Forget open-world RPGs, no game needs to be longer than 40 hours

I’m not one to police how long a video game should be. Every game is different and begs design considerations that dictate runtime. It makes sense for Star Fox’s campaign to be quick but highly replayable, while 007 First Light needs most of its 20 hours to build its James Bond origin story. I will, however, die on one specific hill when it comes to the topic: No RPG needs to be longer than 40 hours, tops! Look, I know that sounds like sacrilege to genre enthusiasts. (It is our Spicy Takes Cookout weekend here on Polygon, in my defense.) But the reality is that I’ve played very few ultra-long RPGs in my lifetime that paid off their enormous runtimes. I’ve even dropped games I’ve loved 50 hours in because I’m just too exhausted by late-game grinding to see their stories to their conclusion. In an age where there are more great games — and way more RPGs! — than ever to play, I’m calling on the video game industry to come together and solve a crisis that has been plaguing my backlog for decades. Before I make my case, I’ll throw the defenders a bone. I understand the appeal of a long RPG, especially in an age where video game prices are hitting the $80 mark. A lot of people may only b

Jul 5, 2026 → Jul 5, 2026