5 Incredible Open World Games That Won’t Take 100 Hours to Beat

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Many of us enjoy losing ourselves in huge open-world games – the ones where you could spend days completing every optional task and still not see everything. However, a great game doesn’t have to be incredibly long. Sometimes, a shorter, more focused experience is exactly what you need.

This list focuses on open-world games that offer freedom and fun without requiring endless hours to finish the main story. These games let you explore, complete the core narrative, and still have plenty of time for other things – like enjoying a snack or playing another game! Here are five examples that respect your time.

5. Watch Dogs 2

In Watch Dogs 2, you play as Marcus Holloway, a hacker taking on a corrupt system in a vibrant San Francisco. The city is full of life and offers tons of freedom – you can plan missions from rooftops, sneak through alleys, or simply explore and cause some trouble. Hacking is a powerful tool with many different uses, and every situation lets you choose how to handle it. What’s really neat is how the city reacts to your decisions, making your choices feel meaningful.

The game has a good, consistent flow. Side quests appear seamlessly and are enjoyable detours, not tedious tasks. You’re free to explore the world or create some chaos without being stuck in repetitive gameplay. Completing the main story takes around 20 hours, but you can spend much longer if you choose to do the side missions. Even if you aim to finish everything, it won’t take more than 100 hours. Ultimately, Watch Dogs 2 gives you the freedom to play how you want while also valuing your time.

4. Infamous: Second Son

In Infamous: Second Son, you play as Delsin Rowe in a vibrant Seattle. Delsin has incredible, developing superpowers that make getting around and fighting enemies incredibly fun. You can run across rooftops and jump between buildings with amazing speed, and use powers like electricity and fire to keep opponents at bay. How you act affects the people around you, and the game encourages you to try out different approaches to each situation. Your powers grow and change as you play, giving you new and creative ways to overcome obstacles.

This story moves quickly and is consistently captivating. There are optional side missions for players who want more to do, but they don’t hold you back from finishing the main plot. You can explore the city and experiment with abilities, yet still complete the core game in under 20 hours. Second Son strikes a great balance, offering a large, lively world without demanding too much of your time or effort.

3. Assassin’s Creed Mirage

Assassin’s Creed Mirage is a return to the series’ roots, offering a more focused experience than recent games. It takes place in a vibrant and detailed 9th-century Baghdad, packed with bustling markets and winding streets. The city is designed for both stealth and free-running, encouraging players to use their skills and creativity to navigate the environment. Players can use rooftops to survey the area and carefully plan their approach, and the game rewards patience and observation.

Compared to other Assassin’s Creed games, Mirage is a more focused experience. The story is fast-paced and doesn’t drag on, and while there are optional missions and secrets to discover, you don’t need to complete them to finish the main plot. You can become a skilled assassin and enjoy the city without getting lost in endless side content. Mirage proves that an open world can be engaging without requiring a massive time commitment.

2. Batman: Arkham Knight

In Batman: Arkham Knight, you’ll find yourself in a gritty, rain-soaked Gotham City full of both danger and potential. The city’s towering rooftops and winding alleys offer exciting challenges for navigating and exploring. Fighting feels smooth and satisfying, and solving crimes transforms Gotham into a living mystery. Every part of the city is packed with details and hidden stories, making the world feel alive and unpredictable without being confusing.

The game tells a gripping story without being overly long. It includes fun extras like Riddler challenges and small crimes, which add to the experience but aren’t essential to complete. You can spend time exploring the city, testing out gadgets, or completing optional missions, yet still finish the main story in around 25 hours. Arkham Knight perfectly balances excitement and freedom, letting you experience Gotham without a huge time commitment. It’s the longest game featured, but remains under 100 hours of playtime.

1. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales offers the same exciting Spider-Man gameplay players enjoy, but in a more compact experience. Miles Morales swings through a vibrant and detailed New York City with impressive skill. The city feels truly alive, reacting to everything he does, and the side missions feature memorable characters and engaging stories. Simply moving around Manhattan is fun, with each swing and wall-run presenting a playful and enjoyable challenge.

The game is perfectly paced, smoothly mixing exciting action with meaningful character development. Optional side missions enrich the experience without feeling like a distraction. As a standalone story within the Spider-Man universe, you can finish the main plot in about 10 to 12 hours, and even if you explore most of the optional content, it shouldn’t take more than 20. Miles Morales delivers a grand, open-world adventure without demanding an excessive time commitment.

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2025-12-18 18:13