We're in the calm before the storm: the next few months will play host to a barrage of AAA games, including long-anticipated single-player titles like Ghost of Yotei and multiplayer record-smashers like Battlefield 6. But what if you're looking for something a little more digestible, something that isn't the length of a typical Ubisoft or Bethesda game?
In that case, you're in luck, as the following is a collection of short, hard-hitting games that you can clear in a weekend, or even a single night, running the gamut from psychological horror to slice-of-life simulation. For this set of recommendations, variety and ingenuity have been prioritized over all else.
Spec Ops: The Line
Available on PC, PS3, and Xbox 360
How Long to Beat Spec Ops: The Line
- Main story: 6 hours
- Completionist run: 16.5 hours
Spec Ops: The Line is widely regarded as one of the best video games about war ever made. Notice that I say "video games about war" instead of "military shooter" or "war video game." This is because Spec Ops: The Line is the rare example of a video game that actually has something to say about the military carnage that it presents—a stark contrast from the typical AAA military FPS, which shies away from critical or sophisticated analysis of warfare, choosing instead to present it as plainly exciting, heroic, or glorious. Spec Ops doesn't do that, to say the least, and that's why it's been so much more enduring and impactful than any single Battlefield or CoD game.
Doki Doki Literature Club!
Available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
How Long to Beat Doki Doki Literature Club!
- Main story: 4 hours
- Completionist run: 7.5 hours
Much like with Spec Ops: The Line, the less you know about Doki Doki Literature Club! Before playing, the better. Put another way, it's quite difficult to talk about why this game is so great without spoiling its story, so you may have to trust me on this one: I'm no anime-loving visual novel fanatic, but Doki Doki Literature Club! Managed to slip into the deepest recesses of my mind almost immediately. It's surprising, powerful, shocking, and inventive, and with a main story that can be beaten in 4 hours or less, it's the perfect weekend game.
Doki Doki Literature Club! Is free, though it does have a premium, $15 deluxe edition in the form of Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 71%
- Released
- September 22, 2017
- Developer(s)
- Team Salvato
- Publisher(s)
- Team Salvato
WHERE TO PLAY
Hi, Monika here!
Welcome to the Literature Club! It's always been a dream of mine to make something special out of the things I love. Now that you're a club member, you can help me make that dream come true in this cute game!
Every day is full of chit-chat and fun activities with all of my adorable and unique club members:
Sayori, the youthful bundle of sunshine who values happiness the most;
Natsuki, the deceivingly cute girl who packs an assertive punch;
Yuri, the timid and mysterious one who finds comfort in the world of books;
...And, of course, Monika, the leader of the club! That's me!
I'm super excited for you to make friends with everyone and help the Literature Club become a more intimate place for all my members. But I can tell already that you're a sweetheart—will you promise to spend the most time with me? ♥
This game is not suitable for children
or those who are easily disturbed.
- Engine
- Ren'Py
- Genre(s)
- Visual Novel, Horror
- Platform(s)
- PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- How Long To Beat
- 4 Hours
Home Safety Hotline
Available on PC
How Long to Beat Home Safety Hotline
- Main story: 2.5 hours
- Completionist run: 3.5 hours
Home Safety Hotline is certainly one of the most unique games I've ever played, and a testament to how developers can create a fun, thought-provoking gaming experience with limited resources. Players assume the role of a hotline operator for an endearingly 90s-inspired home safety company, which is the game's namesake.
In effect, Home Safety Hotline's gameplay boils down to fielding calls from concerned homeowners about various hazards and critter infestations, and providing them with the relevant advice.
But here's the rub: the game takes place in a sort of urban fantasy world, wherein strange, bizarre, and dangerous creatures infiltrate homes and wreak all sorts of havoc. It's a great fit for fans of SCP-style horror, as well as the mechanically simplistic gameplay conventions popularized by games like Five Nights at Freddy's.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 82%
- Released
- January 16, 2024
- ESRB
- nr
- Engine
- Unity
WHERE TO PLAY
Keep Driving
Available on PC
How Long to Beat Keep Driving
- Main story: 3.5 hours
- Completionist run: 25 hours
Keep Driving is an easy contender for my personal top 10 games of 2025. It's ridiculously charming in a rugged sort of way, encouraging players to fully invest themselves in the moment-to-moment life of a young cross-country road-tripper. The entirety of the game revolves around managing resources, completing tasks, and maintaining your vehicle, making it a can't-miss for management game fans. And although it can technically be beaten in just a few hours, its roguelike elements and abundance of alternate endings give it heaps of replay value as well.
Keep Driving
- Developer(s)
- YCJY Games
- Publisher(s)
- YCJY Games