The Best Nintendo Switch Games That Take Forever To Finish
- 1181 VOTESPhoto: Nintendo
Main Story: 50 hours (64 hours with DLCs)
Extra Quests: 90-95 hours (112 hours with DLCs)
Playing to Completion: 180-185 hours (203 hours with DLCs)If you're looking for an epic adventure in the land of Hyrule, you can never go wrong with Breath of the Wild. It's the first entry in the famed Zelda series to feature a true open-world experience and offers a compelling main storyline. However, many players find themselves taking the most enjoyment from this game by simply exploring the extensive map, uncovering side quests, and discovering secrets. And trust us, there is A LOT to explore.
The freedom to play the game however you want is a breath of fresh air, and it's easy for the hours to melt away when you have so many fun tools and environments (and a physics engine) to play around with. It's also one of the more difficult Zelda games, making it all the more special when you finally work your way through.
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- 286 VOTESPhoto: CD Projekt RED
Main Story: Roughly 50 hours (75 hours with DLCs)
Extra Quests: 100 hours (140 hours with DLCs)
Playing to completion: 170-175 hours (around 230 hours with DLCs)A juggernaut of modern AAA games, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is one of the best games to get lost in if you're looking to burn some time. Not only does the game have thousands of hours of content, including an in-game card game, there is almost no filler, with many of the side quests being considered more compelling than the main questline.
Offering a traditional RPG experience with incredible graphics and voice acting, The Witcher 3 is a modern classic that will be played for years to come. And while the game itself is seriously expansive, completing the game becomes a massive undertaking when you factor in the various DLCs, which are practically two stand-alone games.
- 376 VOTESPhoto: Bethesda Game Studios
Main Story: Roughly 35 hours (75+ hours with DLCs)
Extra Quests: Around 125 hours (150+ hours with DLCs)
Playing to Completion: Around 1000 hoursAn all-time classic that has been ported to nearly every platform imaginable, it was only a matter of time before Skyrim was available on the Switch. With a substantial main storyline, as well as dozens of side quests and missions, Skyrim is truly a world you can get lost in.
If you really wanted, you could melt away dozens of hours reading one of the many in-game books. Now that it's more portable than ever, there's no excuse not to play one of the most well-loved games of all time.
- 4123 VOTESPhoto: Nintendo
Main Story: Roughly 60 hours
Extras: 90-100 hours
Playing to Completion: Around 200 hours (though you can hypothetically play forever)Now one of the best-selling console games of all time, Animal Crossing: New Horizons has completely taken over the games space the past few months. Fans had long awaited an entry on the Switch in the beloved series of community simulators, and they were not disappointed, as New Horizons returned with the features that players love while also bringing some brand new mechanics that only add to the charm.
While there are specific objectives to complete in the early game, players can, in theory, play Animal Crossing indefinitely, constantly changing the design of the island, or simply just hanging out with the villagers.
- 573 VOTESPhoto: Eric Barone
Main Story: 50-55 hours
Extra Quests: 85 hours
Playing to Completion: 150 hoursStardew Valley has now become one of the most popular indie games of all time, and for good reason. Taking inspiration from farming and community simulators like Harvest Moon and Animal Crossing, Stardew maintains the feel of a quant virtual farming town while leaving its own stamp on the genre.
Whether you're a fan of fishing, mining, farming, or romancing your neighbors, there's something for everyone in Stardew Valley. Even better, the developer has recently been releasing patches with all kinds of new content from cutscenes to fruits, so we have a feeling this game will stay in our rotation for quite some time.
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- 669 VOTESPhoto: Intelligent Systems
Main Story: Roughly 50 hours
Extra Quests: 65-70 hours
Playing to Completion: Around 170 hoursA Nintendo Switch exclusive, Fire Emblem: Three Houses is yet another tactical RPG that fans of the genre simply can't miss. The first entry in the series since Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn for the Wii in 2007, Three Houses was a big step up graphically, and also introduced new mechanics and expanded on the combat system.
Combining elements of a charming social simulator and turn-based battle system, this title garnered universal acclaim for its story and gameplay alike, so it's an awesome option if you're looking to spend a good chunk of time getting lost in an adventure that has lovable characters as well as challenging strategy.
