Here are some video games that are widely regarded as offering exceptional value for the time and enjoyment they provide. These games include long playtimes, replayability, and in some cases, additional content that adds to the overall experience:
1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Genre: Action RPG
- Value: The Witcher 3 offers a vast, open world filled with main quests, side quests, and dynamic characters. Its DLCs, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, add dozens of hours to the already lengthy campaign.
- Playtime: 100+ hours (including DLC)
2. Elden Ring
- Genre: Open-World RPG
- Value: Known for its intricate world design, Elden Ring invites exploration with challenging gameplay and diverse character builds. Multiple endings and numerous secrets keep players returning for more.
- Playtime: 80+ hours
3. Minecraft
- Genre: Sandbox/Survival
- Value: With its endless creation possibilities and multiplayer mode, Minecraft has near-limitless playability, whether you’re building, surviving, or exploring.
- Playtime: Potentially endless
4. Stardew Valley
- Genre: Farming Simulator
- Value: This charming farming sim includes countless activities like farming, fishing, crafting, and exploring. It’s highly replayable and offers a laid-back gaming experience with years of seasonal changes.
- Playtime: 50-200+ hours
5. Skyrim (The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim)
- Genre: Open-World RPG
- Value: With countless quests, an expansive open world, and numerous mods available, Skyrim remains one of the most engaging games for RPG fans.
- Playtime: 100+ hours (plus hundreds more with mods)
6. Grand Theft Auto V
- Genre: Action-Adventure
- Value: Offering both a large, content-rich single-player campaign and the expansive GTA Online, GTA V continues to offer new updates, keeping the game fresh for both new and long-time players.
- Playtime: 30+ hours for single-player, hundreds for GTA Online
7. Hades
- Genre: Roguelike Dungeon Crawler
- Value: With its fast-paced gameplay, engaging story, and replayable nature, Hades gives players hours of combat, exploration, and character interaction in the underworld.
- Playtime: 20-60+ hours, depending on play style
8. Civilization VI
- Genre: Strategy
- Value: Civilization VI allows players to build and expand civilizations in countless ways, and each game session unfolds uniquely, offering massive replayability.
- Playtime: 50+ hours, with replayable scenarios
9. Persona 5 Royal
- Genre: JRPG
- Value: Persona 5 Royal enhances the original Persona 5 with additional content, characters, and activities. The engaging storyline and life simulation elements offer a very long and rewarding experience.
- Playtime: 100+ hours
10. Terraria
- Genre: Sandbox/Survival
- Value: With endless crafting, exploration, and combat, Terraria provides excellent value. Frequent updates add new features and items, keeping gameplay fresh.
- Playtime: 50-200+ hours
11. Red Dead Redemption 2
- Genre: Action-Adventure
- Value: Known for its highly detailed world and emotionally engaging story, RDR2 offers a single-player experience that takes time to fully explore and appreciate, along with the online component, Red Dead Online.
- Playtime: 60+ hours for story, additional for online
12. No Man’s Sky
- Genre: Exploration/Survival
- Value: With procedurally generated planets and continual updates, No Man’s Sky has evolved to include building, multiplayer, and new narrative elements, giving it great longevity.
- Playtime: 100+ hours
13. Monster Hunter: World
- Genre: Action RPG
- Value: Monster Hunter: World is filled with monster hunts, crafting, and cooperative gameplay. The Iceborne expansion also adds significant value, extending the life of the game.
- Playtime: 80+ hours with Iceborne
14. Dark Souls Trilogy
- Genre: Action RPG
- Value: Known for challenging gameplay and intricate lore, each Dark Souls title offers a long campaign and replayability with different builds and playstyles.
- Playtime: 100+ hours across all three games
15. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Genre: Open-World Adventure
- Value: This Zelda installment offers a vast world, countless side activities, and multiple ways to approach gameplay, allowing for a varied and long-lasting experience.
- Playtime: 50+ hours
Each of these games is celebrated for offering extensive content, replayability, or additional updates that keep players engaged for a long time, making them some of the best choices for gamers looking to get the most out of their gaming investment.