# 10 Long NES Games That Take Forever to Complete

> NES games that demand weeks of play to finish.
- Title: 10 Long NES Games That Take Forever to Complete · CBR
- Summary: 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…
- Keywords: nes, legend of zelda, baseball stars, nobunaga's ambition, wizardry, the bard's tale, ultima iii, dragon warrior iii, ultima iv, dragon warrior iv, might and magic book one, entertainment
- Source: CBR — https://cbr.com/long-nes-games-take-forever-to-complete-list
- Author: Shawn Wilken
- Published: 2026-10-14T03:15:12+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: nes, legend of zelda, baseball stars, nobunaga's ambition, wizardry, the bard's tale, ultima iii, dragon warrior iii, ultima iv, dragon warrior iv, might and magic book one, entertainment
## NES games demand long play sessions
NES games typically required serious time investment for players to complete due to complex mechanics and expansive worlds.
## 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
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
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
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.
## Key takeaway

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