Games that are fun are not always long. A campaign doesn’t have to be 3 days long when it comes to game time, in order for the game to be considered. In fact, in recent years, gamers have enjoyed the shorter games more than the longer ones, taking them just a few hours to complete instead of a week or two. The shorter the campaign, the more enjoyable and packed with action and intrigue. Shorter games are now among the favourites.
Regardless of whether you are a fan of the longer or shorter type of games, we still believe you should give these ten titles a try. Why? For once, you will not be stuck with them for long because, as the title suggests, they only take less than 24 hours to complete, breaks included. Second, we vetted the titles for interest, action, intrigue, fun and functionality. And third, they are obtainable from our own library of games, which means you get the best deal possible when buying them.
The Campaign Mode
Games old or new come with many modes in which you can play them. But there is no game out there that comes without the Campaign mode. The most recognizable and used gaming mode ever created, the Campaign is the official story mode of any game, the mode you start with before moving to the Multiplayer or any other modes you might find in your main menu. Once you download the game, it’s the first menu item you click on.
The Campaign of a game follows the main story of the characters, after getting you familiar with the world, the commands, the features and so on. Once you start on the Campaign, you are basically running the core of the game. Based on the duration it takes for the average gamer to finish the campaign, games can be either short, playable in under 24 hours or longer, for which you need at least a few days to complete. Our list comes with under 24-hour games only!
Ten Games You Can Play In 24 Hours
Now that you know what a 24-hour or less game looks like, let’s dive into the list of games you can play in under a day with breaks included. These games are from all topics and genres, so there should be something for everybody in here regardless of preferences.
Hotline Miami - One of the most famous games having to do with street action, even 10 years after its release, Hotline Miami is a fast-paced game you can surely finish in one night if you wanted to. The game is original, brutal, savage, you name it, but it surely delivers on all fronts when it comes to weird and criminal video games. And the soundtrack surely helps, as it is one of the most famous in any game. The story of the game is set in Miami in 1989. You will play as the antihero who’s on a murderous spree against an enemy of the underworld. You’re completely controlled by your answering machine through the gameplay. Naturally, you’ll sometimes stop and think about your actions, but not for long. This is Hotline Miami, a shocker you will never forget.
Portal 2 - It's not that we are against the original Portal, which is one of the disruptors of the gaming industry and a sure must for absolutely every gamer out there. It's just that Portal 2 is better, in every single way imaginable. And you can still play it in a single day if that's what you desire, in terms of the main campaign of the title. The rules stayed the same, as well as the mechanics. In the single-player mode of Portal 2, you’ve got a bunch of new characters from the previous original title, as well as new puzzles, and a larger variety of test chambers, where the main action of the game takes place. You’ll reach undiscovered places in the Aperture Science Labs, as well as once again reuniting with GLaDOS.
Inside - Part of the newer generation of 2D-3D games "Inside" tells the story of a young boy trapped, well, inside a building he has to get out of. As boring as it might sound at first we can assure you that this quick game is nothing but fascinating. The graphics, the mechanics, even the story and the puzzles will offer countless fun over the campaign. And it's a steal at the price you will find it here on Egaming. This award-winning title by Playdead is an indie adventure like none other. Inside comes with a dark theme and story-driven platformer gameplay, in which the intense action is combined with the most challenging of puzzles. Coming with an art style based on mood, as well as a pristine soundtrack, the atmosphere you’ll encounter in this game is unsettling. Get ready for some action, adventure, horror and mystery all in one neat package.
Limbo - When he sees that the fate of his sister becomes uncertain, a small boy enters Limbo. Described as "a game that's as close to perfect at what it says it does it can get", Limbo is a masterpiece of graphics, visuals, sound and mechanics. As simple as it is, the game is also intricate and offering when it comes to action and heart-pounding moments. The title is described as being freaking, weird, and genius at the same time, with elements that are disturbing and uncomfortable, making it the right choice for fans of 2D-3D horrors. Although dark and disturbing, Limbo is eerily beautiful in its essence, offering a world that you want to explore over and over again. And you can do just that, and fast, as the game will take you only a few hours to run through the main campaign.
