With so many games on the market aiming to command our attention for long periods of time – or indefinitely in the case of live service titles – it can feel demoralizing to find the time to play a brand new game. On top of obligations at work, at home, or even to your online friends, maybe not everyone is in the cards to pick up another 100-hour RPG.
However, that doesn't mean we should avoid unique experiences in favor of familiarity. Shorter narrative oriented games letting us bring in new sights and sounds without the commitment required of their longer cousins, and do so without sacrificing quality or artistry. To that end, here are seven games you can turn on for five hours.
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Firewatch
Running away is not always a bad thing
The first person mystery game for one player Firewatch is a slow burn, at least as much as a game this short can be. The opening moments tell of a beautiful and tragic story that has led the main character, Henry, to his job at Firewatch. When his lookout tower is raided on his first day on the job, it sets off a series of mysterious events that Henry must follow in order to piece together what has been happening in the forest.
The game's dialogue is a big bright spot, with Henry talking to his tutor, Delilah, using walkie-talkies. When you come across an item or clue, the option to talk to Delilah appears on the screen, but you don't necessarily have to take it. These small moments of player choice—choosing to talk to Delilah or not—shape the relationship between the pair and color everything that happens thereafter.
Although not difficult in the traditional sense, Firewatch is quite stressful, as it never pulls any punches on the road. Characters react appropriately to what they see and hear, cracking jokes when appropriate or reacting in anger when warranted, and this emotional consistency helps ground the characters. Lacking a traditional map or objective markers, Firewatch asks players to explore, and that exploration should be applied equally to the forest you play in and the events of the story itself.
And Roger
Puzzles with a purpose
Says And Roger (stylized as “and Roger“) is under 5 hours long is a bit like saying an inch is less than 10 feet long – the scale is just a bit off. And Roger is a lot to chew on despite its short running time. The story takes place over three chapters and follows a young girl as she wakes up with a strange man in her home. Who is this man, and is what the protagonist sees for real?
The top line is And Roger is extraordinarily inventive in his playing. The mechanics are constantly shifting, with players performing fully customized actions from scene to scene, and these gameplay elements tie in with the story and story events as they appear on screen alongside the button prompts.
Untruthfully, there are few ways to talk about And Roger without giving the game away (such is the nature of such short titles), but that makes it all the more important that you play it yourself. It's devastating, upsetting, heartwarming and more, all within the small window we've been given.
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Pig
Find your voice
PIG
- Released
-
December 13, 2018
One of the most visually stunning games you will ever see, Pig is an emotional look at a single girl's struggle to cope with loss. Through this trauma, Pig (the main character) has lost his voice, his will to move forward and his reason for being. Yet Gris continues to navigate those watercolor-like environments to reclaim her own agency.
Throughout Pigplayers will encounter puzzles, platforming sequences, and optional skill-based challenges. There is no danger or death to be found here; instead, Pig uses its evocative art and animation to communicate the title character's journey towards acceptance. Every trial is an opportunity for growth, and every action taken in the game ties in beautifully with the story Gris weaves.
Even if platformers aren't your thing, Pig' simple controls, lack of text and use of universal icons and symbols make it accessible to almost anyone who plays games in any culture or spoken language. This simplicity allows for a more reflective experience, allowing players to take in the sights and sounds to internalize the images and events that occur during Gri's journey.
What Remains of Edith Finch
Lives Lives and Lost Still leave memories
IN What Remains of Edith Finchplayers step into the shoes of 17-year-old Edith as she returns to her sprawling family home in Washington state. This collection of quirky stories is an incredibly beautiful exploration of family, legacy and the stories we leave behind. As the last living member of the Finch family, Edith tries to understand the curse that has claimed the lives of her relatives for generations.
The game is a masterclass in environmental storytelling. As you explore the labyrinthine house full of blocked off rooms and bizarre objects, you interact with various memories that trigger short vignettes. These vignettes take you into the final moments of a family member's life, each with a tailored gameplay experience that constantly surprises. Perspective, genre, image – nothing is set in stone from moment to moment.
Its story is a reminder that our lives and relationships are both complicated and beautiful, despite (or perhaps because of) the pain and hardships we've experienced along the way. It shows us that each of us has inner workings, that we are all valuable, and that it is important that we live.
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Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
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Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s) Medium (5.0s) Hard (2.5s) Permadeath (2.5s)
That dragon, cancer
An interactive memoir about the weight of love and the pain of loss
IN That dragon, cancerplayers step into the lives of Ryan and Amy Green as they navigate the terminal illness of their young son, Joel. This interactive memoir is a raw, heartbreaking exploration of faith, love, hope and grief, developed to honor the memory of Joel and his four-year battle with cancer. How do we face life when we are powerless against its worst moments?
Rather than traditional puzzles or interactivity, you engage in poetic and often surreal scenes that reflect the psychological state of the parents and the other characters in the game. For example, in the intro you can watch from the doctor's perspective as they deliver the news of Joel's diagnosis, and later you are Joel himself going down for a picture, while in another scene you are a duck being fed, and so on. These shifting perspectives from different moments in time are punctuated by actual audio recordings and letters, monuments to the grief and pain this family has experienced. The same pain that many families feel every day.
in truth, That dragon, cancer does not provide simple answers to the questions it asks, nor does it depict a miraculous escape; instead, it honors Joel through the small, fleeting moments of joy amidst all the pain and anger that comes with such a diagnosis. Over the course of two hours, you will come to understand Joel and his family through this intimate and heartbreaking experience.
Indicate
A surreal Odyssey of devotion and devilry
A moving journey through and through, Indicate is the story of a young nun of the same name. It is clear from the early moments that Indika is not well liked by her sisters, and eventually she is forced out of her convent and sent on a mission to deliver a letter.
While the overall story may not be profound, the presentation of the material is exceptional. It often goes from a humorous or surreal tone to a more somber one, making every single moment shine. The strongest aspect of Indicate may lie in its characterization, with Indika herself expressing doubt in her faith, and her companion Ilya remaining steadfast in her faith throughout, even as his arm shrivels and dies of necrosis.
The game isn't difficult to play either, with almost the entire experience consisting of walking slowly through tight rooms and corridors, with the occasional puzzle. Indicate handles all the subject matter and the knowing, pointed dialogue makes it an easy game to recommend to anyone with a few hours to spare.
Sayonara Wild Hearts
Neon dreams set to rhythmic themes
A vibrant, kaleidoscopic video game pulsing with neon energy, Sayonara Wild Hearts is an exploration of heartbreak and the journey to self-healing. Following a young woman whose heart has been broken, the game takes place on surreal, dreamlike paths where she must restore balance to her universe. As her alter-ego, The Fool, she hunts the celestial arcana that represent her inner problems.
The game is a fascinating mix of rhythm, racing and choreographed battles – all with a specially written pop soundtrack. Players chase enemies through highways, forests and virtual reality to see the healing through, and the rhythmic sword fights and flashing lights keep your blood pumping. Despite having a scoring system throughout, the focus remains on the experience, letting the music and visuals guide the player through the narrative beats. There are also puzzles to solve should the players choose to do so.
For those who don't usually play action or rhythm games, Sayonara Wild Hearts is remarkably readily available. Its intuitive one-button controls and forgiving control system allow anyone to experience the spectacle without being frustrated by complex mechanics. Its stylish, kinetic visual language creates a universal experience that feels exciting to push through, even if more traditional storytelling techniques are mostly lost in the process.
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