10 Long NES Games That Take Forever to Complete

NES games that demand weeks of play to finish.

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Oct 14, 2026

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10 Long NES Games That Take Forever to Complete

NES games that demand weeks of play to finish.

In brief

NES games that demand weeks of play to finish. NES games like The Legend of Zelda and Baseball Stars require extensive time investment to complete due to complex mechanics and large worlds. Originally reported by CBR.

NES games demand long play sessions

NES console with controller

NES games typically required serious time investment for players to complete due to complex mechanics and expansive worlds.

The Legend of Zelda 1986 NES

The Legend of Zelda 1986 NES

Link's debut adventure required exploring dozens of screens in hyrule without a map to complete.

Long dungeon runs in Zelda

Missing a magical shield or candle could stall progress and force players back to the start.

Baseball Stars takes multiple hours

Building a custom team and managing finances over seasons required dozens of hours to complete.

Nobunaga's Ambition needs strategy

Nobunaga's Ambition needs strategy

Managing dozens of territories required careful attention to tax rates, food, military, and civilian health.

Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord

Players must create a six-character party and descend into a maze without an auto-map system.

The Bard's Tale complex mazes

Mapping out snow-covered cities and multi-floor dungeons took hours per floor.

Ultima III: Exodus requires exploration

Ultima III: Exodus requires exploration

Players must guide four adventurers across vast kingdoms to find hidden symbols and mystic cards.

Dragon Warrior III opens alternate worlds

Players explore dual-world maps and spend hours resetting levels to create powerful warriors.

Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar

Mastering eight virtues required extensive dialogue and a grueling dungeon crawl.

Dragon Warrior IV has five chapters

Dragon Warrior IV has five chapters

Players complete independent storylines for four characters before the final act.

Might and Magic Book One demands manual labor

Players must fill notebooks with hand-drawn coordinates to complete the game.

In short

NES games like The Legend of Zelda and Baseball Stars require extensive time investment to complete due to complex mechanics and large worlds.

Read the original on CBR

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