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Think of the last computer game you actually beat. How long did it take you? A new study by game site Solitaired recently studied the games that take the longest time to beat, and the time it takes to do so. In just two years, the time it takes to beat, or complete, your average computer game has increased by 61%.
Games released in 2023 take an average of 56.2 hours to finish, while games released in 2024 take 66.2 hours. Both those averages are well above any other year in the past decade, the study says.
The longest game to beat takes 469 hours
Animal Crossing: New Leaf, a social simulation game, takes 469 hours to beat. Pandemic hit game Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Path of Exile are also top contenders. But CNET senior reporter David Lumb notes that some games aren't about the win, but the experience.
"Often with these games, beating it isn't even the point -- the appeal is to perform easy repetitive tasks in a delightful setting," Lumb said. Usually, players spend lots of time in games like Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley building up their home, making friends with cute animal friends and exploring areas.
"So while they may have win conditions that would lead them to beat the game, some players may not be eager to beat the games so they can spend more time in them," Lumb said.
And some of the trickier games may look to their difficulty as part of their appeal.
"Some, like Elden Ring and Dark Souls are intentionally very difficult as part of their appeal and charm," Lumb said.
The survey found that turn-based games, like Civilization V and Baldur's Gate 3, take the longest to beat, along with roleplaying and simulation games. Notable short games include the first Super Mario, Disney's Aladdin (1993) and Monument Valley. Nintendo DS, the Xbox Series consoles and PlayStation 5 are the three consoles with the longest average video games.
Long games don't seem to bother gamers. Out of the top 20 longest games on the list, just four have an average player rating below 80%.
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A new survey says these video games take the longest to beat.
Solitaired
