Death Stranding
For some, the first entry on our list of games that dragged on too long should not be a surprise. Even fans of the game must admit that Death Stranding stretches on for quite some time. It is a Kojima game so that’s partly expected but there’s a difference between a game being long and seeming like it goes on forever.
Death Stranding already is a lengthy game with its dense plot and 14 episodes but you add in the game’s signature gameplay then that stretches it on longer.
Treks from one location to another are grueling without a vehicle and even if you did have one, a lack of roads and flat terrain keep you from going fast and furious.
I personally loved Death Stranding but I can’t argue with the fact that having nearly 30 minutes of intro cutscenes at the start of the game is a tad too much.
Fable III
For many, Fable III is the disappointing child in the family. It pales in comparison to Fable II and its lack of much of the previous game’s charm is very apparent. In addition to that, the game itself tends to drag on and on.
Fable III is divided essentially into two parts which sounds fine in theory but these two parts could pretty much be two separate games. The amount of work, effort, grind, and exploration needed to get from the first part to the second is crazy and once you reach it, you’re going to be burnt out already.
Granted, the second part as the new monarch of Albion is a lot shorter than the first but piling on a new bad guy and a new gameplay mechanic makes it feel like some weird DLC.
We’re still waiting on the appearance of a Fable 4 at some point but we’re not holding our breath.
God of War (2018)
This one is probably going to be a controversial entry. God of War, overall, is a phenomenal game with a fantastic story that gets you right in the feels. However, it’s a game that drags on, not really in its plot, but more in its gameplay.
Throwing the Leviathan axe around is cool and wonderfully satisfying but add in the fact that you have to generally hurl it at random symbols hiding in trees and you have to use it for identical finishers on near-identical and repetitive bosses, then the game’s drag shows.
Even the story at certain points takes a while to get going. The beginning can seem to stretch on until we get to the meat of the action and the plot. Its exposition, while necessary, does drag on a little too long.
Though, all of this doesn’t keep God of War from being an amazing game that deserved all the awards it received.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Another controversial pick, Red Dead Redemption 2 is very long. There’s no doubt about that. However, its great story and content doesn’t keep it from feeling like a grind and a drag. There are quite a lot of scenes and moments that could have been cut from the story or shortened to make its near 50 hours of plot a tad bit smaller.
You’ve also got all of the side quests, the hunting, the fishing, and all the other extra things you can do. On their own, the side quests and activities would be fine but when you mix them in with the seemingly endless plot the game feels like an eternity.
Like God of War, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a fantastic game but sometimes there can be too much packed into one video game that can make it feel like a drag. We gave the game a 5 out of 5 in our review but we agree that some parts of the game could have been snipped.
Final Fantasy XIII
Another video game that drags on, Final Fantasy XIII is either great or terrible depending on who you ask. I am in the very small minority that absolutely loves the game (including Hope) but I must agree that certain parts of it stretches on and on. It feels like you’re just along for the ride for most of it.
Unlike a lot of the other Final Fantasy games, it is a lot more linear. It takes quite a few hours of gameplay to actually reach the open world where you can finally move around and craft the team you want. You can finally do side quests and essentially experience the Final Fantasy game you were expecting.
Since it takes so long for you to essentially be in the driver’s seat, you’re stuck following along the game’s ambitious plot that even I can admit is a little hard to grasp.
Regardless, there is a charm to Final Fantasy XIII and it doesn’t deserve too much of the hate it gets. It does, however, drag on a little too long.
Dragon Age: Inquisition
Despite getting some pretty favorable views and praise, Dragon Age: Inquisition is another one of those games that gets some mixed feelings within the community. Some fans think there was something distinctly lacking about this game and that it was missing that whole Dragon Age feel.
Many say it’s the worse in the series and other people say it’s a great game. The mixed feelings may stem from the fact that its a video game that drags on a bit too much.
Its opening sequence and tutorial mission are a little slow on the draw especially since the first new area is full of fetch and “kill that” quests. Of course, you can leave once the main story allows you to but you can’t really do much until after the turning point of the game when you reach “In Your Heart Shall Burn”.
Then, arguably, it feels like the game actually starts ten or so hours in once you reach Skyhold. When much of the story and even certain aspects of gameplay don’t really start being enjoyable until the middle of the game then something ends up stretching on too much.
We can, at least, look forward to finally punching Solas in the face in Dragon Age 4.
Days Gone
Days Gone is a nice open-world game with zombies and bikers. Though, that’s really it. Despite having a huge map, there isn’t really much to do when it comes to activities other than the story and driving around on a pretty cool motorcycle.
The story doesn’t really have much going for it and the characters take a little too long to develop and become interesting. That makes the game feel bland and like it stretches on and on.
Other than zombies and a gorgeous environment, Days Gone doesn’t really have much going for it. There’s nothing that really makes the story feel eventful or even like it’s happening. It’s kind of just there. Though, if you like zombies, open worlds, and bikers, Days Gone is something to at least try.
Ghost Recon: Breakpoint
Ghost Recon: Breakpoint tried to improve on many of the weak parts of Wildlands. However, it didn’t really succeed. Breakpoint simply repeated much of the bad aspects of Wildlands without fixing anything. The world is gorgeous but the numerous quests and the story leaves much to be desired.
The quests don’t have much variation and tend to be the same activity painted a different color so it makes the grind for levels and weapons feel repetitive, boring, and bland. It makes the game feel like it stretches on forever and ever despite the fact that you’re doing something “different” every time.
Since not much changes other than the scenery, the story turns lackluster, the equipment grind turns painful, and your overall experience lacks that good old action Ghost Recon: Breakpoint promised.
Persona 5
Death Stranding pales in comparison to Persona 5’s story length. Persona 5 is a JRPG so the length and grind is to be expected. However, having a 90 or so hour main story might be a little too much.
The game itself is wonderful, its visuals are beautifully stylized, and it’s an overall entertaining experience. However, you’ll be dedicating a lot of your time to the game’s story and to the grind for social stats that generally gatekeep your progress.
For some, that sounds like a wonderful time but even Persona 5 fans can admit that the game itself is a grind. Though, you’ll tend to enjoy some of the work you have to do to progress so it’s not too painful.
Persona 5 Royal adds in a bunch more content so for those of you that loved the length of the original, Royal will be a dream.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
We finish up with a video game that drags on in surprisingly little ways. The Witcher 3, like many of the good games on this list, is an enjoyable experience with a great story and great characters but it has certain aspects like its dialogue, some of the quests, and gameplay mechanics that make it repetitive and boring.
Once you get past the wow factor and the game’s beauty then you’ll see that the combat isn’t really the best. It’s a little lackluster and bland. Even some of the quests make you go from A to B and from B to A over and over without much happening.
Don’t get us wrong. The Witcher 3 is a fantastic game that we gave a 5 out of 5 in our review but it does have those little parts and pieces of its gameplay and story that makes its subtle drag all the more apparent.
About the author
