10 Best Handheld Games With 100+ Hours of Content

We usually think of really immersive games – the kind that make hours fly by – as being for consoles or PCs. But you can actually find a lot of similar RPGs, simulation games, and open-world games on handheld devices too.

There are tons of games available for the Nintendo Switch, but I’m more fascinated by older handheld consoles. Back then, technology wasn’t as advanced, so you had fewer options for playing games on the go, which makes those titles more unique.

Games offering hundreds of hours of gameplay are truly remarkable. For this list, I’m focusing on titles for the PSP, Vita, DS, and 3DS that can easily take over a hundred hours to fully complete.

How long a game keeps you entertained really depends on how good you are at it, but these rankings mainly focus on how engaging the game is throughout its entire length – around 100 hours of playtime.

10. Fantasy Life

Good Job

Finishing the main story of Fantasy Life takes around 30 hours, but truly completing everything the game has to offer – mastering all the different jobs – is a massive undertaking.

Each new job offers a fresh experience, with different responsibilities, a new manager to work with, and opportunities to learn new skills and earn rewards by completing tasks.

As a fan, I’m still blown away by how much content is packed into this game! It feels like you’re playing twelve separate RPGs, and each one is a pretty meaty experience – easily 150 hours worth of gameplay or more if you really get into it. And the fact that this was one of the earlier games on the 3DS makes it even more impressive!

After finishing a job once, the game starts to feel repetitive. The conversations become less engaging, and the story doesn’t really hold your attention, particularly the more you play.

9. Minecraft

Cubed and Diced

Honestly, how long you can play Minecraft – especially on the Vita or 3DS where it’s a bit more limited – really depends on the person. But for me? I’ve sunk so many hours into this game, it feels like I could live several lifetimes just exploring and building!

Minecraft feels limitless, and switching from playing on mobile and then Java to the 3DS version has been a great experience. I expected the 3DS version to be significantly limited, but it’s surprisingly good! Having the map and inventory readily available on the touch screen is a really helpful feature.

While the gameplay can feel a little clunky, and redstone isn’t the most versatile system, the limited view distance sometimes creates a nostalgic, early-Minecraft feel – and honestly, I find that strangely appealing. It’s actually quite endearing.

This game reminds me of a particularly quirky, older version, and I really enjoy that feeling. While I haven’t personally played the Vita version, it seems great based on what I’ve seen, even though it only includes the initial ‘Aquatic Update’ like other older versions.

8. The World Ends With You

Not Simple Or Clean

If you haven’t tried The World Ends With You yet, I highly recommend it – especially the original versions for the DS or 3DS. While newer versions exist, they don’t control as well or capture the unique gameplay of the originals.

You can easily spend 25 hours or more finishing the main story, but completing everything the game offers will take well over 125 hours – that is, if you’re aiming for full completion.

Finishing this game completely is really challenging. It requires a lot of repetitive gameplay to level up, discover hidden collectibles, purchase everything available, flawlessly complete a difficult boss challenge, and earn the highest possible rank.

This game is perfect for quick play sessions whenever you have a few spare moments – many DS games excel at that. Plus, the unique challenge of controlling two characters simultaneously keeps it interesting enough to really enjoy from beginning to end.

7. Kid Icarus: Uprising

Burnt Up

Okay, so Kid Icarus: Uprising is a weird one. It’s the game made by Masahiro Sakurai that just felt different from everything else he’s done. Honestly, it’s a brilliant game, but be warned – the controls are so intense, you might actually get hand cramps if you play for too long! Seriously, it’s a masterpiece, but your palms will definitely feel it.

The game typically takes about 12 hours to complete, which is a reasonable length. However, completionists aiming for 100% can expect to spend anywhere from 90 to 200 hours, especially if they’re interested in revisiting an older online experience.

As a fan, I’m telling you, beating the single-player missions on the hardest difficulty without a single death is seriously tough, but honestly, the hardest part is finding people to team up with for those incredibly fun arena battles! It’s a real struggle to get a good group together.

The game features more than a hundred different weapons to discover, and finding them all is a challenging but rewarding experience. It often requires replaying levels and carefully searching for hidden weapons while also avoiding enemy fire – it’s tough, but incredibly enjoyable!

6. Terraria

Peep The Horror

Having played Terraria for about 2000 hours, I can confidently say it’s a game that offers a ton of content and will keep you entertained for hundreds of hours. However, the versions available on the 3DS and Vita aren’t the best experiences.

The 3DS version handles the best compared to the console versions, and the Vita version plays well, though both are older builds of the game. The good news is that these older versions include some content you won’t find anywhere else.

Before Terraria received the 1.3 update on mobile and console, the console versions of the game had unique bosses, items, and enemies not found anywhere else. Currently, only the console versions still feature these exclusive elements.

