The clocks have gone back: 10 long games to sink into on dark winter evenings

It’s dark by early evening now. In the UK, Ireland and most of Europe the clocks went back an hour on Sunday 25 October 2026, and in the US and the parts of Canada that change their clocks they go back on Sunday 1 November 2026. (Hawaii and most of Arizona don’t change at all, and in the Southern Hemisphere it’s the other way round: Australia and New Zealand moved their clocks forward into summer time back in September and October.)

What that means for the next week: between 25 October and 1 November, Europe and North America are an hour closer together than usual. The UK is four hours ahead of New York (ET) and seven ahead of Los Angeles (PT), and Central Europe (CET) is five and eight ahead. From 1 November it goes back to the normal five and eight hours for the UK, and six and nine for CET. Worth knowing if you play online with friends across the Atlantic.

If the dark evenings have you looking for something to last you until spring, here are ten long games: big worlds, long stories and the sort of game you can play for months. We’ve left out the picks from our story-driven games for winter list (Clair Obscur, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II and friends), so treat this as part two. We haven’t quoted playtimes, because they vary so much with how you play. Every one of these is a big commitment. Release years come from the publishers’ store pages. Platforms and store availability can differ by country, so check your own store.

Huge worlds to get lost in

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015)

Still the benchmark for side quests that are better than most games’ main stories. Two expansions add many more hours if you finish the main game and want more. It’s on PC and on current and last-generation consoles.

Elden Ring (2022)

A vast, mysterious open world where you can almost always walk away from a hard boss and come back stronger. It’s demanding, but on a long winter evening few games feel as much like an adventure. The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion adds another large area.

Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018 on consoles, 2019 on PC)

A slow, detailed western that rewards taking your time: hunting, fishing, riding through snow and getting caught up in camp life. It’s ideal for evenings when you want somewhere to be rather than something to beat.

RPGs with a party to care about

Baldur’s Gate 3 (2023)

A deep, reactive fantasy RPG where almost every problem has several solutions and your companions remember what you did. It’s playable solo or in online co-op, and long enough for a whole winter.

Persona 5 Royal (2019 in Japan, 2020 elsewhere; wider platforms from 2022)

Life as a Tokyo high schooler by day, heists in other people’s minds by night. The calendar structure suits evening play perfectly: a few in-game days per session and you’ll still be going in February.

Metaphor: ReFantazio (2024)

From the team behind Persona, a fantasy RPG built around an election to decide a kingdom’s next ruler. It’s already on PC, PlayStation and Xbox, and a Switch 2 version is due on 12 November 2026 (worldwide, per the announcement), so Switch 2 owners can start it this month.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (2024 on PS5, 2025 on PC)

The second part of the Final Fantasy VII remake project, packed with open areas, side stories and a card game you may end up playing more than the main story. You’ll want to play Final Fantasy VII Remake first.

Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age (2020 for this edition)

A classic, warm-hearted turn-based RPG: bright, kind and very long. If you want comfort food in game form, this is it. The Definitive Edition is the one to get, and there’s an optional 2D mode for a retro feel.

Stories with a lot to say

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (2024)

A turn-based RPG that moves from Japan to Hawaii, mixing a heartfelt story with absurd side activities, including a full island-management mini-game. It’s very funny, surprisingly emotional and huge.

Disco Elysium: The Final Cut (2019)

A detective RPG with no traditional combat, where your skills argue with you inside your own head. It’s dense and wordy in the best way, so pair it with a good chair and a hot drink.

Make the long sessions comfortable

Long games mean long sittings. If your back complains after an hour, What2Buy (our sister site, a UK guide site) has a guide to office chairs under £200, and for console players there’s a round-up of PS5 controllers and accessories. Their picks and prices are for UK shoppers; elsewhere, check your local stores. If you’d rather keep things shorter and gentler, head to the Cosy Corner instead, and if your backlog is already out of control, our realistic backlog guide can help.