The Best Nintendo Switch Games That Take Forever To Finish

Main Story: 50 hours (64 hours with DLCs)
Extra Quests: 90-95 hours (112 hours with DLCs)
Playing to Completion: 180-185 hours (203 hours with DLCs)

If you're looking for an epic adventure in the land of Hyrule, you can never go wrong with Breath of the Wild. It's the first entry in the famed Zelda series to feature a true open-world experience and offers a compelling main storyline. However, many players find themselves taking the most enjoyment from this game by simply exploring the extensive map, uncovering side quests, and discovering secrets. And trust us, there is A LOT to explore.

The freedom to play the game however you want is a breath of fresh air, and it's easy for the hours to melt away when you have so many fun tools and environments (and a physics engine) to play around with. It's also one of the more difficult Zelda games, making it all the more special when you finally work your way through.

Main Story: Roughly 35 hours (75+ hours with DLCs)
Extra Quests: Around 125 hours (150+ hours with DLCs)
Playing to Completion: Around 1000 hours

An all-time classic that has been ported to nearly every platform imaginable, it was only a matter of time before Skyrim was available on the Switch. With a substantial main storyline, as well as dozens of side quests and missions, Skyrim is truly a world you can get lost in.

If you really wanted, you could melt away dozens of hours reading one of the many in-game books. Now that it's more portable than ever, there's no excuse not to play one of the most well-loved games of all time.

Main Story: Roughly 50 hours (75 hours with DLCs)
Extra Quests: 100 hours (140 hours with DLCs)
Playing to completion: 170-175 hours (around 230 hours with DLCs)

A juggernaut of modern AAA games, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is one of the best games to get lost in if you're looking to burn some time. Not only does the game have thousands of hours of content, including an in-game card game, there is almost no filler, with many of the side quests being considered more compelling than the main questline.

Offering a traditional RPG experience with incredible graphics and voice acting, The Witcher 3 is a modern classic that will be played for years to come. And while the game itself is seriously expansive, completing the game becomes a massive undertaking when you factor in the various DLCs, which are practically two stand-alone games.

Main Story: Roughly 50 hours
Extra Quests: 65-70 hours
Playing to Completion: Around 170 hours

A Nintendo Switch exclusive, Fire Emblem: Three Houses is yet another tactical RPG that fans of the genre simply can't miss. The first entry in the series since Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn for the Wii in 2007, Three Houses was a big step up graphically, and also introduced new mechanics and expanded on the combat system.

Combining elements of a charming social simulator and turn-based battle system, this title garnered universal acclaim for its story and gameplay alike, so it's an awesome option if you're looking to spend a good chunk of time getting lost in an adventure that has lovable characters as well as challenging strategy.

Main Story: Roughly 60 hours
Extras: 90-100 hours
Playing to Completion: Around 200 hours (though you can hypothetically play forever)

Now one of the best-selling console games of all time, Animal Crossing: New Horizons has completely taken over the games space the past few months. Fans had long awaited an entry on the Switch in the beloved series of community simulators, and they were not disappointed, as New Horizons returned with the features that players love while also bringing some brand new mechanics that only add to the charm.

While there are specific objectives to complete in the early game, players can, in theory, play Animal Crossing indefinitely, constantly changing the design of the island, or simply just hanging out with the villagers. 

Main Story: 50-55 hours
Extra Quests: 85 hours 
Playing to Completion: 150 hours

Stardew Valley has now become one of the most popular indie games of all time, and for good reason. Taking inspiration from farming and community simulators like Harvest Moon and Animal Crossing, Stardew maintains the feel of a quant virtual farming town while leaving its own stamp on the genre.

Whether you're a fan of fishing, mining, farming, or romancing your neighbors, there's something for everyone in Stardew Valley. Even better, the developer has recently been releasing patches with all kinds of new content from cutscenes to fruits, so we have a feeling this game will stay in our rotation for quite some time.