Sometimes you're busy and you just want to kill some time for a few minutes. Then there are other times when all you want to do is get lost in a world that is not the world we live in.
That's something video games are perfect for.
Most single-player games span at least five to ten hours these days, but other games make them look short by comparison.
If you're looking for a game that will keep you busy for weeks, here are my picks for the longest PlayStation 4 games that offer the most bang for your buck, at least in terms of playtime.
15. Pathfinder: Kingmaker
Developed by Owlcat Games
Released in 2020
About 75 hours (main story)
About 200 hours (completionist)
Even if you've never rolled a 20-sided die before, you've probably heard of Dungeons & Dragons. Well, Pathfinder is a similar tabletop game that spun off of D&D 3rd Edition back in 2009.
Paizo—the company behind Pathfinder—then licensed the rules to Owlcat games, who created a computer RPG based on the Kingmaker adventure path.
In Pathfinder: Kingmaker, you can build your own hero from any of the game's available classes and set off on a quest that will see your hero become the ruler of their own small nation.
Pathfinder: Kingmaker has a lot going for it, primarily its fun turn-based combat that's reminiscent of most tabletop RPGs but with all the math streamlined and handled by the computer.
The story is a lot of fun, too, with a great mixture of political intrigue, romance, and adventure. However, the actual mechanics for managing your kingdom can be unforgiving if you're not careful.
14. The Elder Scrolls Online
Developed by ZeniMax Online Studios
Released in 2015
About 50 hours (main story)
About 600 hours (completionist)
The Elder Scrolls Online feels less like a traditional MMORPG and more like an Elder Scrolls game that just happens to have real people in the world in addition to NPCs.
If you prefer not to group up, this game is even more friendly to solo play. You can sink a ton of hours into this game, making it one of the best PS4 games for grinding.
There have been constant improvements since the game first launched in 2014, so it may even be worth checking back on it if you tried it already but didn't like the earlier experience.
13. Divinity: Original Sin 2
Developed by Larian Studios
Released in 2018
About 50 hours (main story)
About 150 hours (completionist)
Fans of computer RPGs will love the Divinity: Original Sin series from Larian Studios. The game's unique combat system plays with elements of your environment, forcing you to avoid dastardly hazards or to use them against the different monsters that rush to attack you.
You can play through the game's huge story campaign either by yourself or with up to three other players working together.
How big is that campaign? There's more than 50 hours of content if you only do the bare essentials. Otherwise, the multiple side quests and NPC quests will bump that to over 100 hours of content.
There's so much here that it can be almost overwhelming, but you'll love every second in this rich, complex, morally ambiguous world.
12. Final Fantasy XIV
Developed by Square Enix
Released in 2014
About 100 hours (main story)
About 1,000 hours (completionist)
For the most part, multiplayer games won't feature on this list. After all, it's kind of a cheat to consider a game "long" when you're just replaying the same content but against different players.
But we did include The Elder Scrolls Online earlier, and we're also including Final Fantasy XIV. The truth is, Final Fantasy XIV has an incredible story that's worthy of a single-player game.
You'll need to dive into the occasional dungeon with a group, but otherwise you can play most of it like a single-player RPG, especially if you pick a solo-friendly class.
11. Monster Hunter: World
Developed by Capcom
Released in 2018
About 50 hours (main story)
About 350 hours (completionist)
While most people tend to play Monster Hunter: World online, you can play it without ever encountering another human. Of course, that means it'll be more difficult and make an already long game even longer—but in this case, that's a good thing!
The Monster Hunter series is known for being one of the best grinding experiences in gaming. The entire game is fundamentally one core loop: kill monsters to get ingredients to craft better equipment to kill bigger monsters for better ingredients to forge stronger equipment...
Monster Hunter: World is among the best of the franchise, having streamlined most of the clunky bits from past entries and making it far more accessible to modern gamers.
10. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Developed by Kojima Productions
Released in 2015
About 50 hours (main story)
About 150 hours (completionist)
The final Hideo Kojima-helmed entry in the increasingly bizarre Metal Gear Solid franchise is also the longest, thanks to its open world take on the series' stealth-action gameplay.
Just beating the main story will take you nearly 50 hours, but there are boatloads of side quests that you can pursue to get better gear and resources to help you on future missions.
9. Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age
Developed by Square Enix
Released in 2020
About 50 hours (main story)
About 130 hours (completionist)
This most recent entry in the Dragon Quest series takes most players around 50 hours to beat, and that's if you rush through the story—which we don't recommend doing! It's worth savoring, for sure.
If you take a more leisurely stroll through the game, you can expect it to last as long as 100+ hours. And for a game as great as this one, you should take your time and enjoy every moment.
