A short but brilliant trilogy that can be beaten without spending a lot of time.

Players who want short bursts of time between the start, middle, and end of a game have been greatly frustrated in recent years. The rise of open-world games has had a huge impact on how modern releases are designed, and these days even relatively linear, story-driven games often offer free roaming, side quests, or additional activities.

Thankfully, some franchises have entire trilogies of games that offer short, sweet experiences, allowing players to progress through a comprehensive, overarching story or enjoy an expanding stream of gameplay mechanics as the sequel strives to improve on its predecessor. The overall trilogy play times in this list are a combination of the main story completion times from Howlongtobeat.com.

Jak and Daxter (Forerunner Trilogy)

Total trilogy play time: 38.5 hours

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Does it come in one package?

• yes – Jak and Daxter Trilogy

jack and dexter's Precursor Trilogy is a rare example of each game in a trilogy offering a unique experience. Jak and Daxter: Pioneer LegacyThe first game in the franchise, released in 2001, is a 90s-style mascot platformer with collectible gameplay. jack 2On the other hand, they decided not to offer yet another cutsey collecting competition and instead turned to a gritty cyberpunk environment with tons of weapons to use and various missions to complete.

jack 3 Like its predecessor, it combines platforming, shooting, and racing with a focus on a darker setting. The franchise has gone through several spin-offs over the years. Jak X: Combat RacingHowever, the Precursor Trilogy remains the only main series entry in the franchise.

Tomb Raider (Survivor Trilogy)

Total trilogy play time: 37.5 hours

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Does it come in one package?

• yes – Tomb Raider: Definite Survivor Trilogy

Recently released remasters of the first two titles tomb raider The trilogy could easily fit into this list, but since there are several other remasters of older games, it's the most recent Survivor Trilogy that gets the nod.

2013 tomb raider It was a reboot of a franchise that fans weren't sure what to expect upon release considering the franchise's history of ups and downs, but fans and critics were pleasantly surprised. unknown-great Set pieces and enjoyable gameplay loop. Rise of the Tomb Raider and Shadow of the Tomb Raider It builds on what the original created and offers a cohesive story and gaming experience that can be purchased at a good price. Tomb Raider: Definite Survivor Trilogy.

Spyro the Dragon (Reignited Trilogy)

Total trilogy play time: 30.5 hours

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Does it come in one package?

text Spyro dragon The trilogy is an iconic set of games released exclusively on PlayStation. Along with Crash Bandicoot, Spyro was a mascot platformer designed to take on Mario and Sonic. The game did not disappoint and was remade in 2018. Spyro Lignited TrilogyThis is the best and most accessible way to play the trilogy today.

first two Spyro The game features similar collectible platform gameplay that inspired the aforementioned. Jak and Daxter: Pioneer Legacy. During the third game, Spyro: Year of the Dragonkept the basics the same, offering much more varied gameplay with the addition of playable characters like Sheila the Kangaroo and Sergeant Bird, as well as allowing Spyro to take on unique challenges on his skateboard.

Sly Cooper (Original Trilogy)

Total trilogy play time: 30 hours

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Does it come in one package?

As mascot platform games faced a downturn in the early 2000s, Cunning Cooper and Tibius the Raccoon It combines platforming and stealth to reinvigorate the genre. These are two seemingly polar opposite genres. Sucker Punch Productions has found a formula for success: Cunning Cooper and Tibius the RaccoonKicks off one of the most beloved trilogies on PlayStation 2.

following success Cunning Cooper and Tibius the RaccoonSucker Punch Productions focused more on the stealth aspects of the original in the sequel and introduced more playable characters to vary the gameplay. All three games are available through Sony's PS Plus Premium service as of this writing.

Max Payne

Full trilogy play time: 24 hours

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Does it come in one package?

• No – it was remade Max Payne and Max Payne 2: The Fall They are in the works and will be sold together.

Max Payne is a unique trilogy in that the first two works were released two years apart, there was a gap of almost 10 years between the next works, and there were no spin-offs in between, and none have been released to date.

that Max Payne The trilogy is action-packed fun, and the third-person shooter takes clear inspiration from . matrix Bullet time slowdown that feels cinematic every time. With a total runtime of just 24 hours, you can complete the trilogy in under a week, and if you like old-school shooters, this will be the most fun week of your gaming life.

Crash Bandicoot (N.Sane Trilogy)

Full trilogy play time: 15 hours

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Does it come in one package?

text crash bandicoot The trilogy succeeded in giving Mario and Sonic some worthy competition, making it a must-buy for fans of the platform who had to give the PlayStation a try. crash bandicoot And the previously mentioned Spyro. The hallway platforming style is surprisingly still unique today, and few other platforming franchises have attempted to replicate the level design so synonymous with the orange marsupial.

Like many great platform games, crash The game only lasts 15 hours, and each level has a lot of items to collect, including chests, gems, and artifacts, greatly increasing the potential run time. Artifacts are especially great for those looking for repeat play, as they give players an excuse to replay tightly designed levels endlessly. Originally it was just Crash Bandicoot: Twisted Although there was a time trial artifact N. Sane Trilogy We also added it to the first two games.