2023 has been giving us massive gaming experiences to sink our teeth into on a regular basis. It makes you wonder, what’s the biggest game of all time? What makes a game huge? Is it the game world or the number of mission types? It may be the scale of the story. There is a lot to consider here. When it comes to what strictly lengthens a game, though, the determining factor is the number of quests a game has to offer. These can be side quests, main quests, or just mini activities that pop up in your to-do list.
Editor’s note: this article does not include MMORPGs, and the number is quests is based on a combination of main and side quest content.
Top 10 Longest Games of All Time Ranked by Total Quests
As it turns out, the biggest games of all time are generally in the RPG genre. These massive titles give you incredible worlds to explore and so much content to discover that fully completing them is often a challenge.
10. Cyberpunk 2077 – 120 Quests
While it had a rough launch, Cyberpunk 2077 has rebounded to become one of the best RPGs in gaming today. With a great story, engaging characters, and a wide variety of combat options, you can find yourself spending quite a bit of time in Night City. Cyberpunk 2077 has 120 quests in total. 30 are main quests, and 90 are side quests. Many of the side missions impact the main story directly and can lead to multiple endings.
9. Mass Effect Andromeda – 213 Quests
Mass Effect Andromeda is an underrated game with a staggering amount of content. Between the multiple alien worlds you’ll explore, you will have 213 quests to get through. The main story is an intriguing journey that will take you around 40 hours to complete. In addition to that, there are countless mysteries to discover, optional bosses to unlock, and alien threats to encounter. The combat is fantastic and keeps the experience fun throughout. Some of the best content in the game involves taking on the optional quests your companions have for you.
8. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – 253 Quests
An entry on our list released this year is Tears of the Kingdom, a gargantuan experience. With a map size double that of the original, you can find yourself playing this game for months. There is so much content here it’s almost hard to believe. You can find yourself spending 80 hours on the main story alone. In addition to that, there are hundreds of rewarding and challenging optional quests that will keep you busy.
7. Fallout 4 – 268 Quests
It should come as no surprise that the Bethesda RPG Fallout 4 has 268 quests to swallow your life whole. While not a lot of people loved the main questline here, the optional faction and side quests combined with the DLCs create a post-apocalyptic world that has yet to be topped. The way you come upon quests through your exploration is incredibly immersive and a beautiful game world that feels all too close to home.
6. Final Fantasy XV – 291 Quests
While it is far from the longest Final Fantasy, FFXV has a lot of content if you know where to look. The story features around 45 hours, making for a very sizable game, but the side content here is outrageous. You’ve got hours’ worth of quests in the DLCs, monster hunts, side missions, and, most importantly, tons of post-game content. Square Enix simply doesn’t want you to put this one down. At the heart of the game is the story of four friends, and the journey they go on is one you’ll remember for a long time.
5. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – 300 Quests
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is arguably the best in the franchise, and with that comes an immense 300 quests to complete. Many of these quests have multiple outcomes, excellent voice acting, and challenging boss battles. It all takes place over a gorgeous recreation of ancient Greece, which you can explore at your leisure. The main questline is sizeable, but the game pushes you to engage in its side content. When you consider those quests mixed with multiple lengthy DLCs, you have a game that will last you 200 hours with ease.
4. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – 330 Quests
Although some people claim Skyrim is infinite, it actually has an end. Still, 330 quests are nothing to scoff at, as some included are part of the best questlines in RPG history. There are also Radiant Quests, which are randomly generated quests that allow the game to be never-ending if you really want it to be. The mixture of quest types here is wild, ranging from assassinations to demonic resurrections. You’ll hunt down or join factions of Vampires, Werewolves, and many more that would take too long to list. Skyrim is one of the most played games ever and still among the most played RPGs every year.
3. Dragon Age: Inquisition – 363 Quests
Dragon Age has been dormant for some time, but its last title, Dragon Age: Inquisition, was an action-packed adventure that could last you hundreds of hours. There is so much side content that it could fill several games with what it has to offer. Not all quests are fantastic, but many expand the world and its lore in exciting ways. Each companion has a personal questline on that can strengthen your relationship with them. You can spend 20 hours in the opening area alone, which should give you an idea of this experience’s size.
2. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – 405 Quests
The Witcher 3 is a game that demands your time. With a main story lasting 60 hours and two DLCs that total 40 hours each, that’s 100 hours you can spend just on the main questline. When it comes to side content, The Witcher 3 has more substance to its sidequests than any game to this day. Whether it’s monster hunts or side quests you come across while exploring the world, you will always have something to do here, and it will never be a task that doesn’t have a great payoff. The Witcher 3 is a game that will keep you coming back because of its beautiful world, engaging gameplay, and unforgettable stories.
1. Xenoblade Chronicles – 480 Quests
Xenoblade Chronicles games are generally massive time commitments, and this all started with the first entry. Xenoblade Chronicles puts you in a world on top of the bodies of two Titans frozen in time. It’s an incredibly interesting place to explore, full of secrets to discover and side quests upon side quests. Many of these fall victim to the JRPG fetch quest trope. Still, the missions can lead to interesting revelations about the game world and the people within. The main story on its own is massive in length and one of the greatest tales in the genre, making it a must-play for any JRPG fan.
