People like to think that only the longest, most challenging video games leave a lasting impression. Wrong! There are short, highly engaging titles that will stay with you forever.
Life is too short not to try everything, so if you find juggling a school/work existence and your free time rather challenging, consider our recommendations for the best short video games. They are simple, fun, and definitely memorable. Plus, the multitude of available genres caters to everyones needs. Ready?
| Game | Release | Genre | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Journey | 2020-06-11 | Platform & Adventure | |
 | What Remains of Edith Finch | 2017-04-24 | Adventure | |
 | INSIDE | 2016-07-07 | Adventure | |
 | Gone Home | 2013-08-15 | Adventure | |
 | Firewatch | 2016-02-10 | Indie | |
 | Limbo | 2011-08-02 | Adventure | |
 | Her Story | 2015-06-24 | Adventure | |
 | Oxenfree | 2016-01-14 | Adventure | |
 | The Stanley Parable | 2013-10-17 | Adventure | |
 | Gorogoa | 2017-12-14 | Adventure |
Journey
| Release date: | 2020-06-11 |
| Genre: | Platform & Adventure |
| Developer: | thatgamecompany |
Available on Steam, Journey takes you to a wordless world of mystery and strange beauty. Play it if you crave an atmospheric adventure.
The Journey game focuses on your travel to a mountain looming far on the horizon. There is no dialogue, narration, or hand-holding. Only solving puzzles and interpreting the unraveled bits of the story can bring you closer to the heart of this adventure.
| Key features |
|---|
|
What Remains of Edith Finch
| Release date: | 2017-04-24 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | Giant Sparrow |
Need a quick and unsettling story on PCs and consoles, including PS5? Look no further!
What Remains of Edith Finch revolves around stories of a family burdened with a curse. And it’s your job to uncover the origins of this mystery! It’s not a horror, but the gameplay oozes suspense.
| Key features |
|---|
|
Inside
| Release date: | 2016-07-07 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | Playdead |
This dark platformer takes its players to a dystopian world where a little boy on the run tries to solve the mystery of the encountered reality.
Developed by the creators of Limbo, Inside unravels a world where a little boy tries to escape his pursuers. Escort him through dangerous obstacles and gather bits of the story to learn its meaning.
| Key features |
|---|
|
Gone Home
| Release date: | 2013-08-15 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | Fullbright |
What can you discover in the seemingly abandoned house? Explore it to find out!
When young Katie returns home after a year in Europe, she finds it empty. Now, the protagonist must explore the place to discover what happened to her family. Play this game if you seek a spooky experience!
| Key features |
|---|
|
Firewatch
| Release date: | 2016-02-10 |
| Genre: | Indie |
| Developer: | Campo Santo |
It’s about a 4-hour story in which you play as Henry – a man who, tired of his current life, takes on the job of a fire lookout.
Explore the wilderness and chat on the radio with your supervisor, Delilah, to witness how a seemingly ordinary story turns into a unique experience. It’s a walking adventure game focusing on exploration and discovering multiplying secrets.
| Key features |
|---|
|
Equipped with deep narratives, memorable characters, surprising plot twists, and intriguing secrets, short video games are in no way inferior to the longest ones. On the contrary, they prove that even quick forms can influence players’ preferences, who often seek out similar titles after trying one such playthrough.