Why play several games when one can invest hundreds of hours into a quality one? It can be thrilling to endeavor to see a game through to the end, but many video games don't have an ending, though players enjoy them for other reasons.

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How could someone play a game for hundreds of hours? The average triple-A video game is around twenty hours or so, yet, those in the high range are much longer. The following games were handpicked among an extensive list of open-ended games. The grind is real, and now it's time to see which open-ended games are worthy of players' time.

10 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Bow dragon

Quests regenerate in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, meaning there is virtually no end to the game. You might see repeats of missions after passing a point in the game, yet that won't stop many players from completing the game multiple times with each of Skyrim's unique classes and races. It's an expansive open-world with an open-ended format. There is an end to the main story, but the side missions last hundreds of hours.

9 Fallout: New Vegas

Goodsprings in Fallout New Vegas

Obsidian Entertainment's Fallout: New Vegas was heavily influenced by past Fallout games. It brings unique storytelling that is considered by many to be the strongest of the series. The game makes you question morality as you strive to play as a good or evil character. There is an ending to Fallout: New Vegas, but completionists can expect to spend over a hundred hours trying to beat all of the game's content.

8 Animal Crossing: New Horizons

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The latest entry in the Animal Crossing series is a life simulation game. Animal Crossing: New Horizons has a little something for everyone, which is why players can pour hundreds of hours into it. The game's success came during the COVID-19 pandemic when players were spending more time at home, though it certainly would have sold well, regardless.

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Players are free to make their own fun in Animal Crossing, and, be that through collecting fish, expanding your house, or decorating your island, the fun truly never ends in this legendary Nintendo title.

7 The Sims 4

Sims 4

Life simulation games are part of a genre with enormous replay value. In The Sims 4, players can create a family, build a house, and work their way up the career ladder to riches. There are also ways to earn money in the game without working; writing books, painting, fishing, and hacking are some of the profitable hobbies a Sim can partake in. The Sims 4 is the most ambitious entry in the series yet, and, with so many expansions, there is never a shortage of things to do.

6 Rimworld

rimworld house design

Played from the top-down perspective, Rimworld combines psychology, gunplay, diplomacy, and building for a seamless experience. This sci-fi game takes place on a distant planet in outer space.

It wouldn't be unusual to play Rimworld for over a hundred hours. Beating the game under a completionist run will take players over three hundred hours. It contains an abundance of content, including various biomes for building different structures.

5 Diablo III

Diablo 3 screenshot

Beating Diablo III's main story takes a mere eighteen hours, but there is much more content beneath the surface. Diablo III has an open-ended format, meaning there is virtually no end. The procedurally generated levels contain enemies who will drop new items for the player to equip. The game is about grinding and trying to build the best character. It has a smart selection of skills, making the grind long but worth it.

4 Stardew Valley

Pixel art - woodland background, stardew valley video game dialogue, portrait of Leah saying 'Marnie, you can hang both of these in your room!'

The quaint setting of Stardew Valley is ideal for the type of game. It's a game about farming, trading, building, and forming new relationships with the valley's inhabitants.

There is never a shortage of things to do in Stardew Valley. The seasons follow the usual cyclical pattern, and the work varies. Even if you're not a fan of farming simulators, you might like the RPG elements of Stardew Valley.

3 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

 

With an action-adventure focus, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has raised the bar for open-world games. The kingdom of Hyrule is an enchanting place that can be perilous to the protagonist, Link. Awakened from a one-hundred-year slumber, Link must once again defeat Calamity Ganon and the kingdom.

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The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild contains an abundance of quests. It's one of the greatest open-ended games of all time, and the non-linear focus separates it from previous The Legend of Zelda games.

2 No Man's Sky

no mans sky mec

Hello Games' No Man's Sky is a survival game with an emphasis on exploration. Set in a procedurally generated open-world, the game lets you travel to planets in a customizable spaceship.

There are over 18 quintillion planets in No Man's Sky. The most massive open-world game in existence contains over two-hundred galaxies! You won't have enough time to explore its universe, but each planet is diverse and beautiful, giving this open-ended game immense replay value.

1 Minecraft

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Steve

The sandbox game Minecraft continues to resonate with gamers because of its open-ended format and addictive gameplay. One of the most influential games of all time contains building, survival, and an immersive world with different biomes. Things like texture packs and updates keep the game from growing stale.

As a result of the game's success, spin-offs like Minecraft Dungeons and Minecraft: Story Mode were made. However, none can compare to the leaps and bounds of the original game.

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