Unveiling the Marathon: What is the Longest Game on PS4?

The quest for the “longest game” is a siren song to completionists and gamers who crave immersive, endless experiences. On the PlayStation 4, several titles stand out for their staggering length and replayability. While the overall “longest video game” title might belong to incremental giants like Melvor Idle (estimated at over 3,000 hours), the longest narrative-driven, AAA experience on the PS4 is generally considered to be Monster Hunter: World & Iceborne.

While completion times vary wildly based on playstyle, skill, and a player’s desire to explore every nook and cranny, Monster Hunter: World & Iceborne can easily clock in at 177 hours or more for dedicated players. This doesn’t just include the main storyline; it factors in grinding for gear, mastering different weapon types, and tackling the wealth of optional content that the Iceborne expansion adds to the base game.

But Monster Hunter: World & Iceborne isn’t alone in the “long game” arena. Other notable contenders on the PS4 include:

• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt: Approximately 127 hours for the main story and significant side content.
• Persona 5 Royal: Around 123 hours, due to its complex social mechanics and multiple endings.
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim: A sprawling epic that can easily consume 122 hours.
• Assassin’s Creed Odyssey: Over 111 hours, blending historical settings with RPG elements.
• Fallout 4: An engrossing post-apocalyptic adventure that could take 109 hours.

Keep in mind that these are just estimates based on average playtimes. Some players may spend significantly more time in these worlds, exploring every hidden corner, mastering every skill, and collecting every item. For gamers seeking truly endless gameplay, titles with strong multiplayer components or procedural generation, like Minecraft or Diablo III, offer nearly limitless replayability.

Diving Deeper: Factors Influencing Game Length

Several factors contribute to a game’s overall length. These include:

• Story Length: A sprawling narrative with numerous quests and branching storylines will naturally extend playtime.
• Side Content: Optional quests, challenges, collectibles, and exploration opportunities can add dozens or even hundreds of hours of gameplay.
• Grinding: Games that require players to repeatedly perform tasks to level up, acquire gear, or unlock abilities can significantly extend playtime. Monster Hunter: World & Iceborne is a prime example.
• Replayability: Multiple endings, difficulty settings, character builds, and other factors that encourage players to play through the game multiple times increase the time spent with a title.
• Multiplayer Modes: Online multiplayer modes, such as competitive or cooperative play, can provide virtually endless hours of gameplay.

The Enduring Appeal of Long Games

Despite the time commitment involved, long games remain incredibly popular. They offer a sense of immersion, accomplishment, and value that shorter games often can’t match. Players can become deeply invested in the characters, stories, and worlds of these games, forging lasting memories and experiences. Exploring these games can be an incredible learning opportunity for young gamers. The Games Learning Society and GamesLearningSociety.org recognize the impact of long games and encourage exploring the learning opportunities.

FAQs: Longest Games on PS4 and Beyond

1. What is the absolute longest video game ever?

According to HLTB (How Long to Beat), Melvor Idle, a Runescape-inspired idle/incremental game, is estimated to take 3,126 hours to complete.

2. Is Red Dead Redemption 2 a long game?

Yes, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a long game, typically taking around 50-60 hours to complete the main story. Completionists can easily spend over 100 hours exploring the open world and completing side activities.

3. Will new games still be released for PS4?

Sony plans to cease producing new games for the PlayStation 4 by 2025, focusing entirely on the PlayStation 5. Legacy games will remain available for purchase.

4. How long will the PS4 be supported?

Sony plans to continue supporting the PlayStation 4 until at least 2025.

5. How old is the PS4?

The PlayStation 4 was released on November 15, 2013, in the United States and Canada.

6. How much storage space does a PS5 have?

A PS5 comes with an 825GB SSD, but only 667.2GB is usable due to system files.

7. How long will the PS5 last?

Reports suggest the PS5 will have at least a seven-year shelf life, with a potential PS6 launch not expected before 2027.

8. Is 500GB enough for a PS4?

A 500GB PS4 can hold approximately 10-12 games, depending on their size. An external HDD can be added for more storage.

9. How much space do AAA games typically take up?

Most new AAA games range from 50 to 150 gigabytes in size.

10. What games take 1000+ hours to beat?

Tetris is a classic example of a game with potentially limitless gameplay, easily surpassing 1000 hours for dedicated players.

11. What is the longest game to 100% complete?

Deep Rock Galactic is estimated to take a minimum of 538 hours to fully 100%.

12. How big is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare on PS4?

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare can reach around 175 GB on PS4, making it one of the largest games on the console.

13. What open-world games have endless gameplay?

Games like Minecraft, Grand Theft Auto Online, and No Man’s Sky, with their procedural generation, and continuous updates can offer essentially endless gameplay.

14. Is PS4 family-friendly?

Yes, the PS4 has a wide variety of games suitable for kids and families, along with parental control features.

15. What is the biggest PS5 game?

The biggest PS5 games are Call of Duty and Destiny 2. They have 180 GB or more.

The search for the longest PS4 game highlights the diversity of gaming experiences available. Whether it’s the monster-hunting action of Monster Hunter: World & Iceborne or the sprawling landscapes of The Witcher 3, these games offer a rewarding journey for those willing to invest the time.