The first thing that comes to mind when thinking of the open-world genre is probably vast maps with enough freedom to go anywhere and do whatever players feel like doing. For years, the devs have been busy increasing the size and scale of the maps, which eventually became out of control. Some open-world maps are so big, and the games are so long, that not nearly enough players have made it even to the middle. It’s a rare kind of frustration to spend hours with the game without the feeling of doing something meaningful.
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With all that, there was always another kind of open-world games: more condensed, entirely story-driven experiences with smaller worlds and little to no filler for the sake of extra hours. Games that feel worth every hour, and respect the players’ time like almost nothing else in the genre. Let’s take a look at some of the most unexpectedly short open-world games that can be done in under 12 hours — but still offer enough thrills and the sense of journey that fans may expect from the genre.
The games below are sorted by main story length from shortest to longest.
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon
Main Story: 5 Hours
Most Far Cry games are the exact kind of your typical, bloated open-world adventure, featuring vast multi-regional maps, countless enemy camps and bases to clear, side quests and activities, and so on. There are still some pleasant surprises in the series, though, with standalone titles like Far Cry Primal and Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon easily being the most notable — both for their unique settings and the changes they brought to the familiar formula.
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon stands as one of Ubisoft’s bravest and most beloved experiments. This wild cyber shooter encapsulates the distinct retro-futuristic vibe of the 1980s movies, when things were simple and endlessly cool. From cyborgs and mutants to, well, blood dragons and, of course, synthwave score, Blood Dragon is an unforgettable, condensed, and bloody journey set on a small open-world map. The perfect B-movie for an evening or two that players can be done with in around five to six hours, and would hardly regret it.
Shadow of the Colossus
Main Story: 7 Hours
A true video game masterpiece, Shadow of the Colossus is often cited as a must-play for anyone, regardless of their stance towards the open-world formula, and the modern Remake is the best way to do so. The world in the game is just an empty, atmospheric decoration to highlight the sense of a melancholic journey to the next Colossus with minimal guidance, and the entire game has the single purpose of defeating all of them for the sake of the plot.
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There are no optional activities, no rewarding exploration, no inventory or gear management, or anything else associated with the genre in Shadow of the Colossus. Instead, it’s a condensed story- and gameplay-driven adventure, told without a single word, and brought to life in stunning visuals, sounds, and music. A true gem in the now-defunct Bluepoint Games portfolio, Shadow of the Colossus is a game that every player will cherish for much longer than it takes to beat.
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Main Story: 8 Hours
While both mainline Spider-Man titles from Insomniac are hardly the biggest open-world games out there, either, taking around 17 hours to complete the main story, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales is an even lighter offering. With its short length of just around eight hours, and sharing the exact same map from the original, only redecorated for the winter Christmas season, Miles Morales could be a perfect open-world adventure for the weekend.
Spider-Man: Miles Morales packs intense, cinematic storytelling, immersing the players into Miles’ story almost like a superhero movie, without overwhelming them with countless mechanics or needless padding. Action and swinging are fast and enjoyable, the stakes are grounded and personal, the scale of the world is grand and believable, and the visuals are still about what one may expect from the PS5’s capabilities. Die-hard fans might even squeeze some extra hours from the game’s side quests and activities, but even with all that, the credits will roll around the same moment that some open-world titles are wrapping up their prologue.
Fit the 9 games into the grid.
Sunset Overdrive
Main Story: 10 Hours
Sunset Overdrive is a regular guest on the “most overlooked” open-world games lists, and it’s easy to see why. The game’s standout presentation still has little to no competitors; its absurd and bright world leaves a lasting impression; characters walk a thin line between being very silly yet likable; and explosive action combined with spectacular traversal mechanics that allow never once touching the ground served as a prototype to Insomniac’s later swinging mechanics from the Spider-Man games.
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From the get-go, it’s apparent that Sunset Overdrive isn’t made for the story, yet its lore and worldbuilding are much more fleshed out than it may appear. Another thing worth mentioning is how respectful Sunset Overdrive is to the players’ time: with an average playtime of around 10 to 12 hours, the game is simply interested in offering some fun for the night, and then being done with it faster than it can possibly overstay its welcome.
Infamous Second Son
Main Story: 11 Hours
The final game in the beloved superhero action series, Infamous Second Son, stands as the typical PS4 early exclusive, with strong visuals and signature cinematic narrative, all wrapped in a relatively small but detailed map of modern-day Seattle. As a classic open-world game of its era, the city is more of a decoration and a stage for the character-driven story, as well as a fun playground to test out Delsin Rowe’s unique abilities and traversal.
Once players step outside the main story missions, though, some might find the open-world structure of Second Son pretty lacking, with the same repetitive side missions to weaken DUP in each district. Nevertheless, with how engaging and crunchy the action is in Infamous Second Son, some might even wish there was more optional content to stay with the game for longer than the 11 to 15 hours it offers.
Mafia: The Old Country
Main Story: 12 Hours
Mafia: The Old Country largely follows in its predecessors’ footsteps (aside from Mafia 3), presenting a gorgeous and believable open-world environment that is a mere decoration for the main story missions full of dramatic turns and personal tragedies. Sicily in The Old Country is stunningly beautiful just to drive around in between missions, but some players might be shocked to discover that this world doesn’t have much else to offer.
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Instead, Mafia: The Old Country is like an intense mobster movie unfolding on a spacious map to make it more authentic. With its cinematic narrative and spectacular motion-capture technologies in cutscenes, the presentation does a lot of heavy lifting, while the game’s decent balance of action, driving, and walking sections makes it almost impossible to become bored. Alongside Mafia: Definitive Edition, The Old Country is among the shortest in the series to date: less of a true open-world game, and more of an intense, cinematic journey to remember.
Halo Infinite
Main Story: 12 Hours
Apparently, not as infinite as the title suggests, Halo Infinite is actually among the shortest AAA open-world games of this generation — at least, if players only focus on its main story objectives. Despite being set in an open world, Halo Infinite plays true to the rest of the series, and offers a length comparable to previous (mostly linear) installments, prioritizing a condensed and cinematic story-driven experience over the filler content of clearing enemy outposts, as one might expect.
Naturally, this side of Halo Infinite is also available to fans, as once the story is finished, nothing prevents them from keeping playing, drive around, and tackle any optional activities that are left. With such fun FPS gameplay with a ton of possibilities, that’s also a worthwhile addition to the overall package. Moreover, the entire story campaign can be played in co-op, which is the perfect way to spend two to three days with Halo Infinite.
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