Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Ghost of Yoteiand Assassin's Creed Shadows are three of the best open world games of 2025, with hours of content waiting for players to enjoy. As great as it is to play a game that will last for weeks, it can also be nice to have a cozy weekend experience to get through a game and scratch it off the to-do list in one go.
Should I buy? Best games for gaming on a budget
Don't be fooled, $70 doesn't guarantee a worthwhile experience, and budget games like these can sometimes be better.
Technically everyone the game can be completed in a weekend if players do not sleep between Friday afternoon and Sunday night, but it is not recommended. Considering sleep and other facts of life, a weekend's playing time for most people probably runs somewhere around twelve more perhaps twenty hour intervals. With that in mind, let's look at a few games to complete in a weekend easily, across many different genres.
Resident Evil 3 (2020)
STARS…
- How long to beat: About 6 hours
Resident Evil 3in either the original PS1 or remake format, is one of the scariest mainline games in the series. It's more action-oriented, with star Jill Valentine walking through the ruins of Raccoon City avoiding zombies and a big brute chasing her, Nemesis.
For horror fans who want something more breezy and linear with lots of suspense and not a lot of puzzles, this is it Resident Evil game to play through. The campaign is relatively grind-free, but if players love it, they can replay the game on New Game+ and unlock new gear on each subsequent playthrough.
Titanfall 2
An underrated FPS classic
- How long to beat: About 6 hours
Titanfall 2 didn't get the love it deserved in 2016, and it really needs a little more love now to maybe get a little more support for a sequel. Players will switch between their trained human soldier, Jack, and his AI-powered mech, BT, through some of the best designed levels in FPS history.
In typical shooter fashion, the whole campaign is streamlined and there aren't many level changes, and all players have to worry about is aiming, shooting and surviving. Thankfully, despite being nearly a decade old, Titanfall 2 is generally playable on most systems. It's short, linear, free of grinding and often sold for dirt cheap, so there are no excuses not to give this mechanics-infused shooter a shot.
Gears Of War: Reloaded
Cover photography at its best
- How long to beat: About 7 hours
For shooter fans who prefer cover fire instead of first-person perspective, Gears of War is a must play. That's it the cover shooter to check out even all these years later, and Gears of War: Reloaded is a remaster that sharpens up and streamlines the campaign, plus it's now playable on a PlayStation console for the first time.
Best Open-World game that lets you customize everything
These open world games offer freedom beyond vast areas to explore by letting you customize almost everything in sight.
All levels are linear, giving players squads of allies to clear out enemy hives, be it with guns, chainsaws, or grenades. There are secrets to uncover if players like to unlock bonus content, like artwork, and there's also co-op if they want to share their experience with a friend online or on the couch.
Until Dawn
Survive the night
- How long to beat: About 8 hours
Until Dawn is another horror game, but this one mostly plays itself. It's narrative, meaning players simply have to move their characters around in each chapter, with not much in the way of puzzles and no combat or grinding to speak of.
The cool thing about Uuntil DawnAside from the creepy vibes, every playable character has a chance to die if they make the wrong decision, like going down the wrong path or saying the wrong thing. If they reach their end, it will change the story accordingly, but there is a way to keep everyone alive if players are smart and quick with their decisions. A playthrough could be completed in a long day, or two at most, and with multiple endings there is reason to replay it if players want.
Devil May Cry 5
An action-based three-way
- How long to beat: About 11 hours
Devil May Cry 5 is a tight action game that is flashy, fun and offers plenty of replay value. Each level is simple and completely linear, with players running into arenas to battle monsters before moving on to the next challenge. There are three playable characters in total, Nero, V, and Dante, who all play differently, and the game switches between them often enough that no one character will ever dominate a playthrough.
There are secrets in each level if players care about extras, but they aren't necessary if players just want a cool action game to check out on a weekend and never think about again. There's no grinding needed to reach the game's conclusion, although there are a few tough boss fights, but the dynamic combat encourages creativity and experimentation, and is often rewarded with unique animations and some incredible enemy kills.
Astro Bot
Beyond Whimsy
- How long to beat: About 11 hours
Astro Bot is a stunning PS5 exclusive that has everything a gamer would want in a modern 3D platformer. The levels are inventive and fast-paced, the controls are tight, and the powers are imaginative. Players will take their titular Astro Bot to multiple themed galaxies, with main levels unlocked as players progress.
Best Games Where You Make Your Own Rules (And Actually Get Away With It)
These games may seem unfair or strict, but with experimentation and a little creative thinking, it's possible to break their rules in amazing ways.
There are also side levels, which often have two to three minute challenges if players want to test themselves, but they are not mandatory. There are also plenty of collectibles in the main levels that players may need to track down by repeating a level or two, but that's as close to grinding as it gets Astro Bot may. Otherwise, the handful of levels in each galaxy are enough fun to make a weekend feel cozy and nostalgic, thanks to all the PlayStation Easter eggs hidden around the world.
Tomb Raider (2013)
An adventurous reboot
- How long to beat: About 11.5 hours
2013 Tomb Raider reboot is the perfect entry for newcomers to the franchise, and a meatier experience if players want it to last all weekend. As a younger Lara Croft, players will be shipwrecked on an island alongside pirates, all looking for the same treasure she is. Lara starts off defenseless, but eventually she'll upgrade her equipment, like a grappling hook that can break barriers and allow players to swing around, and a bow that can kill enemies with ease.
It's kind of like a 3D Metroidvania, where keys and tools will unlock new paths, many of which are optional. Following the main linear path is easy enough, and quite detailed too, if players don't want to soak up everything this action-adventure reboot has to offer.
Big Boss begins
- How long to beat: About 12 hours
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a complete one-to-one remake of the PS2 original, preserving the story while tweaking the gameplay a bit to make it easier to control for modern players. While the jungle environment is vast and players can backtrack to previous rooms or areas if they wish, it's mostly a linear experience.
Players will sneak through jungles or research bases, using camouflage to hide and non-lethal weapons to keep things quiet and less bloody. Players can move through the game quickly if they run and use stronger and deadlier weapons, streamlining the experience, but that would defeat the purpose of this Big Boss origin story, an important Metal Gear character. It's the longest game on the list, but it's also the richest thanks to both the story and gameplay loop.
10 Video Game Characters That Are The Definition Of Legendary
There are tons of memorable video game characters, but there are only a select few that can truly be called legendary.