The 10 Longest RPGs Ever Made (2024)

Highlights

  • Xenoblade Chronicles X takes an average of 108 hours to beat, offering a massive game world and plenty of content to explore.
  • Baldur's Gate 3 boasts an average completion time of 111 hours, making it a commercial and critical favorite among RPG fans.
  • The Witcher 3: Game Of The Year Edition reigns as one of the longest RPGs, requiring around 125 hours to complete its epic open-world adventure.

One of the biggest draws of the tried and true role-playing game genre is how downright beefy these games tend to be. Hours upon hours long, these epic tales have amazed and astounded us for almost as long as video games have existed.

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That only begs the question though: how long can these gaming behemoths actually take to beat? What are the longest RPGs, and how long are they, anyway? Well, if you're looking for a nice long story to keep you occupied for a while, or even if you're just curious about how long an RPG can really get, you've come to the right place. Let's take a look at the longest RPGs of all time.

We opted to not include gacha or idle games with RPG elements that are still ongoing, like Genshin Impact, since they haven't ended, and you can't actually beat them in the traditional sense just yet. Additionally, our info on how long these games take to beat comes from HowLongToBeat's averages, so while actual playtime may vary, these are on average the longest the genre has to offer.

10 Xenoblade Chronicles X

Time To Beat: 108 Hours

The 10 Longest RPGs Ever Made (2)

Monolithsoft's controversial pseudo-sequel to the cult classic JRPG Xenoblade Chronicles might not have been what fans were expecting, but there's no denying this behemoth of a game was well worth the asking price in terms of size and content.

While all of the Xenoblade Chronicles games are large enough to keep you satisfied for quite a while, the average time it takes to beat Xenoblade Chronicles X just barely manages to beat out the series' more recent outings on the Nintendo Switch.

The original version of this game required quite a few updates to address performance issues on Wii U. Now that eShop support for that platform is gone, new players won't be able to download these patches, so if you never played this title back in the day and want to try it out now, keep in mind that you're probably going to have to put up with these issues in order to experience the game today.

9 Baldur's Gate 3

Time To Beat: 111 Hours

The 10 Longest RPGs Ever Made (3)
Baldur's Gate 3
Platform(s)
PC , macOS , PS5 , Xbox Series X

Released
August 3, 2023

A commercial and critical darling, if you haven't already played Baldur's Gate 3 thanks to the hefty asking price of a modern full-size game release, rest assured that this is one RPG with enough content to justify the price tag, with an absolutely wild average time to beat of 111 hours.

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In short: Baldur's Gate 3 is probably one of the best games ever made. It takes the inherent fun at the core of and beautifully converts all of the appeal into a digital masterpiece that we're confident will go down in history as one of gaming's all-time greats.

8 Skyrim: Special Edition

Time To Beat: 114 Hours

The 10 Longest RPGs Ever Made (5)
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Platform(s)
PC , PlayStation 3 , PlayStation 4 , PlayStation 5 , Nintendo Switch , Xbox 360 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S

Released
November 11, 2011

Developer(s)
Bethesda Game Studios

As newer RPGs come and go, as more and more people join the gaming fandom, one game has consistently sold, been consistently talked about, and been consistently played and beloved by all. That game is none other than Skyrim, and it also happens to be one of gaming's longest RPGs.

The standard edition of the game already had enough content to satisfy any RPG fan, but the special edition added enough to its offerings to bring this incredible open world adventure to even lengthier heights.

7 The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom

Time To Beat: 116 Hours

The 10 Longest RPGs Ever Made (6)
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Platform(s)
Switch

Released
May 12, 2023

Developer(s)
Nintendo

The only way to make The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild any better than it already was would be to add some character to the dungeons and give us more things to keep ourselves busy with in the overworld, and luckily for us, that's exactly what Nintendo did with Tears of the Kingdom.

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With enough content to keep even the most efficient players happy for over 115 hours on average, you'll be playing around in Hyrule's biggest incarnation yet for a very long time, especially if you decide to try getting all 1000 Korok seeds along the way.

6 Persona 5: Royal

Time To Beat: 123 Hours

The 10 Longest RPGs Ever Made (8)
Persona 5 Royal
Platform(s)
PS4 , PS5 , Switch , PC , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S

Released
March 31, 2020
Developer(s)
Atlus , P-Studio

Persona 5 has already garnered an infamous reputation for its length, but Persona 5 Royal, which added even more content to an already stuffed experience, has only solidified that reputation, with a massive 123-hour average completion time for the main story and extras.

