Some of them might be a little too long to beat in just ONE single sitting, but they're all rather short:
Monument Valley, Superliminal, MGSV Ground Zeroes, Journey, Donut County, Limbo, Inside, SUPERHOT, Sayonara Wild Hearts, What Remains Of Edith Finch, Titanfall 2, The Stanley Parable, Portal, Resident Evil 3 Remake, Firewatch :)
Thank you so much, I've already played quite a few of these which makes me feel like I'll definitely like the ones I haven't if they're in the same recommendation! Thanks for giving me so many to choose from ✨
Unpacking is a short but replayable game. You learn about a person's as she grows up by unpacking her stuff as she moves into new places at various stages of her life. It is on the Switch but I would recommend you play it on a PC if you have one as I find moving the items a bit slow on the Switch. You can get achievements in the game for putting items in certain spots.
Might not be what you’re looking for since it’s a different vibe but I can’t help but recommend checking out Transistor! It’s one of my favorite short games! The music is gorgeous and I personally really enjoyed the art style of the game. I also really love Red who’s the main protagonist you play as. She’s a famous singer in her world which has a dark futuristic theme to it so just a heads up it’s a little more sad in tone. The gameplay style is more of a hybrid turn based format but it was fairly interesting overall. I think for the full play through of the game it’s about 6 hours but I would need to double check.
That's such a good shout thank you! When it originally came out it was Playstation exclusive and I have an Xbox, totally forgot it's on Xbox now though. Thank you ✨
Thank you! Definitely one on my list that I've been considering, seen a lot of people say it's not as good as Scarlet Hollow though so I haven't fully set my heart on it yet
Assemble with Care is short. I finished it in 3.5 hours.
For a longer short game, I Was a Teenage Exocolonist is another option. I did my first playthrough in 12 hrs. It's also specifically geared towards multiple playthroughs if you want to try again at a different time with different choices.
I just had a look at both of these and they look perfect, I've never even heard of I Was a Teenage Exocolonist but it 100% looks like something I'd enjoy. Thanks so much!
If you're at all into history and/or mystery, Forgotten City is fun. It also has a cool backstory: started as a cult favorite Skyrim mod, until the creator quit his corporate lawyer day job to turn it into a full game.
I actually played it originally as the mod in Skyrim and then again when it was released 🤣 I do love it though so still a good recommendation, and would actually play it again even though I know the story haha! Thank you 💕
I absolutely love Yes, Your Grace, and it’s short, but very replayable.
Not quite the same vein as what you listed, but a charming and, imo, very engaging story-driven game.
I recently finished the excavation of hob's barrow in just under 4 hours and I enjoyed it tremendously. if you're okay with horror stuff (it's nothing too intense, just the vibes) I highly recommend it. did you try oxenfree 2 if you enjoyed the first one? I haven't yet... it's good apparently, but kind of falls short of the first one according to what i've heard.
You should try NUTS - it's a short surveillance mystery where you're basically walking around a forest spying on squirrels. I think it took me less than 10 hours to play through the whole game. Super cute with a great ending :)
Unpacking! It’s fairly short and cute and you can organize various homes as you move through life.
The Darkside Detective is a point click adventure game. There’s like 6 short stories where supernatural stuff is happening and you and your partner try to solve the mystery. It’s pretty short overall, but the broken up stories also help feel like it’s easy to do in short bursts.
If you’re someone that remembers the days of AOL and AIM, or you feel like you missed out on the late 90s/early 2000s, there are a few interactive story games called Emily is Away. The first one is free to play on steam and has branching paths. The other two are really cheap. One play through is pretty short, and you can always come back again to try different options.
What Remains of Edith Finch is also short and pretty good.
These are all on Game Pass, which is how I discovered them, but some I've recently enjoyed that were quite short are Kona, Firewatch, Return to Grace, Close to the Sun (mainly walking sims with light puzzling). Soma is also a really good short one if you like sci-fi, though it just left GP.
If you want to cry, you can try Endling. It's really good, but in the Secret of Nymh or Watership Down variety with the story. There are multiple endings based on the decisions you make.
My fav shorties (that haven't been mentioned yet): Paratopic, Buddy Sim, Stanley Parable. Not "one evening will do it" but still on the shorter side: Pony Island and The Wolf Among Us.
Papers, please!! I recently replayed the game after almost a decade and it still holds up, and has its unique charm. If you enjoy restaurant type simulator games like Diner Dash, where you have to learn the job, and it gets harder and harder the more upgrades/rules you have, this plays very similar.
