When we comparethe games of yesteryearto the modern-day blockbusters, the difference in size is quite jarring. On average, an AAA game in the 2000s would maybe keep you on the hook for about twenty hours.
Whereas if you paid full price for an AAA game and got that much bang for your buck today, you would feel extremely short-changed.
9 Best Games Where You Play As The Hero & The Villain
Some games let you play both sides of a conflict, either concurrently or in a team-up.
However, there were a select few games even back in the 2000s that dared to think big and offered players experiences that would take over one hundred hours to complete in full, a feat that most games today would still be rather proud of.
They may have been in short supply, but these PS2 games were easily the best value-for-money purchases of the era, and even today, they stand tall as some of the finest games in history.
We will be using the playtimes listed on HowLongToBeat as our measuring stick.
7Persona 4
Murder Mystery After School
Persona 4 Golden
Persona as a series has always been good value, offering tons of content, a wealth of optional end-game content, and a serious amount of creature taming and splicing to get all the top-tier personas for your roster.
However, all other Persona outings pale in comparison to the potential runtime of Persona 4, the YA, teen-bop drama iteration in the series.
Not only do you need tomax all social links, register all skill cards, pass all miracle quizzes, and read all books. You then need to go around for another lap to get the true ending. And even if you skip all cutscenes and rush to the finish line, it’ll still take you over 100 hours, if not more.
That said, rushing would be a grave injustice, as this JRPG classic is to be savored and enjoyed to the fullest. As this is one of the most wholesome, satisfying, and enjoyable games in the series, perhaps only paling in comparison to the incomparable Persona 5.
So, if you’ve milked the Phantom Thieves for all they’re worth, this should be your next game to play.
6Final Fantasy XII
Live Your Sky Pirate Fantasy
Final Fantasy 12
You may notice a bit of a trend here. JRPGs have and always will be long and enthralling adventures,and Final Fantasy is one of the seriesthat helped set this precedent.
However,even by Square Enix’s lofty standardsat the time, I don’t think anyone expected Final Fantasy XII to be anywhere near as jam-packed with content as it was.
To complete the main story and side quests alone, most players would be looking at a 90+ hour runtime. But to finish every last thing in the game, you’ll need to play for a whopping 150+ hours.
That means beating tough bosses, completing your bestiary and all one hundred trials, learning all magicks and technicks, performing all concurrences and Espers, and that really only scratches the surface.
It’s a truly magnificent adventure, and one that allows you to get to know one of the most eclectic casts in FF history. So, if you want one that will keep you busy for a long time, and in the best way possible, this is a great option.
5Gran Turismo 4
Race To That Checkered Flag
Gran Turismo 4
This one might feel like we are cheating a little bit, as a lot of the ‘play time’ is actually time spent in the hands-off simulation mode, B-Spec. However, even without the 24-hour endurance races, there is still a mountain of content to get on with in GT’s fourth installment.
You have the classic staples, such as winning your first Sunday Cup and completing your licences. But the game keeps you on the hook for a staggering 264 hours if you want to win every race, earn every potential reward, and consider the game 100% done and dusted.
As mentioned, thanks to B-Spec mode, a lot of this game can effectively be done overnight as you sleep if you set up your stig for success. But there’s still plenty of hands-on races where you’ll need to showcase your skills.
So, if you want to enjoy the best GT title the PS2 has to offer, and what is still, in my opinion, the best game in the series as a single player experience, you need to give this one a go.
4Monster Hunter
The Start Of Something Special
Monster Hunter
Many people forget that Monster Hunter was around long before the successes like Rise, World, and Wilds. But one thing has remained the same, no matter what game you’re referring to. The game only really begins when the endgame starts.
Like all entries that follow this one, the original MH offers a steady grind and progression, where players defeat bigger and badder monsters, acquire new gear, and repeat the process.
Plus, due to the more primitive design with less modern UI, and far fewer quality of life aspects we have come to expect today, every hunt felt like a monumental task. One that required planning, tracking, and perfect execution.
It’s not one I would recommend revisiting today due to the dead online servers, dated design, and stiff combat that doesn’t hold a candle to today’s standards. However, back then, it was a staggering bang for your buck, laying the foundation for what we know and love today.
3SmackDown: Here Comes The Pain
Deserving Of A Title Shot
WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain
As a connoisseur of sorts when it comes to wrestling games, I still boldly say that there has never been a game as great as HCTP.
This is partly fueled by nostalgia, for sure. However, in the game’s defense, it was jam-packed with rewarding content, making it a value-for-money WWE product. Unlike tickets to Wrestlemania 41, am I right?
Digression aside, the game has a lengthy and replayable campaign mode, a wealth of customization options to play around with, and a bunch of unlockables that players will only be able to get through earning enough superstar points to purchase them.
It’s one of those games where you definitely get as much out as you put in, and it will get repetitive if you don’t create your own wrestlers, stables, movesets, and more. But, the key takeaway is that the option was there, and in the mid-2000s, that was pretty damn impressive.
2Kingdom Hearts II (Final Mix)
An Improvement On A Masterpiece
Kingdom Hearts 2
While the original version of Kingdom Hearts 2 wasn’t an incredibly lengthy affair, coming in at roughly sixty hours, the vastly expanded and greatly improved Final Mix certainly is more of a time sink.
This is not only due to the existing content, such as the Gummi missions, mini-games, and lengthy campaign. But thanks to Final Mix, there were also the additional trials brought by the Cavern of Remembrance, the Data Organisation bosses, the fight with The Lingering Will, and much more.
Due to the sheer difficulty of these bosses alone, players could find themselves battling for hours on end just to beat one of the plentiful powerhouses added to the game.
But, as someone who has endured this struggle, I can personally attest that it is a blast, and well worth the time you’ll invest. So, grab your strongest keyblade and show them who’s boss.
1Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
Toriyama At His Best
Dragon Quest VIII
We finish off with yet another monumental JRPG offering of the 6th gaming generation, and it should be no surprise that a mainline Dragon Quest game occupies the space.
As usual, you have a simple narrative premise done right, with the timeless artistic flair that only Toriyama can bring to the table. Not to mention lovable characters, and a vibrant world that rewards thorough exploration.
Sixty hours would see you to the credits, but true completionists would need to play about double that to complete all side quests, complete the sizable end-game chapter, and so much more.
It’s probably a little easier to play this one on 3DS these days, but the PS2 was this game’s first home, and we JRPG fans loved every second of this long, engrossing adventure.
9 Forgotten Open World Games That Deserve A Remake
These open world games couldn’t quite stand out from the pack in their time, but could make a comeback with a remake.
