RPG they've always been among the longest games, open world or not. Created to provide an epic, sprawling journey in richly crafted fantasy or sci-fi worlds, they are filled with destinations to visit, characters to meet, quests to complete, and important stories that are often deeply personal. For anyone who longs to be completely immersed in another world for weeks or even months, RPGs are the perfect escape.
The 10 longest games of this generation so far, ranked
If you're looking for a story-driven game to keep you entertained for weeks, consider these great titles released during the ninth generation of consoles.
Many modern RPGs already offer lengthy main stories that easily take dozens of hours, but it's the optional content that really pushes them into the time diver department. Between dozens of meaningful side quests, memorable side stories, hidden locations, collectibles, and exploration, it really takes a lot of time to experience everything these games are worth. Below are some of the most remarkable and longest RPGs of recent years that are as immersive as they are massive.
For this list, the “Main + Extra” stats from HowLongToBeat are used rather than “Completionist” since that's how most players usually approach their games. Also, only base games without any DLC are compared, focusing on RPGs over JRPGs.
Elden Ring
Main story + side quests: 101 hours on average
Elden Ring needs no introduction, it represents one of the most successful, impressive and popular open world RPGs of 2020. With a subtle narrative, hidden NPCs and side quests, menacing bosses and countless optional areas, players are mostly left to their own devices to explore the vast and beautiful world of the Lands Between and proceed as they see fit or as their abilities allow.
Sheer size Elden Ring the layered map ensures that this path is meant to be slow, requiring an average of over 100 hours for a blind first playthrough. Of course, players will still be missing a lot of hidden storylines and entire regions, so uncovering everything the game has to offer, including defeating each unique boss, will take significantly more time.
Divinity: Original Sin 2
Main story + side quests: 101 hours on average
Divinity: Original Sin 2recognized predecessor Baldur's Gate 3firmly established Larian Studios as a leading RPG powerhouse — one rivaling giants like BioWare, Bethesda, and CD Projekt RED. Longer, deeper and in every way better than the first Original sinthe sequel is a true RPG triumph, offering multiple playable original characters, a unique and unforgettable universe, and an endless sense of discovery at every turn.
5 fantasy games with worlds as amazing as Lord of the Rings
Coping with Middle-earth is no easy task, but these games strive to offer unique fantasy worlds that come close.
Just like BG3players immersed in Divinity: Original Sin 2 should prepare to invest some serious time in its world, with as many intense tactical combat scenarios as dialogue-heavy encounters, all rewarding creative approaches. Overall, this is a game that easily consumes over 100 hours, and there's a good chance that one playthrough won't be enough.
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader
Main story + side quests: 102 hours on average
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader followed by Owlcat Games' acclaimed Pioneer RPG (more on them later), providing the immersive, story-rich experience fans of the iconic universe have long craved. Equally exciting in its writing, characters, combat and world-building, it represents a remarkable development for the studio – poised for an even bigger leap with the upcoming The Expanse: Osiris Reborn.
An epic story worthy of the name, Rogue merchant sends players to explore a multitude of systems in a barely-charted region of space. Due to the large scale and sky-high stakes, players should prepare to invest more than 100 hours Warhammer 40k die-hards will be happy to spend even more time in this faithfully realized universe.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Main story + side quests: 103 hours on average
After almost ten years, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt remains one of the most iconic and widely recognized open-world fantasy RPGs. It's still worth playing because it's driven by a cinematic narrative and countless hand-crafted quests and contracts, each packed with a surprising twist or fresh twist on seemingly mundane tasks.
The longest open world games
Even the most demanding player will be confused by the scope of these games. These are the open world games that take the longest to beat.
The main story itself is so substantial that not every player will reach the finale. But that's just the tip of the iceberg, the vast world is teeming with characters and their multi-part quest arcs. Even without having to deal with optional map markers like monster lairs or hidden treasures, The Witcher 3 delivers a spectacular journey that easily exceeds 100 hours and players will not regret.
Main story + side quests: 110 hours on average
A truly legendary game that has been released and re-released over the years on almost every gaming platform in the last 15 years, The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim remains Bethesda's masterpiece, with even more recent offerings such as Star field cannot quite match its strengths. Everything in Skyrim it works seamlessly to support a vibrant world around the player, bursting with countless activities to try, places to visit and people to meet.
Skyrim belongs to RPGs defined primarily by its optional content and unique sense of freedom. Although its map isn't the biggest compared to recent open-world giants, and its main story can be packed into just 30 hours, when you go off the beaten path, it turns into a real time sink, easily exceeding 100 hours.
Baldur's Gate 3
Main story + side quests: 114 hours on average
Baldur's Gate 3the new king of turn-based CRPGs, it delivers unprecedented cinematic appeal without sacrificing the essence of dialogue-heavy classics like the original. Baldur's Gate games. Despite its relatively compact world, it's bursting with characters, discoveries, and branching quests. Best of all, unlike many cinematic RPGs, Baldur's Gate 3 it always offers plenty of options for role-playing and task-solving, which supports its immense replayability.
6 open world games is officially longer than any Assassin's Creed game
Odyssey and Valhalla rank among the biggest Assassin's Creed titles to date, but these massive open-world games are even longer.
The game's thoughtful pacing, including turn-based combat and endless dialogue at every turn (plus rich camp interactions), makes it one of the longest modern RPGs. Players won't even complete the main story in less than 70 hours, while mastering most of the optional quests will bring the total down to 115 hours, assuming minimal reloading or combat replays.
Pathfinder: Kingmaker
Main story + side quests: 130 hours on average
For traditional CRPG lovers it is Pioneer games are a perfect treat, providing a classic RPG experience for an immersive, long-lasting journey alongside trusted companions. WITH Pathfinder: Kingmakerplayers can expect around 130 hours if they want to see and do most of what the game has to offer. The impressive branching stories in most of the quests and stories, coupled with the complex companion relationships, also make it highly replayable.
For those ready for more, it follows Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous offers a comparable (if not longer) playtime of 136 hours on average, while deepening and improving many of the mechanics of the original for an even more engaging experience. Best of all, players don't have to play Kingmaker first, because they are both standalone RPGs set in rich Pioneer fantasy universe.
Upcoming games with vast worlds
These upcoming games promise to deliver some of the largest and most detailed virtual worlds ever seen.