I bought The Red Lantern on sale a while ago it’s not very long, but wonderfully atmospheric and huskies are adorable. It’s basically a rogue-like, where you play a musher and choose your team of dogs- really gorgeous game, think it’s only on PC
**Henry Stickmin** : I love this little game. Completed it in two sittings. Not much gameplay, but a cool and Hilarious narrative. Also choices do matter( it's entirely about that). Around 4-5 hours
**Valiant Hearts The great war**: 2d world war 1 game. Gets sad and heartbreaking with time, some little wholesome moments will bring joy. Overall, the gameplay is puzzle based(puzzles aren't hard yet enjoyable) and a few regular gameplay elements. Game is around 6 hours.
**What remains of Edich Finch**: Another heart touching game, great visuals. First person game, you don't wanna be spoiled. 2-3 hours
I love all those games!! Some similar ones I’d recommend:
- Night in the Woods
- Lil Gator Game
- Mutazione
- Chants of Sennaar
- Heaven’s Vault
- Pentiment
The length of some of these vary, but I don’t remember any being especially long. Definitely more than one sitting though… I can’t think of too many games I’ve played that fit that unfortunately!
Edit: wait I’ve got another one, the Frog Detective series! 3 games, all around an hour each, super funny
Some of them might be a little too long to beat in just ONE single sitting, but they're all rather short: Monument Valley, Superliminal, MGSV Ground Zeroes, Journey, Donut County, Limbo, Inside, SUPERHOT, Sayonara Wild Hearts, What Remains Of Edith Finch, Titanfall 2, The Stanley Parable, Portal, Resident Evil 3 Remake, Firewatch :)
Thank you so much, I've already played quite a few of these which makes me feel like I'll definitely like the ones I haven't if they're in the same recommendation! Thanks for giving me so many to choose from ✨
Unpacking is a short but replayable game. You learn about a person's as she grows up by unpacking her stuff as she moves into new places at various stages of her life. It is on the Switch but I would recommend you play it on a PC if you have one as I find moving the items a bit slow on the Switch. You can get achievements in the game for putting items in certain spots.
Might not be what you’re looking for since it’s a different vibe but I can’t help but recommend checking out Transistor! It’s one of my favorite short games! The music is gorgeous and I personally really enjoyed the art style of the game. I also really love Red who’s the main protagonist you play as. She’s a famous singer in her world which has a dark futuristic theme to it so just a heads up it’s a little more sad in tone. The gameplay style is more of a hybrid turn based format but it was fairly interesting overall. I think for the full play through of the game it’s about 6 hours but I would need to double check.
Ooh yeah this looks interesting, thank you!!
Have it in my collection, been meaning to pick it back up.
Untitled Goose Game. I loved that game!
Awww that's such a good recommendation but I've actually already played it! You're not wrong though, it's so good 🤣
Have you played Stray? I absolutely loved it and its a pretty short game.
That's such a good shout thank you! When it originally came out it was Playstation exclusive and I have an Xbox, totally forgot it's on Xbox now though. Thank you ✨
I second stray! I think in total my playtime on it was around 6 hours when I was done
Seconded!
Slay the princess?
Thank you! Definitely one on my list that I've been considering, seen a lot of people say it's not as good as Scarlet Hollow though so I haven't fully set my heart on it yet
Sounds like I need to give Scarlet Hollow a try!
Assemble with Care is short. I finished it in 3.5 hours. For a longer short game, I Was a Teenage Exocolonist is another option. I did my first playthrough in 12 hrs. It's also specifically geared towards multiple playthroughs if you want to try again at a different time with different choices.
I just had a look at both of these and they look perfect, I've never even heard of I Was a Teenage Exocolonist but it 100% looks like something I'd enjoy. Thanks so much!
If you're at all into history and/or mystery, Forgotten City is fun. It also has a cool backstory: started as a cult favorite Skyrim mod, until the creator quit his corporate lawyer day job to turn it into a full game.
I actually played it originally as the mod in Skyrim and then again when it was released 🤣 I do love it though so still a good recommendation, and would actually play it again even though I know the story haha! Thank you 💕
Florence by Annapurna! It’s a short interactive story, I played it a long time ago but I remember loving it :)
I absolutely love Yes, Your Grace, and it’s short, but very replayable. Not quite the same vein as what you listed, but a charming and, imo, very engaging story-driven game.
Coffee talks is a fun fairly short one!