The game sees you take on the role of Joker of the Phantom Thieves, a vigilante group out to make the world a better place through unconventional, at times even supernatural, means. If you're a fan of both style and substance, this turn-based treat has got you covered.

5 The Witcher 3: Game Of The Year Edition

Time To Beat: 125 Hours

The 10 Longest RPGs Ever Made (9)
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Platform(s)
PS4 , PS5 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , Switch , PC

Released
May 19, 2015
Developer(s)
CD Projekt Red

One of gaming's biggest open worlds is perhaps unsurprisingly also home to one of its longest RPGs. The Witcher 3 is a landmark in gaming history, and a staple of what open-world games can and should be, so if any game had to take 125 hours to beat, we're glad it's this one.

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In The Witcher 3, you'll take on the role of a special kind of monster hunter known as a Witcher, and as you fight your way through this massive open world, the true scale of this incredible adventure only becomes more evident.

4 Pathfinder: Kingmaker

Time To Beat: 126 Hours

The 10 Longest RPGs Ever Made (11)

Pathfinder: Kingmaker is an isometric RPG in the spirit of games like Baldur's Gate, and an incredibly long one at that. The game sees you questing and conquering a large world, slowly overtaking everything in your path as you strive to make yourself the ruler of the Stolen Lands.

Though the game's critical reception is nowhere near that of other lengthy RPGs like Persona 5 or Baldur's Gate 3, Pathfinders: Kingmaker finds its footing with its engrossing gameplay loop and its sheer size.

3 Fire Emblem Fates: Special Edition

Time To Beat: 152 Hours

The 10 Longest RPGs Ever Made (12)
Fire Emblem Fates
Platform(s)
3DS

Released
February 19, 2016
Developer(s)
Intelligent Systems

On top of being one of Nintendo's longest games, thanks to it essentially being three games in one, Fire Emblem Fates: Special Edition is also one of the most expensive games on the Nintendo 3DS, with some listings going as high as 3,000 dollars.

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While we're not sure we'd pay that much for the game, those who do are in for more than their money's worth with over 150 hours of Fire Emblem content, and that's just for the main story and extras. For Fire Emblem fans who have a lot of time to kill, Fire Emblem Fates: Special Edition is sure to keep you busy for quite a while.

2 Monster Hunter Freedom Unite

Time To Beat: 195 Hours

The 10 Longest RPGs Ever Made (14)

Well and truly, Capcom's Monster Hunter is a series that has always taken a lot of time to get through. Most of the series, in fact, is counted among the longest RPGs of all time, but of all of these 120+ hour experiences, the longest by far is Monster Hunter Freedom Unite for the PSP.

That's not to say that this incredible length is a bad thing, of course. We love Monster Hunter, and we love how big and fleshed-out each new entry is. But if you're looking for an RPG to power through in a single setting, you might want to look elsewhere, or at least keep a good stock of energy drinks on hand.

1 Dragalia Lost

Time To Beat: 500 Hours

The 10 Longest RPGs Ever Made (15)

Dragalia Lost is a now-defunct mobile RPG, which counts according to the rules because it ended, and therefore, for a while at least, you could actually play through the entire thing from start to finish. The only problem with that is that it would take you on average 500 hours to do so.

With a completed runtime like that, and the game's interesting origins as a collaboration between Nintendo and Cygames, this mobile RPG will surely go down in the record books as one of the longest RPGs ever made worth remembering, and potentially even the longest games ever made, period.

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The 10 Longest RPGs Ever Made (2024)

FAQs

The 10 Longest RPGs Ever Made? ›

1974 to early 80s: the first modern RPGs, growth of the industry and controversy. The first commercially available role-playing game, Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), was published in 1974 by Gygax's TSR which marketed the game as a niche product. Gygax expected to sell about 50,000 copies.

What is the longest RPG game in the world? ›

10 Longest Open-World Games
  • 8 Valheim. ...
  • 7 Assassin's Creed Valhalla. ...
  • 6 Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth. ...
  • 5 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. ...
  • 4 Red Dead Redemption 2. ...
  • 3 Fallout 4. Completionist Time: 211 Hours. ...
  • 2 The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. Completionist Time: 232 Hours. ...
  • 1 The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom. Completionist Time: 240 Hours.
Apr 25, 2024

What is the longest video game of all time? ›

The longest video games ever: From least to most hours
  • Arknights (983 hours) ...
  • osu! ...
  • Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms (1173 hours) ...
  • Legends Of IdleOn (1584 hours) ...
  • Midas Gold Plus (1816 hours) ...
  • NGU Idle (2057 hours) ...
  • World of Tanks: Blitz (2274 hours) ...
  • Melvor Idle (3012 hours)
Apr 21, 2024

