The constantly improving technology used by games developers has led to more exciting and immersive games appearing in recent years. But does this automatically mean that games should get longer and more complex all the time?
No Man’s Sky Frontiers
Version 3.6
Bringing living breathing settlements and a huge update to base building.
Free – Out Now on PS4, XBox, VR & PC
Patch Notes https://t.co/KjYNrYm9Ht
— Hello Games (@hellogames) September 1, 2021
The Techland 500 Hour Controversy
This subject hit the headlines recently when games publisher Techland sent out a tweet saying that players would need to spend about 500 hours on their new Dying Light 2 game if they want to fully complete it. They compared this time to how long you would need to walk from Warsaw to Madrid. Not everyone was as excited or intrigued by this snippet as the company had expected.
A lot of the replies to their tweet suggested that people simply don’t have enough spare time to dedicate to doing this. Techland later confirmed that a player can complete the main story in this zombie apocalypse game in as little as 80 hours, but the fact that they had earlier mentioned 500 hours meant that the subject of how long we should play a game for had already caught the public’s attention.
How Long Should You Spend on a Game?
The simple answer here is that everyone wants to play their favorite games for as long as they remain captivated by them and have the time to carry on. With the emergence of open-world games like the sprawling No Man’s Sky, it’s now possible in theory to spend an unlimited amount of time exploring and carrying out a variety of diverse missions.
Multiplayer battles also offer the chance to carry on playing against different opponents as long as you want to. This study suggests that an average of 35 and a half hours is needed to complete the average video game. However, what seems clear is that the linear approach of playing a game from start to finish through a set route is fast-disappearing.
Source: Pexels
The Alternatives to Longer Games
Not all new games are sprawling epics you need to put your life on hold to complete. The emergence of casual mobile games and genres like slots have helped to fuel a resurgence in fast, simple gameplay. With the example of online casinos in Ontario, they are like the regulated land casinos with video slots, table games, and video poker options that can be played in an instant. The official lottery site in Ontario has over 100 games like this to try. Unsurprisingly, this is a thriving industry with a lot to give.
Casual mobile games represent one of the fastest-growing areas of technology right now. Both the Google Play Store and the App Store are packed with simple games that you can play whenever you have a free moment or two. Some of the best casual mobile games for Android devices right now include Fruit Ninja, Mini Metro, and Super Mario Run.
The gaming market is likely to continue to diversify. Those people who have the time and willingness to work through massive games will find options for playing countless hours on games that captivate them. Others will carry on finding fast, simple games that offer a better fit for their personality and lifestyle.
