gut sink as you realise where the plot is going.

It’s not too difficult of a game, either, so it’s a good, bite-sized Assassin’s Creed game for those who miss the classics in the series.

6 Batman: Arkham City

Runtime: ~18 Hours

Despite how massive of an IP Batman is, the Arkham games are actually relatively short – with Arkham City, the first open-world entry in the trilogy, taking about 12.5 hours to complete the main story. Of course, with a Rogues Gallery as massive as Batman’s, there are many different side quests to increase the time.

The sequel to Rocksteady’s breakout hit Arkham Asylum, Arkham City is one of the best open-world games from the PlayStation 3 era. Instead of trying to survive a night in a madhouse, you’re now out in a criminal’s paradise.

Players who enjoy superhero games will be thrilled with this, as it’s an original story that feels like it’s coming straight out of the comic books themselves. The Arkhamverse is rich and densely-packed for lovers of the Caped Crusader, with each villain bringing a unique and entertaining experience.

Overall, players are looking at anywhere from 18-22 hours based on their playstyle and how thorough they truly wish to be. Plus, they don’t have to deal with the Batmobile and all the forced gameplay sections with it, which is always a win.

5 A Short Hike

Runtime: ~3 Hours

A Short Hike is just that – short. I know, absolutely insane.

But that’s no exaggeration. It takes an hour and a half to complete the main story, taking less than five hours altogether if you’re taking the hardcore completionist route. The entire game has you climbing up Hawk Peak, and it’s an outright delight the entire time.

First of all, the climbing mechanics in this game are what it’s known for, with crisp, clean movement and a cute, winding pathway to follow, so players can take things slow, stop, and smell the roses while they progress. Combined with the scenery, it ends up being one of the coziest open-world games you’ll end up playing.

There’s no combat in this game, as the objective is simply to reach the summit, and the side quests are all fun and quirky, with memorable NPCs being the cherry on top of the whole encounter.

The collectibles aren’t frustrating to gather, either, making A Short Hike the perfect gaming experience for players who just want a quick getaway. Players will find themselves returning, just to explore the mountain and its inhabitants one more time.

4 Subnautica: Below Zero

Runtime: ~26.5 Hours

While most players are more than familiar with the underwater world of Subnautica, it’s actually way too long of an open-world game for those wanting a shorter session. However, in the game’s expansion (that’s technically a sequel, but it’s not Subnautica 2) Subnautica: Below Zero, you can beat the main campaign in only 20.5 hours.

In this game, winter is as much of an enemy to you as the aggressive creatures, with players needing to stay warm with coffee and a special suit. However, uniquely, the water – normally a danger in cold climates – is warm, a safe haven from the icy tundra above you.

If players want to take on extra quests and assignments, they’ll be looking at a little less than 30 hours altogether (of course, even if they want to take a completionist route for this game, it’ll only amount to 31 hours altogether).

Below Zero is all the joys of the regular Subnautica game, complete with the stunning waterscapes and intimidating nature, but with a new (and shorter) twist.

3 Firewatch

Runtime: ~4.5 Hours

Sometimes, players don’t want to do any intense gameplay, which is why walking simulators have such a large audience; and, in Firewatch, you’ll be walking through the Wyoming wilderness.

Armed with your radio, your job is to protect and keep watch as a fire lookout, but at the same time, your troubles are creeping back up to haunt you. It’s a 4-hour story, not even a full 5 hours if players do all the extras, making it a short and compact experience.

It’s an emotional ride, too, being a story of hope and struggle, all while trying to find meaning with your life and where it’s going. It’s an internal, mental crisis about finding your place in the world and coming to terms with your past, and it’s enough to make many players shed a tear.

It’s a bit more on the linear side when it comes to open world games, but players do have full autonomy on how they go about taking in their environment.

2 Ghost of Tsushima

Runtime: ~30 Hours

With just how much there is to do in Ghost of Tsushima, it’s hard to believe that completing Jin’s Journey (the main Tales in the game) only takes 25 hours altogether. And, if you’ve beaten this game before, it is more than worth replaying it in Japanese, as it’s far better experienced in its native language.

The island of Tsushima (and Iki Island from the DLC) is massive, with three regions that easily end up accumulating 30 hours on the shorter end. Even then, that’s if Jin skips several things, such as the charms, the Mythic Tales, the duels, and whatever other Tales that can be encountered.

Because of this, while it’s a good shorter game for those wanting to just take in the story, players should anticipate spending more time than originally intended, especially with the addictive gameplay.

For example, the looting system ends up leading to upgrading various weapons and armor sets, making sure that nothing goes to waste in Jin’s arsenal (and maybe even giving some ASMR tingles to players).

Not to mention, the setting is just outright gorgeous. I cannot count the number of times I’ve paused to stare at my surroundings in awe and wonder, only to realise that I have spent a solid five minutes staring at digital trees. Anyone who has seen the views this game offers would understand, that’s for sure.

Either way, it’s a great start for those wanting to either spend a short amount of time in an open world game, or a significant amount.

1 Marvel’s Spider-Man

Runtime: ~22.5 Hours

As someone who grew up playing Spider-Man 2 for the PlayStation 2, I was over the moon when I was introduced to the web-slinging in Marvel’s Spider-Man almost two decades later. Later, it ended up being one of my favorite open-world superhero games (besides the Arkhamverse).

The amazing thing is that it only takes 17 hours to complete the main story, and all the other games in the series ended up following a similarly short runtime. In it, you’re the titular Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man, helping the citizens of New York in whatever ails them.

Unfortunately, this includes some irritating side quests, such as finding and collecting some annoying pigeons, which eats several hours of your time, so there’s genuinely no shame in skipping the sidequest – or any that you don’t vibe with.

It’s the perfect open-world game for those who want a quick yet compact experience, one that’s fun and entertaining in nearly every facet. Thankfully, this game delivers, with Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales being equal in quality (and timeframe).