Nintendo Switch Games With Long Completion Times

Updated 7 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

If you’re looking for Nintendo Switch games that offer the most playtime for your money, this article lists the titles with the longest completion times, from sprawling RPGs to deep strategy games. You’ll find a breakdown of how long each game takes to finish, what factors affect that time, and how to choose the right one for your schedule.

What Counts as a Long Completion Time?

Completion time on a Switch game can mean two very different things. The main story time is how long it takes to see the credits if you focus only on the critical path. The completionist time includes side quests, collectibles, optional bosses, and every achievement. For this article, “long” means any game that takes roughly 40 hours or more to finish the main story, or 80+ hours for 100% completion. That threshold separates the average 10–20 hour action game from the true time sinks that can occupy you for weeks.

The Biggest Time Sinks on Switch

These are the games that consistently top “longest playtime” lists. All figures are approximate and based on player-reported averages from sites like HowLongToBeat, which aggregates user data.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 – Main story: ~60 hours; completionist: ~150 hours. This JRPG’s massive world and deep combat system encourage exploration.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses – Main story: ~50 hours per route; completionist: ~200 hours if you play all four routes. The social simulation and tactical battles multiply the time.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Main story: ~50 hours; completionist: ~190 hours. The open-air world has hundreds of shrines and korok seeds.
Persona 5 Royal – Main story: ~100 hours; completionist: ~140 hours. The dungeon-crawling and daily-life simulation make it one of the longest JRPGs on the system.
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Main story: ~60 hours; completionist: ~130 hours. A classic turn-based RPG with a huge post-game.
Monster Hunter Rise – Main story: ~20 hours, but the endgame grind can easily exceed 100 hours. The high-rank quests and event quests keep players hunting.
Disgaea 5 Complete – Main story: ~50 hours; completionist: ~500+ hours. The tactical RPG’s item world and level-capping systems are nearly infinite.
Civilization VI – A single match can take 5–10 hours, and there are dozens of civilizations and victory types. Total playtime is effectively unlimited.

Why Some Games Take So Long

Long completion times usually come from a few design choices. Open-world games pad time with travel and exploration, while RPGs add optional dialogue and side quests. Strategy games have high replayability because each match is different. Some games also include a post-game that unlocks after the credits, like Pokémon’s Battle Tower or Xenoblade’s super-bosses. The Switch’s portability also encourages longer sessions, so players often sink more hours into a single game than they would on a console tied to a TV.

How to Estimate Your Own Completion Time

Player-reported averages are a good starting point, but your personal time will vary. Here are the main factors that change the number:

Difficulty setting – Higher difficulty means more retries and slower progress.
Play style – Do you talk to every NPC and read every codex? Add 20–30%.
Experience with the genre – Veterans of tactical RPGs will move through Fire Emblem faster than newcomers.
Use of guides – Following a walkthrough can cut exploration time in half but may spoil surprises.
Portable vs. docked – Handheld players often play in short bursts, which can extend the calendar time even if the total hours are the same.

Comparing Long Games Across Genres

Not all long games feel long. A 60-hour RPG with a gripping story may fly by, while a 40-hour platformer with repetitive levels might drag. Here’s how the major genres compare on the Switch:

JRPGs – Typically 50–100 hours. They include turn-based combat, character progression, and elaborate stories. Examples: Xenoblade, Persona, Dragon Quest.
Strategy/Tactics – Often 40–80 hours per campaign. The mental load makes them feel longer, and replayability is high. Examples: Fire Emblem, Disgaea, Civilization.
Open-world action-adventure – 40–100 hours. Exploration is the main time sink. Examples: Breath of the Wild, Skyrim (via cloud version), The Witcher 3.
Action RPGs – 30–60 hours, but endgame grinding can push much higher. Examples: Monster Hunter Rise, Diablo III.
Indie games – Usually 10–20 hours, but some exceptions like Stardew Valley have no true ending and can last hundreds of hours.

Common Misconceptions About Long Games

One common myth is that a long game is always “better value.” That’s not necessarily true – a 10-hour game with high replayability can give you more total enjoyment than a 60-hour slog. Another misconception is that “completionist” time means you have to do everything. Most players never reach 100%, and the main story is usually the only part the developers balance carefully. Also, some games artificially inflate length with grinding or backtracking; that’s different from content-rich length. Finally, a long playtime doesn’t mean the game is hard – many long RPGs are easy, just lengthy.

How to Choose the Right Long Game for You

Before buying a 100-hour RPG, consider your available gaming time and your patience for repetitive tasks. If you can only play an hour a day, a 60-hour game will take two months. If you prefer short sessions, a game with clear save points like Monster Hunter (each hunt is 10–20 minutes) might be better than a story-heavy RPG that requires long sessions to remember the plot. Also check if the game has a demo – many Switch RPGs offer one, letting you test the combat and pacing before committing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the longest single-player game on Switch?

Among mainstream titles, Disgaea 5 Complete has the highest completionist time, often exceeding 500 hours. In terms of main story alone, Persona 5 Royal is one of the longest at around 100 hours. However, games like Civilization VI have no fixed ending, so they can last indefinitely.

Are long Switch games worth the money?

If you value cost per hour, yes – a 60-hour game for $60 is $1 per hour, which is cheaper than a movie. But value also depends on quality. A 100-hour game you abandon after 10 hours is worse than a 20-hour game you love. Read reviews and watch gameplay to see if the style suits you.

Do Switch games have longer load times than other consoles?

Load times are generally longer than on PS5 or Xbox Series X because the Switch uses older hardware and a slower storage medium. This can add a few seconds to every transition, which over a 100-hour game might add up to an hour of extra waiting. However, most games are well-optimized, and the portability often makes the trade-off worth it.

Can I save anytime in long games?

It depends on the game. Most RPGs let you save anywhere, but some (like Fire Emblem) only allow saving between battles. Monster Hunter auto-saves after each quest. If you have limited time, check the save system before buying – a game that requires 30-minute sessions might not fit your schedule.

What is the best long game for a beginner to the genre?

Dragon Quest XI S is a great entry point for JRPGs because it’s forgiving, has a classic turn-based battle system, and includes a demo. For strategy, Fire Emblem: Three Houses has a “Casual” mode where fallen units return, making it accessible. For open-world, Breath of the Wild is intuitive, but its sheer freedom can overwhelm some players.

Do long games have more replay value?

Not always. A long linear RPG might have little reason to replay, while a short roguelike like Hades (about 20 hours to finish the story) can be replayed for hundreds of hours. Replay value comes from multiple endings, character builds, or procedural content – not from length alone.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.