Five compact games for a satisfying weekend
Not every game needs a month-long commitment. Between larger releases such as Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave and Grand Theft Auto 6, these five engaging adventures offer complete experiences in 20 hours or less. They are varied enough to suit different moods, from comic mystery and stylish action to a classic island quest.
For more ways to enjoy games at home, browse RETROCADE’s arcade blog or explore the arcade machines collection.
1. Later Alligator
Where to play: Nintendo Switch and Windows PC
Later Alligator is a colourful, hand-animated point-and-click mystery that can be completed in an afternoon. You take the role of a detective hired by Pat, a young alligator who believes his family is planning to kill him. Your investigation leads through Alligator New York City, where you meet members of Pat’s peculiar and suspicious family.
Character-based minigames award badges, and those badges influence which ending you receive. The investigation takes place over a single day, ending with the family “event” that Pat fears will be his downfall.
A standard run takes about two to four hours. However, 30 minigames, more than 100 non-player gators and multiple endings give returning players plenty of additional content, potentially extending the experience by several hours.
2. Katana Zero
Where to play: Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, Windows PC and Xbox One
Katana ZERO is a side-scrolling hack-and-slash platformer built around sharp, cinematic encounters. You control Subject Zero, an amnesiac assassin with the ability to manipulate time. Bullet Time and one-hit kills make each room a tense sequence of rapid decisions, while the game’s influences include John Wick, Seven Samurai and Oldboy.
Conversations add another layer. A real-time interruption mechanic affects the dialogue tree and determines how much story you see during a playthrough, encouraging repeat runs. Finishing the main game takes roughly five to six hours, while seeing all its content can take 15 hours or more.
3. Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club
Where to play: Nintendo Switch
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is a mystery visual novel with an unusually grim premise for a first-party Nintendo release. You investigate the death of a junior high school boy while also pursuing the urban legend of the Smiling Man, a masked serial killer.
Progress comes from questioning characters, examining locations and connecting the available clues. This is the fourth entry in the Famicom Detective Club series and its first new instalment in 27 years. Returning characters, including investigator Ayumi Tachibana, appear again, but no prior knowledge is required.
The complete story takes around 15 hours, including its extended final cutscene. The game’s unsettling teaser appeared in July 2024, helping establish its darker tone before release.
4. Void Sols
Where to play: Windows PC
Void Sols is an experimental indie Soulslike that replaces conventional warriors with stark, abstract shapes. You guide a figure resembling a mouse cursor through a hostile top-down world where enemies can emerge from almost anywhere.
Light is central to the experience. The map is almost entirely dark, so you must ignite torches as you explore. Unlit passages, concealed corners and areas outside your immediate view can all become lethal threats.
Expect a demanding 10-to-15-hour campaign, with frequent deaths along the way. Several difficulty sliders make the game more approachable for players who are new to the genre. If you enjoy hands-on hardware, RETROCADE’s arcade parts are useful for repair and custom projects.
5. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
Where to play: Nintendo Switch
The 2019 Nintendo Switch remake of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening updates the classic adventure with quality-of-life improvements, rearranged music and a beautifully redesigned overworld. After washing ashore on Koholint Island, Link must awaken the Wind Fish by exploring dungeons and collecting the necessary instruments.
The island’s residents add warmth to an otherwise bittersweet story, while the remake’s bright colours, toy-like models and faux tilt-shift presentation make the world resemble a detailed miniature diorama.
A full playthrough takes approximately 12 to 15 hours, making it a manageable way to experience one of the series’ strongest stories without committing several weeks. For a dedicated games room, compare options in RETROCADE’s bartop arcades range.
Choose your weekend game
- For comedy and replay value: Later Alligator
- For fast, stylish combat: Katana ZERO
- For a dark detective story: Emio – The Smiling Man
- For a challenging indie adventure: Void Sols
- For a polished classic: Link’s Awakening
Each game fits comfortably inside a long weekend, while optional content and repeat playthroughs offer extra value when you are ready to spend more time with them.
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