What is the hardest RPG video game? ›

11 of the Hardest RPGs Ever Made
  • Bloodborne. ...
  • Legend of Grimrock 2. ...
  • Final Fantasy Tactics. ...
  • Fire Emblem Fates. ...
  • Shin Megami Tensei Series. ...
  • Gothic. ...
  • Darkest Dungeon. ...
  • Conclusion. All the games on our list are there because they are hard and sometimes unpredictable, but none are too difficult to enjoy and go through.
Mar 7, 2024

What game takes the longest to beat? ›

To be considered for the list, a game must have at least 10 main story times submitted to HowLongToBeat and something resembling an ending.
  • 5 SnowRunner - 90 Hours. ...
  • 4 Monster Hunter: Freedom Unite - 97 Hours. ...
  • 3 Persona 5 Royal - 101 Hours. ...
  • 2 Kerbal Space Program - 115 Hours. ...
  • 1 Library Of Ruina - 118 Hours.
Apr 28, 2024

What is the oldest RPG system? ›

1974 to early 80s: the first modern RPGs, growth of the industry and controversy. The first commercially available role-playing game, Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), was published in 1974 by Gygax's TSR which marketed the game as a niche product. Gygax expected to sell about 50,000 copies.

What game has the longest hours? ›

According to HLTB, the crown for longest overall video game belongs to Melvor Idle, a Runescape-inspired idle/incremental game with an estimated playtime of 3,126 hours. On the other end of the spectrum lies Trivia Vault: Super Heroes Trivia with an estimated playtime of 1 minute and 12 seconds.

What is the #1 hardest game? ›

10 Hardest Video Games of All Time (Ranked)
  1. Super Meat Boy. Image Courtesy: Team Meat.
  2. Dark Souls. Image Courtesy: Bandai Namco. ...
  3. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Image Courtesy: FromSoftware Inc. ...
  4. Elden Ring. Image Courtesy: Bandai Namco. ...
  5. Cuphead. ...
  6. Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels. ...
  7. Ninja Gaiden. ...
  8. Spelunky 2. ...
Mar 2, 2024

What is the hardest game on earth? ›

10 Most difficult games out there
  • Contra. ...
  • Mega Man 9. ...
  • Flywrench. ...
  • 1001 Spikes. ...
  • Dota 2. ...
  • Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. Zelda II is the black sheep of the Zelda series. ...
  • Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels. A game so hard, it wasn't released outside Japan. ...
  • Ghosts 'n Goblins. Ghosts 'n Goblins is for the most hardcore players.
Jul 6, 2021

Who is the hardest RPG boss? ›

Top 10 Lists: The Top 10 Hardest Bonus Bosses In An RPG *Spoilers*
  • #4: Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne (PS2) - Beelzebub. ...
  • #3: Final Fantasy X (PS2) - The Monster Arena Bosses. ...
  • #2: Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES (PS2) - Elizabeth. ...
  • #1: Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga (PS2) - The Demi-Fiend.

What is the shortest video game? ›

The shortest game to beat is actually clue. The speedrun is less than a second, and can be found here: The speedrun is pure luck, as you immediately accuse the first person with the first options.

What is the most hardest game to run? ›

The Most Demanding PC Games
  • Red Dead Redemption 2.
  • Cyberpunk 2077.
  • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Next-Gen.
  • A Plague Tale: Requiem.
  • Forspoken.
  • HYPERPC computers. for the most demanding games.

What game takes longest to beat 100? ›

The longest game to complete 100% is deep rock galaxy, which is about 538 hours minimum. That is, if you complete everything first try.

What is the longest gameplay board game? ›

The Campaign for North Africa
DesignersRichard Berg
GenresMilitary simulation
Players2–10
Playing timeUp to 1,500 hours
SynonymsCNA
3 more rows

How long is the average RPG game? ›

On average, RPGs should be around 50–60 hours (that's the length of Dragon Age Origin). How many hours of grinding is too much for an RPG? One is too many. If 'grinding' is necessary at all, you are not playing an RPG, as there is no role-play in that activity.

What is the longest named game ever? ›

The longest title for a video game in English is 'Cthulhu Saves the World: Super Hyper Enhanced Championship Edition Alpha Diamond DX Plus Alpha FES HD – Premium Enhanced Game of the Year Collector's Edition (without Avatars!)'

What is the longest making game? ›

Duke Nukem Forever began development under 3D Realms and underwent a severely protracted development that lasted more than 15 years. Announced in 1997 following the success of Duke Nukem 3D, it was delayed several times, which was attributed to engine changes, understaffing, and a lack of a development plan.

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