Even older versions of Terraria are still incredibly enjoyable. You can easily lose hundreds of hours exploring caves, defeating bosses, and it’s a cool experience playing on these smaller, mobile versions of the game.

5. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate

Beast Slayer

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate is a fantastic entry in the series, especially considering it runs on older hardware. It offers a huge amount of gameplay – you can easily spend over 70 hours completing the main story, and more than 300 if you aim to unlock everything.

Before Monster Hunter World changed the formula, 4 Ultimate was considered one of the most expansive and enjoyable classic Monster Hunter games. It also plays very smoothly if you have a New 3DS and use the C-stick for controls.

Like other Monster Hunter games, the initial movement can feel a bit slow and clunky. However, if you’re used to that aspect of the series, you’ll likely enjoy this game a lot.

After a slow beginning, the game really gets going, becoming much smoother and more rewarding as you improve your rank and acquire better equipment. If you have a 3DS and are looking for a great game to play, this is an excellent choice.

4. The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

Biblical Greed

Although The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is available on the 3DS and Vita, those versions aren’t the best. However, because it’s a truly exceptional roguelike game, it’s still a fantastic experience, especially for portable play. The Switch version is slightly improved, but you’ll have fun on any handheld.

The game involves repeatedly starting new attempts, discovering items with unclear explanations, and hoping they’ll be useful, all while facing unpredictable dangers and frequent deaths. Despite the frustration, it can be surprisingly enjoyable.

If you prefer to play games like Isaac without looking up guides, this is a fantastic resource to have with you. It lets you quickly jump into a run and easily test out new items, see how they work together, and experiment with anything you’ve recently unlocked.

Completing the main story will likely take around two hours, but this game has a ton of content overall. If you want to experience everything, it could easily take over 370 hours—and that’s based on older versions of the game!

3. Xenoblade Chronicles 3D

Reyn Time

Xenoblade Chronicles 3D is an incredibly impressive port for any Nintendo system. While it’s cool to see games like The Witcher 3 and DOOM running on the Switch, I find it even more amazing that a game which really stretched the Wii’s capabilities now runs on the 3DS.

This action RPG features a huge, fully 3D world that will take roughly 150 hours to finish. While the graphics and loading speeds aren’t as strong as the original Wii version, it still looks and plays great on the 3DS.

While the Switch version looks a little nicer, and the Wii version is great if you can find it, the important thing is that this version simply works. Thankfully, all the best parts – the touching story, memorable characters, and amazing music – are still here, and it’s wonderful to be able to play it on the go.

This game is perfect for keeping you entertained on long journeys like car rides or flights. With endless things to do, huge worlds to discover, and tons of side quests, it’s surprisingly charming to have it all in such a portable device.

2. Animal Crossing: New Leaf

Town Inside Me

I tend to revisit the Animal Crossing series every few years, and when I do, I get completely absorbed for months. A perfect example is New Leaf – I played it constantly for months on end because it was so enjoyable.

This game is truly one of the greatest life simulation games out there. It’s beautiful to look at, and I always have fun playing during special events. What really stands out is that the villagers always have something new to say, even after playing for a long time. I’ve put hundreds of hours into it, and unlike New Horizons, it still feels fresh and engaging.

I have great memories of visiting Tortimer Island and spending hours playing mini-games with my siblings. Whenever I play the game now, it reminds me of those happy times. It’s a really enjoyable experience overall, and I especially appreciate how much freedom the game offers.

While you can’t alter the landscape of your island, you have control over things like town rules and building projects. It takes a significant amount of time – often over a hundred hours – to fully upgrade shops and manage finances. Despite the time commitment, it’s a really enjoyable experience, and I always find myself wanting to return and check on my progress whenever I get the chance.

1. Persona 4 Golden

Heartbeat, Heartbreak

The Persona games are famous for having a dedicated fanbase, but they’re also known for being incredibly long. A typical first playthrough of Persona 4 Golden can easily take 70 hours, and achieving full completion can take over 130 hours.

It’s surprising that the definitive edition of Persona 4 was exclusive to the PlayStation Vita for so long, considering the console wasn’t very popular. Thankfully, it’s now available on other platforms, but if you still have a Vita, that version remains a fantastic way to experience the game.

This game boasts a truly memorable cast of characters, and I especially love how much focus there is on building relationships and interacting with them – it’s the best part of the whole series, in my opinion. While the battles and exploring dungeons feel a bit old-fashioned, fans of classic RPGs will likely enjoy them.

If you’ve only experienced Persona 5, or are new to the series, playing Persona 4 Golden on a handheld device is a fantastic option. The game is divided into in-game days, making it easy to pick up and play for short bursts whenever you have time.

2025-10-21 21:42