With game developers like Ubisoft often padding their games with unnecessaryside quests,just to elongate the main story of the game, it’s highly debatable whether a game should be long just for the sake of being long. On the other hand, the purpose of live-service games is to keep pushing out content to keep people playing the game for as long as possible, and unless the game developers give up on the game or a player stops playing it, these games won’t end.
10 Hidden Gems on Nintendo Switch Online
Nintendo Switch Online has a good offering of games, but are there any good ones deeper beneath all of Nintendo’s finest?
This list will include single-player titles on Nintendo Switch that are long but are filled with quality content and not just boring and repetitive side missions. It will also, understandably, ignore live service games and games that are endless in nature, like Animal Crossing.
Though all of these games are quite lengthy, they aren’t ranked based on their length but on how good they are.
7Octopath Traveler
Eight Stories, One Epic Journey
Octopath Traveler
With its unique “HD-2D” art style, Octopath Traveler is a love letter to classic JRPGs, blending modern visuals with nostalgic gameplay. The game tells the intertwined tales of eight distinct characters, each embarking on their own personal journey. Whether it’s Primrose’s quest for vengeance or Alfyn’s pursuit of healing others, every story offers emotional depth and intriguing twists.
What makesOctopath Travelera lengthy adventure is its structure. Each character’s story is divided into chapters, and progressing through all eight can take, on average, upwards of 60 hours, as per HLTB. The game uses the typical turn-based combat of aJRPGand encourages players to experiment with combinations of abilities and character builds. Side quests and optional dungeons further extend the playtime, offering a wealth of challenges for completionists.
6Xenoblade Chronicles 2
A World as Vast as It Is Beautiful
Xenoblade Chronicles 2
Set in the world of Alrest, where giant Titans serve as continents, the story ofXenoblade Chronicles 2follows Rex and Pyra as they search for Elysium, a mythical paradise. The game’s narrative dives deep into themes of hope, sacrifice, and humanity’s resilience, with twists that are sure to keep players hooked until the very end.
Clocking in at over 60 hours for the main story and potentially 200+ for completionists, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 thrives on its massive scale. Its real-time combat system, where players control Blades and Drivers, is a far more engaging battle system than a turn-based one. The expansive world is filled with breathtaking vistas, hidden secrets, and a sprawling cast of characters who feel alive. This is a game that rewards curiosity, and every hour spent in Alrest feels like a new adventure.
5Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate
The Hunt That Never Ends
Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate
Few games capture the thrill of epic battles against monsters of all kinds quite like the Monster Hunter series, and of the two games available on the Switch,Monster Hunter Generations Ultimateis widely considered the better one with more content. While there’s no traditional storyline to follow, as is the case with any Monster Hunter game, the core loop of tracking, battling, and harvesting massive creatures is endlessly satisfying. With nearly 130 monsters to hunt and countless weapons and armor sets to craft, there’s always something to strive for.
The game’s length comes from its sheer depth and variety. Players can sink hundreds of hours into mastering different weapons, teaming up with friends for multiplayer hunts, or tackling challenging G-rank quests. The joy of Monster Hunter lies in the slow grind and progression, as this is a game where patience and perseverance are richly rewarded.
4Fire Emblem: Three Houses
A Tale of War and Choice
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Fire Emblem: Three Housescombines tactical combat with deep character-driven storytelling, creating one of the most beloved entries in the series. Players take on the role of a professor at Garreg Mach Monastery, guiding one of three student houses, each with its own unique perspective on the war-torn continent of Fódlan.
The game’s branching storylines encourage multiple playthroughs, with each house offering a different narrative path and a unique cast of characters. A single campaign can take 40–50 hours, but exploring all three routes (and a hidden fourth one) easily pushes the playtime past 200 hours.
3The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
A World Worth Revisiting Thousands of Times
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Even after more than a decade,Skyrimremains one of the most expansive RPGs ever made, and its Switch port captures the magic on the handheld machine perfectly. Players step into the role of the Dragonborn, a hero destined to save the world from Alduin, the World-Eater. But Skyrim is less about its main quest and more about the freedom to do anything and everything it offers.
Top 13 RPG Games like Skyrim
With hundreds of side quests, guilds to join, and dungeons to explore, Skyrim is a game that feels infinite. The Switch version includes allDLCs, adding even more content like the vampire-focused Dawnguard and the expansive Dragonborn storyline.
2The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
An Endless Canvas for Creativity
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Following up on Breath of the Wild was no small feat, but Tears of the Kingdom somehow exceeded expectations. Expanding on its predecessor’s open-world formula, the game introduced new mechanics like crafting and sky exploration, giving players even more freedom to shape their adventure.
The main quest involves Link’s journey to uncover the secrets of Hyrule’s floating islands and takes around 50–60 hours. But the true length of Tears of the Kingdom lies in its side content. Shrines, Korok seeds, and environmental puzzles ensure that every corner of the map holds a new discovery. Thisgame of the year2023 winner is still celebrated for its creativity and curiosity, rewarding players for thinking outside the box.
1The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Geralt’s Story on a Handheld
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3 stands as a testament to what video games can achieve as a medium. Players step into the boots of Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter extraordinaire navigating a world on the brink of war while searching for his adopted daughter, Ciri. The game’s narrative is rich with morally complex decisions,memorable characters, and deeply emotional moments.
On the Switch, the Complete Edition includes all DLC, adding dozens of hours to an already massive game. The main story alone takes around 50 hours, but side quests like the haunting “Bloody Baron” storyline take this number into the triple digits. Despite its length, The Witcher 3 never drags and keeps players engrossed from start to finish.
10 Best Locations in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
This is a look at some of the best and most memorable locations within the Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