Dear Esther - Coming to you in the Landmark Edition thanks to Egaming, and at a special rate, Dear Esther is a one-of-a-kind title that can be played through in a few hours. Even so don't be fooled by the time it takes you to finish this game, as the adventure is compacted and surely demanding with this title. The first thing you hear when entering this game is, naturally, “Dear Esther…” Going far away from traditional gaming, this is a purely story-driven game, mixing amazing environments with sublime music and a powerful love story, as well as one of guilt, loss, and revenge. When playing the campaign the more you advance, the better the experience gets. The environment is explorable and simply stunning, with lands that are completely immersed on the haunted islands. And the story is the main attraction, being poetic, random, and unique.
Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes - This Ground Zeroes episode of the notorious MGS V boasts a central story mode and Side-Ops missions ranging from tactical action, aerial assaults, and “covert” missions that will be sure to surprise. Yet with all of these, you can still beat the game before 24 hours of gameplay, easy. The title gives fans the opportunity to get a taste of the world-class production’s unparalleled visual presentation and gameplay before the release of the main game. It's like a demo version but made into a fully operational game. It also provides an opportunity for gamers who have never played a Kojima Productions game, and veterans alike, to gain familiarity with the radical new game design and unparalleled style of presentation. all for a special price that's much lower than a full release.
Brothers - A Tale of Two Sons - One of the most impressive releases of 2013 this game is still making headlines almost 10 years later. And a short walkthrough of the first few missions of the game will surely tell you why. in Brothers - A Tale of Two Sons, your mission is to guide two brothers on an epic fairy tale journey. Made by a visionary Swedish film director, Josef Fares, with the help of top-tier developer Starbreeze Studios, this game is literally unique. Control both brothers at once as you experience co-op play in single-player mode, like never before. Solve puzzles, explore the varied locations and fight boss battles, controlling one brother with each thumbstick. A man, clinging to life. His two sons, desperate to cure their ailing father, are left with but one option.
Spec Ops: The Line - Often overlooked because of the larger franchises such as Call of Duty or Tom Clancy's Sprinter Cell, Spec Ops has gained notoriety over the last couple of years with the shooters' community. Morality is thrown in the middle of unthinkable situations in Spec Ops: The Line. So naturally, you’ll be put to the test and will have to make some unimaginable choices. Human life will be directly affected by them. The storyline of this title has some Apocalypse Now vibes into it, as well as some Heart of Darkness scents here and there. The plot happens in Dubai after a great battle that has left the city deserted and ruined. Your tactical team of Delta Force soldiers must go through the planes both horizontally and vertically, through sandstorms, terrifying maps and many more dreadful situations.
Metro 2033 Redux - This version of the famous Metro 2033 game is what happens when you take the original game and transform it for a better everything. You get new lighting, weather, physics, and so on. Players trying the title for the first time will enjoy the experience of one of the best story-based shooters ever made. This adventure is an epic combo of survival, horror, tactics, and exploring, as well as stealth and surprises. The gameplay has been improved and features added, some from the “Last Light” sequel of the first Metro. With better AI and controls, fine animation, great weapon handling and so much more, the experience you’re about to live through the game is thrilling. The two playing styles, the Ranger Mode, and all of the above are making Metro 2033 Redux into an endless bundle of A+ gameplay!
Bastion - Bastion is one of the action RPGs that most gamers will not even detect on their “maybe” radars. We really don't know why that is but the game is, to use the slag of the young, legit! Bastion is a game that will enable you to have hours upon hours of fun. The storyline of Bastion is told by a narrator who will keep you within the limits with every single move that you’ll make. He’s like a virtual god, there for you to protect, and amaze. You will travel through more than 40 environments, one more lush than the other, which were hand-painted by amazing artists. As you go along, you’ll get to discover the secrets of what was the Calamity, a catastrophic event that shattered the very world to just pieces.
How To Find Time-Friendly Games
Finding the right game for you might imply the discussed time-friendly feature. If you are looking for games you can play in just one day, there are plenty of websites out there ranking games even based on the length of the main campaign that they offer. Simply go online and look for those portals where gamers from all over the world have played countless titles and shared how much they took to complete them altogether.
Another way to find short games is to simply ask for recommendations from friends, or strangers on the web through gaming forums, social media groups and so on. Tell the people what you are into, and you will see just how fast they will be able to help you in sourcing just the right game for you.