The 11 Longest Video Game Stories of All Time
Technological advancements have dramatically increased the scope and length of video game stories. This list, compiled with data from HowLongtoBeat, focuses on average mainline campaign completion times, excluding extensive side content.
11. My Time at Portia
My Time at Portia, a charming life sim released in 2019, offers a captivating 70.5-hour main story. While the core narrative is substantial, players can easily double their playtime exploring the game’s many side activities and building their town.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, Mobile
10. Persona 4
Persona 4, a critically acclaimed PS2 RPG, boasts a 72.5-hour main story. While the Persona 4 Golden re-release offers enhanced features, its average completion time is slightly shorter. However, both versions provide hundreds of hours of gameplay for completionists.
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, Vita, PS2, PC
9. Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate
The first of several Monster Hunter entries on this list, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate clocks in at 75 hours for the main story. This enhanced version of the Wii original offers a massive amount of additional content for players seeking a deeper experience.
Platforms: Wii U, 3DS
8. Pathfinder: Kingmaker
Pathfinder: Kingmaker, a successful adaptation of the tabletop RPG, delivers a 77.5-hour campaign. The game’s intricate systems and branching narrative offer significant replayability, with completionists reporting substantially longer playthroughs.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
7. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, another behemoth from Capcom, matches Pathfinder: Kingmaker’s 77.5-hour main story. However, its significantly longer completionist playtime solidifies its place higher on this list, emphasizing its depth and replayability.
Platform: 3DS
6. Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past
Dragon Quest VII, a sprawling JRPG, holds a 78-hour average completion time for its main story. This 3DS remake of the original PlayStation title offers a classic JRPG experience with a truly epic scale.
Platforms: 3DS, PS1, Mobile
5. Gran Turismo 4
Gran Turismo 4, a PlayStation 2 classic, stands out as the only first-party title from Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo on this list. Its extensive career mode clocks in at 78.5 hours, significantly longer than other entries in the series.
Platform: PS2
4. Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate
Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, a Switch exclusive, surpasses its predecessors with a 79-hour main story. This enhanced version of Monster Hunter Generations features an enormous amount of content, pushing the completionist playtime to an exceptionally high number.
Platform: Switch
How Much Longer Have Games Gotten?
Modern game development allows for much longer campaigns than their predecessors. Here’s a comparison of several franchises, highlighting the significant increase in average playtime:
- Breath of the Wild (525% longer than The Legend of Zelda)
- Super Mario Odyssey (525% longer than Super Mario Bros.)
- Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (303% longer than Assassin’s Creed)
- Doom Eternal (190% longer than Doom)
- God of War Ragnarök (189% longer than God of War)
- GTA 5 (142% longer than Grand Theft Auto)
- Final Fantasy XV (69% longer than Final Fantasy I)
- Resident Evil Village (36% longer than Resident Evil)
- Pokémon Scarlet/Violet (19% longer than Pokémon Red/Blue)
3. Persona 3
Persona 3, a seminal JRPG, offers an 82-hour main story. While Persona 3 FES adds content, it doesn’t significantly alter the average completion time for the primary narrative.
Platform: PS2
2. Monster Hunter Freedom Unite
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite takes the second spot with a staggering 98-hour main story. This PSP title is a testament to the depth and replayability of the Monster Hunter formula.
Platforms: PSP, Mobile
1. Persona 5 Royal
Persona 5 Royal reigns supreme, claiming the title of longest single-player story with an average playtime of 101 hours. This enhanced edition of Persona 5 delivers a refined and expansive experience, culminating in a truly epic JRPG adventure.
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
What’s the Overall Longest Game?
While Persona 5 Royal takes the crown for longest story campaign, the title for overall longest playtime belongs to Melvor Idle, an idle game with an estimated completion time exceeding 3,126 hours.
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