Thank you for the thoughtful reply and for the kind words. I really appreciate both!

I agree that 20 hours is a good amount of time for a single player campaign. I also agree that the state of mid-budget games and indie development is in a better place now than it was when I wrote this article...though we have also just seen Sony close down some of their smaller studios amid a push to only create prestige experiences, so it's a balancing act as always.

I too loved Ghost of Tsushima, though I haven't finished absolutely every quest yet. I also enjoyed Final Fantasy VII Remake's pacing/level of "world stuffing." It has a good balance between large scope and budget, and manageable chunks of content. I'm currently working through Outriders, and it also has a refreshing blend of dense environments and well-paced gameplay that makes quick sessions feel truly rewarding.

Thanks again for reading.