Summary
If there’s one video game genre that players tend to associate with a long and arduous journey, that’s the RPG genre. It’s usually true, yes, but that’s not always the case. Whenever a person buys an RPG, they usually do so under the assumption that they’ll get a lot of bang for their buck, but that doesn’t necessarily mean all RPG fans want all RPGs to be extreme time-eaters.
RPGs can sometimes work just as well, even if they can be beaten in a few sittings, though that’s not a very widely known fact. Let’s look at some amazing RPGs, Japanese and American, that players will be able to beat in a few hours max.
The first chapter ofDeltarune, Toby Fox’s successor toUndertale, is the game that fans of short RPGs are looking for — whether they’re already fans or newcomers. The story is sharp and funny, the gameplay is yet another cool play on already known systems, and the characters are as endearing as ever.Deltarune: Chapter 1, much likeUndertale, is great because it can be beaten in a short amount of time, but it can also last a while longer for players interested in doing everything the game has to offer.
Cat Quest 3is the third game in the little-known series of little RPGs,Cat Quest.It’s an open-world RPG, though its map is more focused on detail than on having an incredibly huge area to explore. It’s perfect for cat lovers and perhaps even cats themselves, as it’s not too consuming in terms of attention span side of things.
Cat Quest 3will take no longer than 4 hours to beat. Gamers who enjoy it and are on the lookout for other short RPGs will be happy to learn about the previous two games in the series, which also fit into the category of short and sweet.
While not a traditional JRPG, 2013’sIttle Dewfeatures enough traditional RPG elements and is way too fun and short to ignore.Ittle Dewplays like a mix between the classicZeldatitlesand an RPG, but with the twist that players step into the shoes not of a heroic lad like Link, but of a hilariously mean rascal.Ittle Dewis fun not just because of its hilarious writing, but also because of its cleverly interwoven gameplay elements. This is the one to play for anyone looking for a funny take on theZeldaformula.
Without trying to spoil this fantastic title,To The Moonis about fulfilling a dying man’s last wish, one naturally involving thenatural satelliteorbiting the Earth: the moon itself.To The Moonis likely the RPG that’s lightest in RPG mechanics ever to exist, but it’s still an RPG — one made in RPG Maker, no less — and it more than deserves a spot in any list of great games. This one is a great pick for anyone looking to get into RPGs, or players who enjoy games with touching storylines. Unlike most games on this list, most ofTo The Mooncan be explored in just those 4 hours.
3Deltarune: Chapter 2
Going Even Deeper
It might feel like cheating to include various chapters of what’s supposedly the same game in one list, but there are always so many years in betweenDeltarunereleases— and they always work so well on their own — that it needs to be done. WhereasDeltarune: Chapter 1proved an excellent new introduction to Toby Fox’s new adventure,Chapter 2goes harder, and offers players a lot more to do. Still, it remains a very short game, especially for an RPG. Players can beat it in no longer than 4 hours.
The Elder Scrolls IV:Oblivionfeatures a rather large map, even by the absurd standards of today, as well as a ton of quests for players to play through. Still, it’s actually a much shorter game than any of its predecessors, main quest-wise.
The previous games in the series featured even larger maps (ludicrously larger, for the first two games in the series).Oblivionalso introduces fast travel options that the player can access from anywhere, anytime, which significantly shortens the game — especially its main quest.Oblivion’smain quest might take players up to 7 hours to beat should the Hero go on cosplaying as a brave knight on horseback at all times, but can be beaten in under 4 hours for players who use the dark magic of teleportation.
Though it’s as indie as it gets and features the simplest graphics possible,Undertaleis an incredible experience. ItsEarthbound-inspired bullet-hell-infused gameplay is fantastic, and the story goes from hilarious to heartbreaking in a heartbeat. Players don’t even need to waste more than a day with it to experience most of it. ThoughUndertalecan be finished in just about 4 hours, the best part is that people will likely come back to it to find everything that lies under the surface, and they’ll be glad they did.
Undertalecompletely changed everyone’s concept of how deep the story of an indie title could be back in 2015. AfterUndertale, no one doubts any more that a “small indie title” can change their lives and the way they look at games. Better yet, it won’t even take too long to do that.
