Quick Plays, Lasting Joy!
Ever feel like there's just not enough time for gaming? We get it! Life's busy, but that doesn't mean you have to miss out on unforgettable experiences. If you only have a weekend to spare, we've curated a list of 20 short yet incredible video games that deliver massive impact without demanding countless hours. Get ready to discover your next amazing adventure!
1. Journey
Walking across glowing sands, led by light and instinct. There’s no talking in this game, just movement and emotion. The Journey lasts 2 hours but leaves a huge impact. The music, the colors, and the quiet moments with another player all come together to create something deeply personal and real.
Journey Launch Trailer I Coming July 21 I PS4 Exclusive by PlayStation
2. What Remains Of Edith Finch
You enter a family home filled with strange, sealed rooms. In just 2 hours, What Remains of Edith Finch tells powerful mini-stories using different game styles. One moment, you're flying as a bird; the next, you're working in a fish factory. Every memory hits uniquely.
What Remains of Edith Finch - Full Game Longplay Walkthrough 4K 60FPS by LizAndErikSeries
3. Inside
A boy runs through a silent, broken world. You don’t know why—just that danger is everywhere. Inside lasts 3 hours and never explains itself, yet the atmosphere pulls you in. The puzzles are smart, the tension never fades, and the ending leaves you quietly stunned.
Inside Official Launch Trailer by IGN
4. Limbo
Everything’s black and white, and nothing feels safe. In Limbo, you direct a boy through forests and machines, solving deadly puzzles along the way. The 3.5-hour game never says a word, but the eerie silence and sharp traps make every move tense. It’s quiet, but you can’t relax.
Limbo Gameplay Walkthrough - Full Game by IGN Guides
5. Firewatch
Alone in the woods, watching for fires. Someone talks to you on the radio, but you never see them. In 4 hours, Firewatch builds a strange connection through voice, choice, and long walks. It’s calm on the surface, but something about it keeps digging deeper.
6. Stray
Not a hero but a cat in a city run by robots. Stray lets you climb rooftops, knock over cans, and explore tight alleys for 5 hours. The world feels alive, full of hidden warmth and secrets. You’re not saving the world, but you do change one part of it.
7. Untitled Goose Game
You’re a goose, and your only goal is to ruin everyone’s day. In just 2 hours, Untitled Goose Game lets you steal keys, trap people in garages, and honk at will. It’s silly, smart, and impossible not to enjoy. Mischief has never felt this well-designed or this funny.
8. Gris
Gris is a young woman lost in sorrow—literally. In this 3.5-hour platformer, you jump, glide, and solve light puzzles across watercolor landscapes that evolve with emotion. Each level reflects a stage of grief. No dialogue, just breathtaking visuals and music that gently carry you toward healing.
Gris - Launch Trailer | PS4 by PlayStation
9. A Short Hike
Hike to find cell service, but the journey becomes the reward. A Short Hike is 2 hours of fishing, gliding, chatting, and peaceful discovery. Nothing feels forced, and everything invites curiosity. It’s full of moments that quietly remind you to slow down and enjoy the view.
I Played 100% Of A Short Hike by CharlieBarley
10. Portal
A strange voice promises cake, and a handheld device opens holes through walls. In under 3 hours, Portal grows from a quiet lab test into one of the smartest puzzle games ever made. The challenges grow stranger, the jokes get darker—and the escape feels clever every single time.
PORTAL | Full Gameplay Walkthrough | No Commentary by giedmich
11. Florence
Moments replace words in this short, tender story. Florence runs for just 30 minutes, showing a full relationship through simple touch mechanics. Mini-games let you fall in love, drift apart, and find yourself again. Each scene lands because it feels so true to real life.
Florence (Full Game, No Commentary) by Joshiball
12. Sayonara Wild Hearts
It’s a 2-hour playable album that mixes music and movement into something wild. Electric pink skies, glowing tarot cards, and heartbreak in motion—every track becomes a level. Sayonara Wild Hearts is a game that just flows, hits hard, and disappears like a memory after a dream.
Sayonara Wild Hearts - Launch Trailer | PS5 Games by PlayStation
13. Gone Home
An empty house waits—no enemies, no combat. Just quiet details scattered across rooms. Gone Home unpacks a family’s story in 2 hours through notes, photos, and small discoveries. It’s subtle and emotional, turning everyday objects into pieces of something much bigger than expected.
Gone Home - Video Game Review by Zebra Gamer
14. The Stanley Parable
This one is unpredictable and brilliantly pokes fun at how games normally work. Instructions are given, but following them is entirely up to you. The Stanley Parable runs for about 1.5 hours and constantly shifts direction based on your choices. Every path leads to a new surprise.
The Stanley Parable Launch Trailer by stanleyparable
15. Gorogoa
Drawings become puzzles you control with logic and intuition. In Gorogoa, every panel hides something deeper—you stack, slide, and zoom to move through time and space. It takes just 90 minutes to finish, but the experience feels beautiful, unlike anything else in gaming.
GOROGOA - Official Launch Trailer - Nintendo Switch by Nintendo of America
16. Little Nightmares
Dark hallways and oversized shadows set the tone in Little Nightmares. Over 4 hours, you sneak past disturbing creatures using careful movement and sharp timing. The world feels unsafe but strangely familiar. Each step forward feels earned in this eerie, side-scrolling escape.
Little Nightmares - Launch Trailer by GameSpot
17. Return Of The Obra Dinn
Sixty people are dead, and your job is to figure out how. Return of the Obra Dinn gives you 5 hours of pure detective work using visual memory and logic. No handholding. Just clues, a notebook, and a ship filled with frozen moments waiting to be untangled.
How to enjoy Return of the Obra Dinn | Beginner's Guide by Polygon
18. Abzû
Beneath the surface, everything moves in slow harmony. There’s no pressure to rush—just the quiet thrill of discovering what’s hidden in the deep. Abzû offers 2 hours of underwater exploration where fish swim in schools, ancient ruins pulse with color, and the journey feels peaceful throughout.
ABZÛ - E3 2016 Launch Trailer | PS4 by PlayStation
19. Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons
One controller, two brothers, and a story that speaks without words. Brothers plays out over 3 hours, using dual-stick controls to mirror their bond. You solve puzzles, face danger, and push forward together. This emotional game delivers a gut punch that few games dare to attempt.
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake - Gameplay Trailer | PS5 Games by PlayStation
20. Superliminal
Perception becomes the puzzle in Superliminal. Here, objects change size depending on how you see them, so every room becomes a mind-bending challenge. The 2.5-hour journey keeps twisting its own rules, forcing you to think in ways games rarely ask. It’s clever and surprisingly reflective by the end.
