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The headline’s claim—that an unnamed former PlayStation executive prefers a “good” 20–25-hour game to a 100-hour behemoth—captures a real design debate, but the speaker and original remarks could not be verified. Treat the wording as an unconfirmed headline, not a confirmed quotation. The underlying question is still useful: game length matters less than whether the hours feel worthwhile.
What is verified about the ex-PlayStation boss claim?
The available evidence does not establish who the former PlayStation executive is, where the remark appeared, when it was made, or what was said around it. That means the 20–25-hour preference should not be attributed to a named person or presented as a verified direct quote.
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Minecraft - Nintendo Switch | $29.83 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - US Version | $52.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Mario Kart™ World (Nintendo Switch 2) | $79.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Super Mario Galaxy™ + Super Mario Galaxy™ 2 | $64.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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The Legend of Zelda™: Ocarina of Time | Buy on Amazon |
Nor does the headline establish that players generally prefer shorter games. No representative survey or population statistic supports that conclusion. It frames an opinion, not a measured industry-wide preference.
Game length is not the same as game quality
A 20-hour game can feel focused and satisfying, or rushed and thin. A 100-hour game can offer varied, compelling play, or stretch a smaller amount of meaningful content across more time. The number of hours alone cannot tell you which experience is better.
#1 Best Overall
- Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
- Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
- Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
- Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack; Compatible with Nintendo Switch only
A more useful question is what those hours contain: a coherent main story, varied challenges, optional activities that genuinely interest the player, or repetition that feels like padding. The answer also depends on the game’s design and the player’s appetite for a long commitment.
Main story, optional content and replayability are different measures
“How long is the game?” can refer to several things: finishing the main path, completing side content, or continuing to play through replayable systems. Those totals need not match. A shorter main campaign may sit alongside optional content or repeatable play that extends the experience for players who want more.
Rank #2
- New stages and fighters are joined by the combined rosters of every past Super Smash Bros. Game
- Challenge others anytime, anywhere, whether you're on the couch or on the go
- Play any way you want—locally, online, in TV mode, Tabletop mode, Handheld mode, or even with GameCube Controllers
- Fight faster and smarter with new and returning techniques, like the perfect shield and directional air dodge
- Face off in 2-4 player battles, or play against the computer
A 2008 WIRED interview with Blizzard executive vice president of game design Rob Pardo discusses Diablo as a replayable game whose duration can vary depending on how much optional content a player pursues. That distinction is more informative than treating every game’s length as one fixed number: WIRED’s interview with Rob Pardo.
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In a 2008 report about The Godfather II, VideoGamer identified Hunter Smith as the game’s executive producer at EA’s Redwood Shores studio. Smith said the team had shifted from a 50–80-hour target toward a 15–25-hour player experience: “Now I think our range for the player will be somewhere in the 15 to 25 hour experience.” This is a distinct historical example; Smith is not the unidentified ex-PlayStation boss in the headline. VideoGamer’s 2008 report.
Rank #3
- Race from one course to another through interconnected paths that span the world
- Traverse mountains, forests, cities, and more—with shifting weather patterns and a day/night cycle
- Ride on rails, jump off walls, skim across water, and more as you race for the finish line
- Take on the adrenaline-packed Knockout Tour—a fierce 24-driver elimination mode
- Explore courses at your own pace and wander the world to discover fun surprises in Free Roam
Why players can reasonably disagree
Some players would rather spend the time on several shorter games; others welcome a 100-hour world when its content earns the commitment. A Reddit discussion surfaced for this topic reflects both kinds of views, including comments about choosing multiple 25-hour games and expecting a 100-hour game to deserve its time. Those are individual reactions, not evidence of what players as a whole prefer: the Reddit discussion.
The practical takeaway is not that shorter is inherently better. It is that duration should be judged alongside focus, variety, optional content and the player’s own interest—not treated as a score for quality.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Become the Hero of Time and save Hyrule from darkness
- Venture into dungeons, solve puzzles, and travel across time in two different eras to restore balance to the land
- A classic tale, reborn for the Nintendo Switch 2 system, featuring voiced cutscenes, expanded dialogue, symphonic orchestral music, visuals built from the ground up for Nintendo Switch 2, and more
- Play Link’s in-game ocarina by humming or singing into the Nintendo Switch 2 system microphone
Rank #4
- Journey through space in two Super Mario adventures, now improved for the Nintendo Switch system!
- Travel the stars with enhanced resolution, improved UI, and additional content
- Learn more about the Lumas from additional Storybook chapters, groove to a bit of additional music
- Get additional Health and fall recovery in Assist Mode
- Join Rosalina and the Lumas to restore the Comet Observatory and rescue Princess Peach in Super Mario Galaxy.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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