8. Dark Souls III
Developed by FromSoftware
Released in 2016
About 30 hours (main story)
About 90 hours (completionist)
When it comes to the Dark Souls franchise, even the most skilled gamers will take dozens of hours to make it through the final game of the trilogy. But for non-skilled gamers, it's going to take much longer.
Tackling the game's many extras and optional bosses will crank that time even higher—past 50 hours of playtime—and you can crank it up even further if you seek out everything the game has to offer.
7. Assassin's Creed Odyssey
Developed by Ubisoft
Released in 2018
About 40 hours (main story)
About 140 hours (completionist)
Assassin's Creed is another series where nobody has ever accused the games of being too short. That said, Assassin's Creed Odyssey is the most sprawling entry in the series to date.
The main story alone will take you 40 hours, and that's if you don't do a single side quest or collectible hunt. With all that, your playtime could exceed 80 hours, especially when you include the DLC.
6. The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV
Developed by Nihon Falcom
Released in 2018
About 60 hours (main story)
About 125 hours (completionist)
When you think of long games, several JRPGs probably come to mind. In fact, there are several of those featured on this very list. This genre tends to have big, sweeping stories with lots of side quests and plenty of grinding to get the best weapons and equipment.
The Trails series might not be as well known as Persona or Final Fantasy, but it's actually one of the largest JRPG series of all time, with Trails of Cold Steel IV being one of its all-time best entries.
It concludes the epic story that started way back in the first Trails of Cold Steel game, with this final portion offering more than 60 hours of content even without diving into side quests or extra dungeons.
Fortunately, the game's combat system is unique enough to keep things interesting throughout those dozens of hours. It's a system that relies heavily on positioning and unit placement to unlock powerful attacks and to break down enemy defenses.
5. Red Dead Redemption 2
Developed by Rockstar Studios
Released in 2018
About 50 hours (main story)
About 170 hours (completionist)
Rockstar's open world Western game is more than just Grand Theft Auto with horses. In fact, it's still considered by many to be the absolute best game the studio has ever produced.
Just finishing it will take you close to 50 hours, but doing even a portion of the extra missions will push that time up to 70+ hours.
More than that, the world feels alive and immersive, meaning you could lose much more time just living in this world that feels so real.
4. Persona 5 Royal
Developed by P-Studio
Released in 2020
About 100 hours (main story)
About 140 hours (completionist)
The original version of Persona 5 wasn't a short game by any stretch of the term, with many players taking in the neighborhood of 100 hours to finish it. And you know what? It was great as-is!
But then came the definitive edition of the game, Persona 5 Royal, which streamlined elements of the original game while also adding characters and a new palace, meaning it will take even longer to finish.
Complete with an incredibly jazzy soundtrack, Persona 5 Royal is still one of the greatest PS4 games worth getting lost in.
3. Stardew Valley
Developed by ConcernedApe
Released in 2016
About 50 hours (main story)
About 150 hours (completionist)
The modern world can be a bit much for all of us—and the idea of taking over your grandfather's farm can be strangely appealing.
Stardew Valley is one of the most successful indie games of all time, with vibrant visuals, relaxing music, and addictive gameplay that'll have you staying up to the wee hours of the morning.
The main story only takes about 50 hours to complete, but that's just the beginning of your adventures in Stardew Valley. With multiple marriage candidates, new islands to visit, and dozens of achievements to earn, you'll always feel like you've just scratched the surface.
Each season has new crops to grow and fish to catch, which you'll need to keep an eye on if you want to restore the Community Center and breathe life back into Pelican Town.
2. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Developed by Bethesda Game Studios
Released in 2016
About 25 hours (main story)
About 225 hours (completionist)
Skyrim has been out for several years by this point, but that hasn't stopped people from playing it over and over again. It's still one of the most popular video games, with Bethesda cranking out ports while we eagerly await The Elder Scrolls VI.
Until that time comes, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim will serve you well. There's just so much to do, to explore, to learn, to kill. The combat is engaging, the character progression allows for wide experimentation, and the world feels alive.
Whether you've already played it or not, Skyrim is a game that can keep you busy for weeks on end, and that's just with a single playthrough!
1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Developed by CD Projekt Red
Released in 2015
About 50 hours (main story)
About 170 hours (completionist)
None of the games in The Witcher series have been short, but the third installment is by far the longest. This feels like a living, breathing world—one that is very much affected by how you play the game.
You play as Geralt of Rivia, a so-called Witcher who sells his monster-slaying abilities for hire. As you explore, complete quests, and acquire loot, you'll also be searching for your lost daughter.
But let's be real: this world is so expansive and compelling, you'll mostly just be doing your own thing for hours on end.
While CD Projekt Red's latest video game Cyberpunk 2077 was a letdown in many ways, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt remains as good as it ever was. If you haven't played it yet, don't miss out on this pre-eminent experience.