AAA video games seem to be getting longer with every new console generation. Developers want to utilize innovative hardware to the best of their abilities while giving gamers the most bang for their buck. Sometimes this means creating massive video games featuring hundreds of hours of gameplay. While long AAA games are fantastic, big-budget titles don't always have to be 100 plus hours long. Some gamers want to experience AAA games that don't require hundreds of hours to complete.
A lot of the early big-budget titles relied on difficultly to extend a gamer's playtime. As technology progressed, video games became more complex and started incorporating vivid story narratives to captive players for long periods of time. Many legendary RPGs on the original PlayStation feature 40 to 50 hours campaigns, giving players immersive gaming experiences that captivated them for hours on end. Now many AAA titles stretch across vast open worlds that can take dozens of hours to explore entirely. If players want to 100% some of these games, they need to grind 200 hours or more to receive the complete experience.
Many gamers just don't have the time to sink in 500 plus hours into a single game. Some people have families and other responsibilities that take away from their gaming time. Despite their busy schedules, they still want to experience AAA titles without impeding their everyday lives. If video game developers started creating big-budget games that only featured 20-hour campaigns, many busy gamers wouldn't have to sacrifice their daily routines to play the next big hit.
The saying quality over quantity tends to come into play when it comes to short video games. Most gamers would rather play a short game loaded with captivating gameplay and innovative ideas than a 200-hour game full of lackadaisical content. Some of the most groundbreaking titles like the original Resident Evil and Doom were only a few hours long. Even Half-Life 2 took less than 20 hours to complete on average. Giving players quality gaming experiences is much more important than producing extensive games with sub-par gameplay. If more developers focused on creating fun games instead of prolonged experiences, it might appeal to a broader audience.
One of the biggest problems in modern gaming is great titles overextending themselves, causing them to drag on longer than they should. It's far too common to see a fantastic video game overstay its welcome and sacrifice its quality for extended playtime. Video games don't need extensive campaigns to get their point across. Trimming the game down to its core essentials can be more beneficial than adding meaningless side missions with little to no value. Sometimes shorter games are more moving than long-form titles and stick with players long after their initial playthrough. Briefer gaming experiences that still have a lasting impact on players are sometimes better than extensive games that make the same impression.
Long video games are fantastic visual epics that give fans countless hours of enjoyment. However, they shouldn't push shorter games out of the picture. Short AAA games still have a place in the gaming world despite modern video game trends. Some gamers still want to enjoy enthralling AAA experiences without logging 200 or 300 hours of playtime. If more big-name developers focused on creating enthralling games while diming down on all the unnecessary fluff, it could prove to be more successful than they realize.