Summary
- Some RPGs offer epic adventures without demanding a massive time investment.
- Pillars of Eternity, South Park: The Stick of Truth, and Parasite Eve are well-paced RPGs.
- Undertale, Super Mario RPG, and Chrono Trigger deliver engaging experiences with great pacing.
Most people assume that role-playing games take an eternity to complete, which is an understandable assumption to make. After all, the most notable titles in this genre are notorious for boasting play times north of a hundred hours, and this can be hard to digest for those who don't have that time to spare.
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Thankfully, some quality RPGs take players on epic and entertaining adventures without demanding a massive time investment from them, and making progress in these particular stories and reaching a satisfying conclusion without devoting too much time can be a lot of fun.
Pillars Of Eternity
Harkens Back To The Golden Age Of CRPGs With Some Great Pacing To Keep Players Engaged
Pillars of Eternity
- Released
- March 26, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Pillars of Eternity came out around the time when the CRPG genre was making a much-needed comeback. In the wake of financial troubles, Obsidian Entertainment crowdfunded a fun modern CRPG that took players on an epic adventure that didn't overstay its welcome.
Players will amass a party of lovable adventurers in no time and find a ton of meaningful content to engage with. Reaching the end of this amazing title, learning the truth of the gods, and giving Thaos the beating he deserves makes for a satisfying conclusion to a well-paced CRPG that many people consider to be better than its predecessor.
South Park: The Stick Of Truth
The Boys Embark On A Grand Adventure That Pays Homage To South Park's Lovable World
South Park: The Stick of Truth
- Released
- March 4, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Mature Humor, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
The previews of South Park: The Stick of Truth wowed countless gamers, with many loving how authentic the game looked when compared to the source material. It helped that the game's wacky adventures and fun combat mechanics made it a blast to play.
The title wasn't too long and featured just enough distractions that pay homage to the series without making the game feel bloated. By the time players are done with this title, they will have developed fond memories of the many laugh-out-loud moments that The Stick of Truth had to offer.
Parasite Eve
A Beloved JRPG That Doesn't Overstay Its Welcome And Isn't Bloated In The Slightest
Parasite Eve
- Released
- September 9, 1998
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Animated Violence, Mature Sexual Themes
- Genre(s)
- Horror, Action RPG
In a time when JRPGs prided themselves on massive worlds, a bit of grinding, and epic stories that lasted for a long time, Parasite Eve felt like a breath of fresh air. Unlike most other SquareSoft JRPGs at the time, Parasite Eve is set in modern (for its time) New York City.
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Players control NYPD Detective Aya Brea, who must hunt down Eve and prevent this powerful being from bringing ruin to humanity. As harrowing as this adventure may sound, players can complete it in just around ten hours, with the well-paced gameplay engaging them every step of the way.
Undertale
Toby Fox's Indie Masterpiece Was Hailed For Many Reasons, With The Game's Pacing Being Its Biggest Strength
Undertale
- Released
- September 15, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ for Everyone 10+: Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling, Use of Tobacco
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Undertale is one of the biggest indie hits that still feels incredible to play, with one of the game's biggest strengths being its pacing. Every segment in the story features memorable characters, fun combat, and interesting mechanics that countless players will love to mess around with.
This eventually leads to a banger of a conclusion that becomes even more enjoyable with the Pacifist ending. However, there is one area of Undertale that wastes a player's time on purpose, with the Genocide Route forcing them to kill all enemies in every area by farming random encounters until there are no more to discover.
Super Mario RPG
Condenses The JRPG Format To Let Fans Enjoy One Of The Most Bombastic Turn-Based Experiences
Super Mario RPG
- Released
- November 17, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone Due To Mild Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Super Mario RPG's pacing is one of the many reasons why so many gamers love this collaboration between Nintendo and SquareSoft. Mario and Co.'s adventures to save the Mushroom Kingdom for the umpteenth time are full of incredible set-pieces that never let up.
The sheer amount of magic and unique moments in this title are so immense that it's easy to imagine the story stretching out to the length of a typical RPG, if not more. Instead, Super Mario RPG refuses to linger on one great idea for too long, ensuring that players will be bombarded with Nintendo's trademark creativity throughout this memorable experience.
Disco Elysium
The Central Mystery Is So Compelling, And The Game's World-Building Ensures No Moment Is Wasted
Disco Elysium
- Released
- October 15, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Disco Elysium wastes no time in getting players hooked, with the protagonist's half-naked corpse dealing with a bout of amnesia caused by a night of hellacious drinking. The game doesn't let up after this moment, with the writing being so memorable that most players will come to love every single second of what the title has to offer.
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Revachol's deep political history, the mystery surrounding the main case, and some incredible role-playing ensure that players will be hooked throughout the entirety of this journey. A focused playthrough can lead to completion in a decent span of time, but players should aim to uncover everything if they have the time; there's very little content that feels meaningless in Disco Elysium.
Deus Ex
An Immersive Sim That Boasts Incredible Action RPG Mechanics And Superb Pacing
Deus Ex
- Released
- June 23, 2000
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, FPS, Stealth
Deus Ex is one of the best immersive sims ever made, with its action RPG trappings making skill upgrades all the more meaningful. Players who start out struggling to aim scoped weapons will eventually come to love just how easy it is to aim when JC is more competent with this weapon type.
This is just one of the many skills that the protagonist can level up during their espionage adventures. The best part about Deus Ex, however, is how every level slaps and ups the ante, ensuring that players will never be bored by what this amazing game brings to the table.
Chrono Trigger
Harkens Back To The Golden Age Of CRPGs And Keeps Players Engaged With Its Great Pacing
Chrono Trigger
- Released
- March 11, 1995
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Chrono Trigger is one of the greatest JRPGs ever made, so it's surprising that this title doesn't repeat any mistakes present in most other games in the genre. Instead of a bloated runtime, it is packed to the nines with intense set-pieces that flesh out its characters, the world, or both.
Traveling through time and uncovering numerous secrets while making progress in the main story feels like a blast every single time. By the end of this experience, players will likely struggle not to be left spellbound, both because of the engaging story and the excellent pacing that prevented it from ever getting stale.
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