Time-Limited Games You Must Complete to Solve the Challenge

Many video games invite you to take a moment to appreciate their beautiful worlds. They want you to drink in the details, letting yourself get lost in the scenery. It’s great that creators put so much effort into making these imaginative spaces feel alive. However, in some games, being able to roam freely without any sense of urgency can feel unrealistic.

Some games enforce their own set of rules, too. If the game’s world is in danger, it doesn’t make sense for you to spend weeks leisurely exploring. Time constraints can inject urgency into the game and require you to think carefully about your actions. Here’s a list of some excellent games that excel in this area.

10
Crusader Kings 3

Crusader Kings 3 operates within a historical timeframe, which naturally imposes a sense of urgency. You have a few hundred years to accomplish your goals, but don’t be fooled; a single bad decision can send your empire tumbling. The centuries can feel fleeting when you’re trying to mend broken alliances and territories.

9
Fallout 1

The original Fallout set the stage for a series that has evolved considerably. Beginning as a top-down RPG with a blend of live and turn-based combat, it also features a strict time constraint. You have 100 in-game days to secure water for your vault before time runs out. This limit feels fair, yet you can’t stray too far from your mission if you want to avoid an early ending.

After returning the water chip, a new limit of 13 years kicks in, though you are less likely to encounter that one.

8
Unsighted

Unsighted combines top-down combat and platforming, creating a rich world filled with secrets and a combat system that encourages experimentation. However, each playthrough is time-constrained.

As time progresses, characters in the game begin to disappear unless you act quickly. Some items can prolong their existence, but there’s no way to save everyone, forcing you to prioritize interactions. It’s a bittersweet experience that emphasizes tough choices.

7
This War of Mine

This War of Mine is a haunting portrayal of conflict. In this survival game, you’ll manage your shelter during the day and scavenge at night. Rather than a countdown to victory, your goal is to endure until a ceasefire is declared, which might not come anytime soon.

6
Pathologic

Pathologic has undergone various iterations, yet its core remains relentless: a deadly plague threatens the town, and you have mere days to find a cure before everything falls apart.

The game is brutally challenging. The hardest mode is designed as the optimal experience, allowing you to grasp the harrowing tale only through multiple playthroughs, each with its own time constraints.

5
XCOM 2

XCOM 2 is known for its challenging gameplay, to a humorous extent. Enemies can seemingly defeat you in a single hit, making gameplay feel hardly forgiving. Compounding this are the time constraints.

In the game, you face two significant time limits: immediate objectives that can be failed in a few turns, and the Avatar Project, which must be stopped before it’s completed, or you’ll face an automatic game over.

4
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13

Final Fantasy games are known for their evolving gameplay, and Lightning Returns presents a unique twist. The game features real-time combat and a countdown clock, marking a race against time.

As spaces become inaccessible over time, failing to act quickly could lead to losing your chance to save the world, forcing a restart if you falter.

3
Dead Rising

Dead Rising brilliantly uses time limits. As zombies swarm a town, journalist Frank West has just 72 hours to uncover the truth. Mess up, and you must continue facing the consequences while still trying to survive.

Completing case files is essential, but failing them can lead to your ultimate demise. The game urges you to stay on track, reminding you that time is of the essence, heightening tension and increasing the risk of errors.

2
Majora’s Mask

Majora’s Mask is a unique successor to Ocarina of Time, featuring an innovative time loop mechanic. Players have three days to prevent the moon from crashing into Termina, but there’s no way to do it in one cycle.

Instead, you must learn abilities to rewind time, with Link retaining key knowledge each loop. Failing to reset by the end of the third day results in starting over from scratch.

Each cycle allows you to hold onto important items, but the day-to-day tasks reset, creating a fascinating balance of urgency and opportunity.

In summary, while some games allow relaxation and exploration, others harness time limits to create thrilling, tense experiences that keep players engaged and challenged.