Top 10 Single Player Games That Can Be Finished in a Day

Published 01/18/2024, 5:46 AM EST

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Longer games aren’t necessarily better. While most games take quite a bit of time to complete, not all gamers have enough time on their hands. The gaming world is split into two halves. On one hand, you have players who want lengthy games with 30-40+ hours of gameplay with way too many things to do from the main story to side missions to other quests like bounties, collectibles and so on. On the other hand, players want games that are engaging, look great, but also don’t drag and take forever to finish. And contrary to what is seen in most AAA titles today, such games are very much real and out there, begging to be played.

“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” While the bigger games are great, sometimes players can’t afford to invest that much time. Considering that, here are 10 of the best single-player games to finish in no more than a day! In fact, they can be finished in merely a few hours.

1) Superliminal

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Superliminal is not just a game; it’s a series of mind-bending optical illusions. The game only takes 2.5 hours to beat and players will come across many illusions that will leave them scratching their heads.

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Navigate around puzzles that require a different point of view to solve and see how well can you navigate through the illusions. This first-person multi-platform puzzle game, developed by Pillow Castle, released in 2019, and is perfect for someone looking for something brain racking.

2) Mirror’s Edge

This first-person parkour game by DICE and EA offers a unique art style and exhilarating movement mechanics. With a campaign lasting around 2.5 to 3 hours, Mirror’s Edge is perfect for a short, fast-paced gaming session.

Players can take on the obstacle course of the world with a protagonist who’s a parkour pro. The first-person view and graphics that still hold up today make it a great game to finish even 15 years after its release.

3) Sayonara Wild Hearts

An audio-visual masterpiece, Sayonara Wild Hearts is a rhythm game that blends fantastic music with a simple gameplay. The game has an underlying story which, while being not so core to the experience, adds a fun touch to the feel of the game.

Players play through unique and colorful stages that move to the rhythm of the music. The game has a short story that only takes 1.5 hours to complete, making it the 10th entry on the list.

4) Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons

This unique indie game offers a short but tightly crafted experience. Made by the devs who are known for making co-op projects, this game challenges the player to control two characters with one controller.

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is considered the game that laid the blueprint for more complex games like A Way Out and It Takes Two.

5) Inside

Inside, the follow-up to Limbo is a cinematic adventure game that plunges players into a mysterious and disorienting world. The platformer comes with many interesting puzzles that will leave players scratching their head while the art style is sure to captivate anyone who gives it a try.

With 3 simple mechanics to run, jump, and grab things, the game gives an unforgettable experience in 3.5 hours. Playes get to play as a young boy who is trying to escape a mysterious eerie setting where there are mind-controlled humans taking over the place.

6) Little Nightmares and Little Nightmares 2

These short puzzle-platformer horror games deliver a visually striking and suspenseful experience. Similar to Inside, the game is a scary platformer that has a mysterious protagonist who looks like they are trying to escape the nightmares.

Little Nightmares takes approximately 3.5 hours to beat, and the sequel takes around 5. Both these games are great entries for anyone who prefers platformers and spookiness.

7) Carrion

Carrion offers a unique twist, allowing players to control a tentacle blob and wreak havoc instead of getting to play a hero. Unlike most side-scrollers where players need to avoid the monster, this time, things avoid players. Eliminate scientists and spread corruption.

The game gets easier as the blob grows in size, but some levels will need players to cut down on the size for stealthy missions. Carrion offers 4.5 hours of story mode gameplay.

8) Cocoon

Known as one of the best Indie Puzzles of 2023, this game was made by one of the devs who worked on Limbo and Inside. Players are dropped into an alien world, where they need to navigate around as a fly-like creature to solve puzzles around the map.

The game has a unique world within a world mechanic that has the attention of many gamers. This game can be completed within 5 hours and is nominated for the DICE Awards GOTY category.

9) Portal with RTX

The classic puzzle game Portal gets a visual upgrade with ray tracing in Portal with RTX. Players get to experience the classic portal game with upgraded graphics. The game usually takes about 3 hours to complete and players can relive the nostalgia of teleportation portals.

10) Resident Evil 3

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The remake of Resident Evil 3 offers streamlined, action-oriented gameplay that can be completed in under 6 hours. Although the game was criticized mainly for its short gameplay time. That makes it perfect for this list.

While it’s one of the longer games mentioned here, it is still possible to beat within a day. The game’s length makes it satisfying to complete while still keeping it within reasonable gameplay hours.

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That completes the list of 10 best games to play and complete well within a day. Let us know your top picks in the comments section.

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Written by:

Viren Mirpuri

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“What doesn't kill me, gives me EXP.” I'm Viren – part gaming journalist, part audio enthusiast, and a full-time gamer. Armed with a degree in Mass Media and a love for competitive gaming, I'm on a mission to redefine eSports journalism.
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Edited by:

Rohan Karnad