5 Open World Games That Will Keep You Busy Well Beyond 150 Hours

For some gamers, short and sweet isn’t enough. You want a world you can truly get lost in: one that keeps you busy for weeks, months, maybe even years. That’s where the biggest open world RPGs and adventure games shine. These aren’t just stories to play through; they’re full-blown worlds to live in.

The following games aren’t simply long because of grindy mechanics or filler content. They’re long because they’re dense with meaningful activities: side quests that tell their own stories, huge maps filled with secrets, deep progression systems, and DLC expansions that feel like entire games on their own.

If you’re looking for open worlds that will easily keep you busy for 150 hours or more, these five stand above the rest.

1. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Skyrim may be more than a decade old, but it still sets the standard for how endlessly replayable an open world RPG can be. The main quest, saving the world from Alduin, the World-Eater dragon, can be finished in around 20-30 hours. But that’s only scratching the surface.

Every major faction has its own storyline, each almost as involved as the main quest. You can become the head of the Thieves Guild, rise to Archmage of the College of Winterhold, or lead the Companions into battle. Then there are Daedric quests, which range from darkly tragic to absurdly funny, each one feeling like a little standalone game.

Exploration also adds hundreds of hours on its own. Skyrim’s map is covered in caves, ruins, shrines, and cities, and you’re rewarded for wandering off the beaten path. Random encounters keep things unpredictable, while books and notes scattered everywhere expand the lore for players who love digging deep.

• Time Commitment: 200+ hours for completionists
• What Keeps You Busy: Faction questlines, Daedric quests, hundreds of dungeons
• Exploration: A snowy, atmospheric land that feels alive with dragons and legends
• Worth It?: Absolutely. And that’s before you add mods, which can turn Skyrim into an entirely new game

Skyrim is proof that some open worlds never really end. They just keep pulling you back in for “one more quest.”

2. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (with Expansions)

CD Projekt Red’s The Witcher 3 is already considered one of the greatest RPGs of all time, and that’s before you factor in its massive expansions. The base game is sprawling, with a main story that takes 50-70 hours to complete and hundreds of side quests that often rival main quests in quality.

Unlike many open worlds, Witcher 3’s side content isn’t just filler. The Bloody Baron storyline, the Crones of Crookback Bog, and countless contracts feel like fully realized short stories with their own emotional weight. Then there’s Gwent, the in-universe card game that became so popular it spun off into its own title.

Add in Hearts of Stone (a 15-20 hour expansion with one of the best-written villains in RPG history) and Blood and Wine (a 30+ hour expansion that adds an entirely new region, Toussaint), and you’re well past 150 hours. Toussaint in particular is so polished and vast that many fans consider it a full sequel.

• Time Commitment: 175-200 hours with both expansions
• What Keeps You Busy: Contracts, Gwent, treasure hunts, branching side stories
• Exploration: From bustling Novigrad to rolling vineyards in Toussaint, the world feels alive
• Worth It?: Without question. Few RPGs maintain this level of storytelling quality for so long

The Witcher 3 isn’t just long. It’s meaningful. Every quest feels like it matters, and that’s why players still call it one of the most rewarding games ever made.

3. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

Ubisoft is known for massive open worlds, and Valhalla might be their biggest yet. It takes players across Norway, England, and even into mythical realms through side quests and DLC. If you’re looking for something to sink serious time into, Valhalla is a Viking-sized feast.

The main story alone can take 60-80 hours, but that’s before factoring in raids, settlement upgrades, mysteries, collectibles, and post-launch expansions. Building and customizing your settlement becomes its own mini-game, giving you a sense of ownership as your community grows.

The DLC adds even more hours. Wrath of the Druids takes you to Ireland, while The Siege of Paris expands into France, each with their own regions and story arcs. Add in the massive Dawn of Ragnarök expansion and you’re easily adding another 30-40 hours.

• Time Commitment: 150-180 hours if you explore thoroughly
• What Keeps You Busy: Raids, settlement building, hidden mysteries, DLC expansions
• Exploration: A detailed recreation of Dark Ages England and beyond
• Worth It?: Yes, especially if you enjoy slower, immersive RPG experiences

Valhalla isn’t for everyone. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. But for players who love settling into a world and living in it, it’s one of the biggest commitments in modern gaming.

4. Elden Ring

FromSoftware’s open world masterpiece takes the brutal design of Dark Souls and expands it into something even bigger. The Lands Between are vast, layered, and filled with secrets. Finishing the main quest might take around 100 hours, but for players determined to see everything, 150 hours is just the starting line.

What sets Elden Ring apart is how it rewards exploration. Every ruin, cave, and mountain peak hides something: a hidden boss, a unique weapon, or an NPC questline with branching outcomes. The game doesn’t hold your hand, so discovery feels organic and rewarding.

And then there are the bosses. Elden Ring features some of the most challenging encounters in the genre, many of which are optional. Tracking down and defeating them all could take dozens of extra hours, and multiple playthroughs if you want to see every ending.

• Time Commitment: 150-200 hours depending on skill and curiosity
• What Keeps You Busy: Dozens of optional bosses, NPC questlines, multiple endings
• Exploration: A haunting, interconnected world designed for curiosity
• Worth It?: Yes, especially for players who enjoy challenging combat and rewarding secrets

Elden Ring is a game where you can lose track of time completely. And that’s exactly why it’s so beloved.

5. Red Dead Redemption 2

Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption 2 isn’t just a game. It’s an experience. The main story, with its sweeping tale of Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang, already stretches past 50 hours. But if you treat the game as a true western simulator, you’ll find yourself passing 150 hours without realizing it.

The world is breathtakingly detailed. Hunting and fishing are deep enough to be games within the game. Stranger missions introduce quirky characters and memorable side stories. Challenges encourage you to experiment with every system, from sharpshooting to horse riding. And simply wandering around often leads to organic encounters that feel handcrafted.

Online mode adds even more, though it’s optional. Between role progression, events, and multiplayer content, RDR2 becomes almost endless.

• Time Commitment: 150-200 hours
• What Keeps You Busy: Hunting, fishing, stranger missions, organic encounters, online play
• Exploration: One of the most immersive recreations of the American frontier ever made
• Worth It?: Yes, if you’re willing to slow down and let the world breathe

RDR2 is the definition of an open world you live in, not just play. It’s the kind of game that makes you linger on a mountaintop just to watch the sunset.

Final Thoughts

Not every player has the time or patience for a 150+ hour commitment. But for those who do, these games are the gold standard of immersive worlds. They’re not just long for the sake of it. They’re long because they’re full of meaningful content that rewards curiosity, patience, and dedication.

Skyrim keeps pulling players back with endless quests and mods. The Witcher 3 delivers side quests that rival main quests in quality. Valhalla offers a sprawling Viking epic. Elden Ring challenges players with secrets and bosses hidden everywhere. And Red Dead Redemption 2 slows the pace, letting you live out a life on the frontier.

These aren’t quick weekend games. They’re investments. But for the right players, that investment pays off in unforgettable memories and a sense of being part of something larger than just a story.

If you’re searching for a game that will last you months rather than weeks, look no further. These five open worlds are more than just games. They’re entire worlds waiting to be lived in.