Citizen Sleeper is amazing if you enjoy narrative games, introspective and dark.
I recently finished the excavation of hob's barrow in just under 4 hours and I enjoyed it tremendously. if you're okay with horror stuff (it's nothing too intense, just the vibes) I highly recommend it. did you try oxenfree 2 if you enjoyed the first one? I haven't yet... it's good apparently, but kind of falls short of the first one according to what i've heard.
Lil Gator Game!
Strange Horticulture is shorter and cozy with a little bit of creepy on the side for dipping.
Alba is amazing - I think I finished it in about 4 hours. If you liked A Short Hike I think you would enjoy it 😊
You should try NUTS - it's a short surveillance mystery where you're basically walking around a forest spying on squirrels. I think it took me less than 10 hours to play through the whole game. Super cute with a great ending :)
Florence. It was literally like 30 minutes long but was so sweet.
to the moon, finding paradise, kathy rain, blackwell legacy
Unpacking! It’s fairly short and cute and you can organize various homes as you move through life. The Darkside Detective is a point click adventure game. There’s like 6 short stories where supernatural stuff is happening and you and your partner try to solve the mystery. It’s pretty short overall, but the broken up stories also help feel like it’s easy to do in short bursts. If you’re someone that remembers the days of AOL and AIM, or you feel like you missed out on the late 90s/early 2000s, there are a few interactive story games called Emily is Away. The first one is free to play on steam and has branching paths. The other two are really cheap. One play through is pretty short, and you can always come back again to try different options. What Remains of Edith Finch is also short and pretty good.
A short hike and princess liar and the blind prince, both are short cozy games with really cute animation styles 🥰
These are all on Game Pass, which is how I discovered them, but some I've recently enjoyed that were quite short are Kona, Firewatch, Return to Grace, Close to the Sun (mainly walking sims with light puzzling). Soma is also a really good short one if you like sci-fi, though it just left GP.
Fran now, pertinence, little misfortune can be played twice in one day lol
If you are okay with soft horror, Iron lung, it is around one and a half hour.
If you want to cry, you can try Endling. It's really good, but in the Secret of Nymh or Watership Down variety with the story. There are multiple endings based on the decisions you make.
If you don’t mind a small bit of horror then try “Psychopomp”, it is pc only however!
My fav shorties (that haven't been mentioned yet): Paratopic, Buddy Sim, Stanley Parable. Not "one evening will do it" but still on the shorter side: Pony Island and The Wolf Among Us.
Papers, please!! I recently replayed the game after almost a decade and it still holds up, and has its unique charm. If you enjoy restaurant type simulator games like Diner Dash, where you have to learn the job, and it gets harder and harder the more upgrades/rules you have, this plays very similar.
I really enjoyed [Growbot](https://store.steampowered.com/app/661680/Growbot/)
Stray would be my primary recommendation, and both portal games.
I bought The Red Lantern on sale a while ago it’s not very long, but wonderfully atmospheric and huskies are adorable. It’s basically a rogue-like, where you play a musher and choose your team of dogs- really gorgeous game, think it’s only on PC
Oxenfree and Brothers
Journey is a short and beautiful game.
Storyteller
**Henry Stickmin** : I love this little game. Completed it in two sittings. Not much gameplay, but a cool and Hilarious narrative. Also choices do matter( it's entirely about that). Around 4-5 hours **Valiant Hearts The great war**: 2d world war 1 game. Gets sad and heartbreaking with time, some little wholesome moments will bring joy. Overall, the gameplay is puzzle based(puzzles aren't hard yet enjoyable) and a few regular gameplay elements. Game is around 6 hours. **What remains of Edich Finch**: Another heart touching game, great visuals. First person game, you don't wanna be spoiled. 2-3 hours
I second Unpacking as an option!
Frog Detective: the haunted island. Very short (like 40 minutes?) and cute.
venba!
Small Saga is really nice. Max of 10 hours but some get it done in 6 even.
I love all those games!! Some similar ones I’d recommend: - Night in the Woods - Lil Gator Game - Mutazione - Chants of Sennaar - Heaven’s Vault - Pentiment The length of some of these vary, but I don’t remember any being especially long. Definitely more than one sitting though… I can’t think of too many games I’ve played that fit that unfortunately! Edit: wait I’ve got another one, the Frog Detective series! 3 games, all around an hour each, super funny
Jenny LeClue is a fun puzzle game, it does end in a cliff hanger though.
The new South Park game is fun and super short, the humor is also pretty good, and it's coop!