Top 10 incredibly long games to play during lockdown

Roughly 20% of the global population is already on lockdown.

From the UK to India and South Africa, to name but a few countries, lockdowns are being implemented across the globe due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you need something to keep you busy though for those isolated hours, we've got you covered with 10 incredibly long games you need to check out.

1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Toss a coin to your Witcher, stay inside and play CD Projekt RED's masterpiece, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

If you haven't played the game already, then The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt GOTY edition is for you. With an amazing story which will take you more than a hundred hours to complete, combined with 50 hours of content in expansions Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, you simply can't go wrong.

The game also offers a lot of replayability with different endings depending on your choices. If it is still not enough, then there's also New Game+ to dive into. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is one of the best RPGs ever created, and one of the longest games you should definitely play during a lockdown.

Read more:The Witcher creators donate $950,000 to stop the spread of coronavirus

2. World of Warcraft

To quote Eric Cartman in the iconic Make Love, Not Warcraft episode of South Park: "Guys, when things look bad, you can't just give up on the world. Of Warcraft."

World of Warcraft has been sucking gamers in for over 15 years and to this day, it is one of the greatest MMORPGs out there. There is so much content in World of Warcraft, it would last you the entire lockdown period, and you might not even get to the latest expansion, Battle for Azeroth.

Blizzard Entertainment recently added a 100% experience boost that will last until 20th April, so there's even more incentive to stay at home and play this incredibly long game. In fact, the entire Warcraft franchise can keep you busy, especially with Warcraft III Reforged thrown into the mix.

3. Monster Hunter World: Iceborne

Monster Hunter World and its expansion, Iceborne, is easily one of the best extensive titles to play during a lockdown. Not only does it deliver fantastic gameplay, but Capcom made sure there is enough content (and regular updates) to keep players busy for hundreds of hours.

The story of the base game alone takes on average 50 hours to beat, according to How Long to Beat. For those who do extras, it takes an average of just over 100 hours.

Then, you throw in Iceborne's story, averaging at around 35 hours, as well as all the additional content, and you have an experience that simply won't stop. You can farm and get your Hunter Rank up for weeks on end, join others for a hunt online, or simply explore the diverse biomes.

4. Stardew Valley

You can play Concerned Ape's Stardew Valley forever. Starting off on an old farm plot in Stardew Valley with only some hand-me-down tools and a few coins at your disposal, you can build your own life in this game.

It is a game full of opportunity, where you can even marry, have children, farm and fish to your heart's desire, and simply live. Stardew Valley is one of those incredibly long games which just keeps giving. Players can spend hundreds of hours in the game, and time just flies by like its nothing. When you decide to play Stardew Valley during a lockdown, it will be over before you know it.

If the single-player experience isn't enough, you can also dive into the multiplayer to play with some friends online.

5. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

If creating your own farm in Stardew Valley isn't enough, then how about an island? Animal Crossing: New Horizons released on 20th March for the Nintendo Switch, and it's amazing. There are hundreds of things to do, from terraforming your island to building everything you would ever need, obtaining recipes to craft new equipment, and much more.

Read more: How to get iron nuggets in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Just like all the previous titles in the iconic franchise, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is an open-ended life simulation. Basically, what this means is you can play the game for the entire duration of a lockdown, with ease.

It is highly addictive, and one of the biggest games released this year. Best of all, the game's first seasonal event, Bunny Day, is already on the horizon (sorry), starting 1st April 2020.

6. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, is arguably one of the best RPGs you can play. It is available on just about every gaming device imaginable. Skyrim can suck gamers in and keep them busy for hundreds of hours on end. There's always another quest to do, something new to discover, or a cave to explore.

According to How Long to Beat, if you just focus on the main story, Skyrim will last you 26 hours on average. However, if you do side activities, join guilds, and a whole lot more, the average is 120 hours. Completionist clock in at roughly 240 hours but you can spend even more time in Skyrim if you wish, making it one of the best incredibly long games to play.

When playing, you can always say to yourself: "I used to be an adventurer like you, but then I took a lockdown to the knee" while giggling at a joke no one else can hear.

7. Pokémon Sword and Shield

What better time than a lockdown to "catch 'em all"? That's where the fastest-selling Nintendo Switch games in its first week of release come in. Yes, we are talking about Pokémon Sword and Shield. You can easily log a hundred hours or more in the new Galar region, exploring the huge open world, and joining in co-op raid encounters.

In a recent Nintendo Direct presentation, Nintendo also revealed new details and a trailer for the first Pokémon Sword and Shield expansion pass. The expansion pass will feature a range of new content when it releases in June this year.

If you own a Nintendo Switch and haven't played the games yet, then getting up to speed during a lockdown might be the perfect distraction.

8. Path of Exile

If you are looking for an incredibly long ARPG to play, then look no further than Grind Gear Games' Path of Exile. It is arguably the best ARPG ever created, and best of all, it is completely free-to-play. This means you don't have to spend any precious toilet paper money, all while still enjoying a great game.

The developer has continued to update Path of Exile with new, free expansions, leagues and more content then you can imagine. Just making your way through all the story content of the base game and expansions should take a couple of hundred hours, at least.

9. Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2 from Rockstar Games released back in October 2018, and is one of the best action-adventure titles ever created. Set in a massive open world with slow travelling, and a deep, mesmerising story, the game is a must-play if you haven't had the chance already.

The main story alone clocks in at an average of 47 hours. If you do side quests and explore the incredible open world, then you are looking at 78 hours or more.

However, the story is only the start of your Red Dead Redemption 2 journey, as you can jump into Red Dead Online for dozens of activities against (or with) other gamers across the globe. This should keep you busy for at least a few hundred hours if you enjoy the game's multiplayer component.

10. Minecraft

If you're the creative type, you can spend thousands of hours building things in Minecraft. The game isn't just about chopping down trees and building everything imaginable, but it is also about education. If you head into the game's marketplace, you will find some lessons from Minecraft: Education Edition in a brand new Education category.

These worlds are completely free to download and play in. This will help keep young minds sharp and stimulated during a lockdown.

If you are in Poland, then you can join a dedicated public server for Minecraft, and there's a Minecraft building competition to join in on.

Lockdown host Beril Naz Hassan explains in the below video (starting at 6:48) on what Poland is doing, including information on a free public platform full of challenges.

Closing Thoughts

The titles in this list are our top picks for the best incredibly long games to play during a lockdown. However, there tonnes of others to try out that can suck you in for hundreds of hours. Honourable mentions go out to the likes of The Elder Scrolls Online, Dauntless, just about any MMO you like, older Monster Hunter titles, and all the other Pokémon games.

Instead of just fill this list with all the top esports titles, we've decided to put them all under the final section of this article. It is no secret that you can spend thousands of hours competing in any esports title. Every single one of the top esports titles can keep you busy for the entire lockdown period.

Some of our favourites include Dota 2, CS:GO, League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics, all those awesome fighting games, Apex Legends, Fortnite, PUBG, Call of Duty: Warzone and more.

Best of all, most esports titles are free. For more free-to-play games, check out our list of the top 10 free-to-play games in 2020.