- 746 VOTES
Monster Hunter Generations
Photo: CapcomMain Story: Roughly 55-60 hours
Extra Quests: 120 hours
Playing to Completion: 265 hoursOriginally released on the Nintendo 3DS in 2015, an HD version of Monster Hunter Generations was ported to the Switch in 2018. Like the previous entries in the Monster Hunter series, and like the title would suggest, the gameplay is centered on hunting dangerous creatures in an action RPG setting. Of course, Generations iterates on the series' formula, adding new attacks and combat styles, as well as the ability to play as Felynes, who has traditionally been a companion character.
The game also offers a substantial amount of monster-hunting content (we'd be shocked if it didn't) so you won't run out of quests for quite some time.
- 858 VOTESPhoto: Monolith Soft
Main Story: Roughly 65 hours (80 with the Torna expansion)
Extra Quests: 110 hours (130 with the Torna expansion)
Playing to Completion: Around 260 hours (300 hours with the Torna expansion)Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is an open-world action RPG that takes place in the fantastical world of Alrest, which is covered in a sea of clouds. Geared more toward a focused storyline than its predecessor, the sequel focuses on two protagonists, Rex and Pyra, as they attempt to reach the mysterious World Tree in the middle of a war between two factions called the Drivers and the Blades.
Don't worry, it's not as complicated as it sounds, and you'll have plenty of time to figure it out over the game's pretty extensive run time regardless. Considering the game has you control a party of three characters, which allows you some customization in terms of how you want to play, and that it has a gorgeous and inviting open world, you won't want a second away from exploring it all until it's over.
- 953 VOTESPhoto: Square Enix
Main Story: Roughly 60 hours
Extra Quests: 75-80 hours
Playing to Completion: Around 100 hoursIf a turn-based RPG is more your speed, Octopaath Traveler is a great option to pass the time. Players can experience the game as one of eight playable characters, each of which offers their own unique story beats and mechanics including a former knight, a traveling apothecary, and a cleric, just to name a few.
This also adds to the title's replayability, in case you want to switch it up and try a different character (up to eight different times, of course). The game also switches things up visually with NES-inspired character art and polygonal environments, while keeping classic RPG elements that feel familiar yet engaging to play.
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- 1045 VOTES
Disgaea 5
Photo: Nippon Ichi SoftwareMain Story: Roughly 55-60 hours
Extra Quests: 80-85 hours
Playing to Completion: 195 hoursIf you're looking to explore a bit of a darker storyline, try Disgaea 5, the central theme of which is centered on the idea of revenge. After a demon named Void Dark devastates multiple Neverworlds with his army, the Overlords of the Neverworlds must rise up in retaliation. Disgaea 5 introduces some features that are new to the series as well, including new statistics displayed on screen, up to 100 characters being displayed at a time instead of a previous 10, and a revenge system that kicks in when a party member falls.
There is plenty to explore, and you'll find yourself discovering new strategies to use in battle dozens of hours in.
- 1141 VOTESPhoto: Blizzard Entertainment
Main Story: Roughly 20 hours
Extra Quests: 45 hours
Playing to Completion: 170 hoursAs one of Blizzard's most beloved games, and widely considered to be one of the best RPGs ever made, it was only a matter of time before Diablo III made its way to our Switches. Play as one of seven classes, including Barbarian, Monk, and Necromancer, and hack-and-slash your way through dungeons to claim your loot.
When you're finished with the single-player campaign, there is also PvP mode that will test your skills against other adventurers online. The best part is, the game never runs out of content with PvP, so you can keep playing to your heart's content.
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- 1227 VOTESPhoto: SEGA Games
Main Story: Roughly 35-40 hours
Extra Quests: 50 hours
Playing to Completion: Around 70 hoursClosely following the gameplay style of the first three titles in the series, Valkyria Chronicles 4 is a tactical RPG that brings something fresh to the tried-and-true formula. While the previous Valkyria entries featured more fantastical settings, the fourth game has a more grounded military feel, while still keeping the tone that fans of the series have grown to love over the years.
Come for the cast of compelling characters, stay for the engaging battle-simulation gameplay; this is a title that will keep you happy for weeks.
- 1342 VOTESPhoto: Digital Extremes
Average Versus Mode Playtime: 21 hours
Average Co-op Playtime: 509 hoursWarframe is a third-person action RPG online shooter that was originally released for Windows in 2013 but has since made its way onto the Switch. In the game, the player builds their own set of armor called a Warframe, which gives them their basic gear and abilities.
From there, the player then travels to different planets and other locations in the solar system, completing different missions and tasks. It's an adventure of astronomical proportions, so it's bound to keep even the most peckish gamer happy for quite a while.
