What’s the Sweet Spot for How Long a JRPG Should Be?

The ideal length of a JRPG can be a tricky balance to strike. A great JRPG story should feel epic and expansive, much like a sweeping fantasy novel or an engrossing TV show. However, it has to avoid overstaying its welcome. The gameplay hours need to allow for twists, turns, character development, and world-building that keep players invested. Yet, if a game is dragging or becoming repetitive players might just stop playing altogether.

Long games filled with unnecessary content or “filler” often struggle to maintain this balance. Ideally, a JRPG’s length should feel justified by the story it tells. This of course rather than being long simply for the sake of it. I’m also talking first playthroughs — where players aren’t aiming for 100% completion, but probably do a handful of side quests. Completionist runs are a whole different discussion

I believe the sweet spot for most JRPGs tends to fall around the 40-60 hour mark. This timeframe gives players enough room to immerse themselves in the world and characters. There’s time to experience meaningful plot twists, and explore various gameplay mechanics. However, typically JRPGs at this length don’t feel unnecessarily padded.

Many JRPGs comfortably sit within this range, providing an optimal mix of narrative depth and gameplay variety. Take, for example, most modern Final Fantasy games. For a casual playthrough, allowing for some side quests and exploration, most of these titles clock in around 40-60 hours. Final Fantasy XV, for instance, strikes that balance. The story feels epic, with plenty of personal character moments and world-building. However, it doesn’t get bogged down in too much filler. This length allows players to get emotionally invested without ever feeling like the game overstays its welcome.

Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. A game like Persona 5 completely defies the 40-60 hour ideal, and yet, it works. My first playthrough of Persona 5 took around 90 hours. Persona 5 Royal, with its additional content, pushes that even further. The sheer depth of the story, the expansive character arcs, and the social-simulation aspects extend the playtime significantly. However, the pacing is so well-executed that it never feels bloated. Every moment in Persona 5 serves a purpose, adding layers to the narrative and gameplay, making the longer runtime feel justified and engaging rather than tedious.

Similarly, a JRPG classic like Final Fantasy VII might fall a bit short 40-60 hour mark. However, it delivers a rich, fulfilling experience nonetheless. The story it tells is epic, with a tightly woven plot and a variety of side content to explore. The game doesn’t artificially pad its runtime with unnecessary quests or dialogue. However, players who dive into the various optional side content and hidden secrets could easily spend over 40 hours. For games like FFVII, the shorter runtime doesn’t detract from the story’s impact — it knows what it needs to do, does it effectively, and leaves the player satisfied.

Some games are worth the extended playtime, such as Persona. Others, like Final Fantasy VII, hit that sweet spot in less time, leaving you feeling equally satisfied. This isn’t to say one is better than the other, different games have different storytelling needs. However, I have found that JRPGs that fall in the 40-60 hour range seem to balance epic storytelling with enjoyable gameplay perfectly.

Ultimately, the ideal JRPG length is going to come down to preference. Maybe you think the 40 – 60 hour range is too broad, or even not broad enough. We all also have different opinions on what we consider repetitive. What matters most is that the journey feels complete, enjoyable, and worth the time invested.