The length of a video game should ideally be dictated by its design, but one particular aspect of the role-playing genre has become a recurring point of contention: its runtime. While many RPGs are celebrated for their sprawling worlds and hundreds of hours of content, a compelling argument can be made that no RPG needs to exceed 40 hours to deliver a fulfilling experience. This perspective acknowledges the value proposition of longer games, especially at premium price points, but contends that many titles could benefit from greater editorial discipline.
For players with limited budgets, a lengthy RPG can seem like the most economical choice, offering months of entertainment for the cost of one or two games. Some games, like Persona 5, manage to fill their extensive runtimes without feeling wasteful, providing a rewarding experience across approximately 90 hours. However, the assertion is not that RPGs cannot exceed 40 hours, but rather that few games would not be improved by some form of editing to tighten their pacing and focus.
The critique of excessively long RPGs is rooted in two primary concerns: storytelling economics and gameplay system fatigue. In terms of narrative, a "less is more" approach often leads to more impactful storytelling. When games strive to fill 60 or more hours, this can result in protracted dialogue sequences that do little to advance the plot or develop characters, as seen in titles like Bravely Default, or sequels such as Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, which arguably do not reach the memorability of their predecessors despite their supersized narratives.
Beyond narrative concerns, gameplay systems can also suffer from being stretched too thin. The Octopath Traveler series, for example, features a deep job system that encourages experimentation. Yet, after hundreds of random battles and the early discovery of optimal combat synergies, the gameplay can devolve into repetitive actions for dozens of hours, diminishing the initial excitement. While some argue that lengthy RPGs are designed for extensive build customization and min-maxing, and that games like Elden Ring benefit from their sheer scale, 40 hours still represents a substantial investment of time.
Conversely, several recent RPGs have demonstrated that conciseness can be a strength. Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined, a streamlined version of a notoriously lengthy game, maintains its charm and delivers a complete experience in under 40 hours through its brisk pacing and efficient turn-based combat. Granblue Fantasy Relink offers a similarly compact and spectacle-filled experience in about 15 hours. Avowed also managed to maintain player engagement throughout its roughly 40-hour runtime, even encouraging the completion of most sidequests. These examples highlight a model where games provide a rich, complete experience without demanding an excessive time commitment, leaving players eager for more content rather than exhausted by it. The goal is to avoid games that only become engaging after a significant time investment or devolve into tedious busywork, underscoring the sentiment that life is too short for games that overstay their welcome.