Best PC Games That You Can Beat In Under 5 Hours

Modern titles like Fallout, Dragon Age, Forza Horizon, and Starfield are acclaimed for their extensive gameplay that might demand over 30 hours of commitment. Conversely, series like Fable, Halo, and Gears of War cater to those seeking single-player experiences spanning 10 to 20 hours.

While sprawling open-world games offer immense enjoyment, there's value in concise narratives too. Here, I've highlighted some of the top short games that can be completed in under 5 hours.

Cocoon

Geometric's Cocoon is an imaginative puzzle game where players assume the role of an insect traveling across diverse worlds accessed through orbs. While the main hub is a barren wasteland, these orbs act as distinct stages, each housing its own universe with a unique aesthetic. The thrill of discovering these orbs adds to the excitement, complementing the game's exceptional gameplay. Cocoon is a highly addictive game, just like bubble shooter, tetris or bejeweled.

The game not only presents well-balanced puzzles but also encourages exploration, granting players the freedom to navigate at their preferred pace and explore side paths. While this freedom might extend the playtime by a few hours, Cocoon remains relatively short despite its emphasis on exploration.

Clone Drone in the Danger Zone

Clone Drone in the Danger Zone, an action-packed melee game, extends its replay value through challenging additional content, significantly increasing its difficulty. As a result, those seeking to fully explore the game will find themselves engaged for far more than just a few hours. Nevertheless, the campaign serves as an excellent starting point, providing foundational lessons and presenting a substantial challenge that avoids being overly easy.

The combat mechanics in Clone Drone rely on directional swings, requiring players to strategically aim their weapon strikes at an enemy's vulnerabilities. While not groundbreaking, the game handles this concept adeptly.

A Short Hike

True to its title, A Short Hike's concise duration shouldn't come as a surprise. Players accompany Claire, a bird spending a day at a park, on an introspective journey through a stunning environment. While Claire is eager to reach the trail's summit for a phone signal, the game encourages both her and the player to savor the surroundings. Venturing off the main path unveils NPCs and mini-games or simply allows for an immersion in nature.

A Short Hike offers minimal action, featuring light platforming driven by unlockable abilities. Its primary focus is to provide a relaxing and serene experience, traits it embodies effortlessly. The narrative holds a touching significance. While completion time varies based on one's pace, a playthrough typically takes around two hours, making A Short Hike a truly worthwhile investment of time.

Unpacking

At first glance, Unpacking might not seem captivating as it revolves around one of life's potentially frustrating aspects: moving. Spanning about two decades, this indie game is divided into eight stages, each representing distinct periods in the protagonist's life. Within these levels, players carefully unpack the character's possessions and organize them in the available space.

Unpacking masterfully intertwines gameplay and storytelling, using the act of unpacking to drive the narrative forward. Players repeatedly sift through the protagonist's belongings, the select few she chose to retain while moving to new spaces. With a runtime of around 3 hours, Unpacking offers a swift and moderately laid-back experience, yet manages to convey a compelling story in a unique manner.

Bramble: The Mountain King

Bramble: The Mountain King is an indie gem that chronicles Olle's journey through a mystical forest to rescue his lost sister. This game unfolds as a haunting fairy tale drawn from Nordic mythology, skillfully breathing life into characters from these legends. Despite moments of chilling terror, the creatures are depicted with reverence and complexity, seamlessly integrated into this world rather than feeling like intruders.

In terms of gameplay, "Bramble: The Mountain King" offers a simple puzzle-stealth experience where players primarily evade the monsters' detection. While not groundbreaking, the gameplay loop sufficiently complements the game's standout features: its storytelling and presentation.

Firewatch

"Walking sims" were once scorned but are essentially story-driven games focused on exploration. While some in this subgenre lack depth, that's not unique to it. Firewatch stands as a pinnacle example, even as a 2016 release that has aged gracefully. Placed in a National Forest, players assume the role of a lookout stationed in a watchtower, navigating solitude amidst dense foliage and occasional encounters with others. Their sole connection is a supervisor over the walkie-talkie, providing guidance.

Firewatch's visual design and eerie silence cultivate a steadily intensifying, uneasy atmosphere throughout its brief campaign. The narrative delicately touches mature themes without spoon-feeding the audience, constructing a cohesive storyline. With limited replay value, a single playthrough should suffice for most players.

Sea Of Solitude

Navigating themes of loneliness and depression, Sea of Solitude delves into profound emotional territory. Kay, adrift at sea amid the submerged remnants of a city, confronts her inner struggles. Encountering entities—echoes of people from her past—she grapples with mental challenges, revisiting past trauma, tragedies, and personal shortcomings.

This game weaves a deeply intimate narrative that may resonate with many players. While the gameplay takes a backseat to the storyline and themes, those who don't connect with the latter might find the experience slightly lacking. Nevertheless, Sea of Solitude presents ample compelling elements that make exploring its emotional journey well worth the risk.

Battletoads

Battletoads offers an experience that can polarize players—either a love-it-or-hate-it acid trip. Its promotional challenges stem from constantly shifting genres and occasional repetition. Technically a side-scrolling beat 'em up, Battletoads excels in this genre for about half of its 4-hour campaign. However, the game frequently introduces new gameplay mechanics reminiscent of classic NES games, with varying degrees of success.

It's a peculiar form of entertainment, best suited for those seeking a lighthearted, non-serious experience. Despite lacking depth and featuring an occasionally grating sense of humor, Battletoads manages to serve as a decent time-passer between more engaging titles.

Jusant

Jusant centers entirely on the art of climbing, aiming to offer players an enjoyable ascent through a captivating world. The adventure game subtly introduces players to this intriguing universe as they scale a massive tower, carrying a child crucial for restoring water to the populace in a world where it has become scarce. Though the story occasionally takes a backseat, it holds significant interest, immersing players in a unique universe rich with history.

In terms of gameplay, Jusant features straightforward core mechanics and controls. The challenge lies in skillfully combining these abilities during the climb. Notably, the game doesn't harshly penalize mistakes, reducing the need for frequent backtracking or repetition. Jusant stands out as a distinctive indie experience that lingers in one's memory long after completion.

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