The criteria for this is very simple, all of these games can be completed in three hours or under (without using exploits etc). The reason for this? Well I find that sometimes, often in fact, that people just don’t have time to play a longer game. So I thought I’d show some of the shorter ones some love!
Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion
Developer: Snooky Kazoo
Publisher: Graffiti Games
Rrp: £11.39
Released: 22nd April 2021
What can I say about this game? Well it clearly takes inspiration from the older Legend of Zelda games. The humour in this game is also very firmly tongue in cheek and has a lot of nods to pop culture. I will admit it dates itself somewhat with its mentioning of a virus and that a face mask is a collectible, that doesn’t bother me but I know some would find that annoying.
This game was just fun. Some daft jokes and a silly premise but sometimes that’s all you need.
Warhammer 40K Boltgun – Words of Vengeance
Developer: Auroch Digital
Publisher: Auroch Digital
Rrp: £ Free (Steam)
Released: 22nd May 2025
It feels a bit strange to put any game from the Warhammer franchise in this compilation, but it finally happened, a Warhammer game that takes less time to play than it does to set up an actual skirmish.
Putting it simply this is an on-rails typing game similar to that of House of the Dead Overkill. However, what makes this a bit different (other than being free) is that this game uses the lexicon and phrases of the Warhammer 40k universe. That means you can expect to have to type things like ‘heretic’ or ‘squig’ when in easy mode and ‘adeptus mechanicus’ on some harder settings.
Fair word of warning, it’s an advert for Boltgun 2. I know some people will take issue with that, but considering this is free, it’s a pretty decent game.
Journey
Developer: thatgamecompany
Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
Rrp: £11.39 (Humblebundle and Steam) £14.99 (Epic)
Released: 13th March 2012 (originally)
You could call this game the original indie darling, its been available on Playstation for ten years and I remember it received a lot of praise. Now, after ten years, Sony have finally allowed the game to appear outside of the Playstation ecosystem. At this point there is nothing I can say that will add anything new to the discourse about this game. I like it a lot, I really do see why it got so much praise. The thing that surprised me though was the connection I made with the random companions I met while playing even though all I could do was run around them, make chime noises and jump.
This game really is something special, very short and sweet but with an experience like this I think that’s the wisest idea. Please go play this beautiful and strangely engaging game. I will admit I have had to use screenshots from online because I kinda got engrossed and forgot to take some… opps.
Buckshot Roulette
Developer: Mike Klubnika
Publisher: Critical Reflex
Rrp: £3.99 (Humblebundle and Steam) £4.16 (Itch.io)
Released: 4th April 2024
Buckshot Roulette might just be the shortest game I’ve ever reviewed, however I can tell you it’s a memorable one. The whole game doesn’t really last more than an hour (unless you really are taking your time to think about your moves). In this game you challenge a being known as the ‘Dealer’ to a form of Russian Roulette, except in this case you use a shotgun instead of a pistol.
As you play the game will introduce items that inject a level of strategy, such as when to inspect the cartridge in the chamber, double the damage or even make the Dealer skip their next turn.
For such a short game it really has a lot going for it, very much worth the price of entry.
Detective Grimoire: Secret of the Swamp
Developer: SFB Games
Publisher: SFB Games
Rrp: £5.19 (Gog.com, Humblebundle and Steam) £5.82 (Itch.io)
Released: 18th August 2014
This game reminds me a little of Myst in so far that its a point and click adventure game, but unlike most within the genre you view the scenes through the eyes of the characters as a little animated scenario.
You goal is to try and solve a murder, there are 9 people to speak to and a reasonable amount of items to find so that you can piece it together. You’ll need to find holes in peoples statements and then back your claims with evidence.
It isn’t a bad game by any means, the voice acting is all decently performed and the animations were well done. However, I did find the mystery to be quite easy to solve. I already had my suspect in mind and (mostly) how it had gone about, though I think this is meant to be the launching point of a series, I’ll keep my eye out for others.
