Rush It or Relish It: Finding Your Perfect RPG Based on How You Actually Play

Here's a debate that never really ends in gaming communities: Is there a "right" way to play an RPG?

On one side, you've got the completionists — the players who won't leave a zone until every side quest is checked off, every chest is looted, and every NPC has been spoken to at least twice. On the other side are the players who want to see the story, hit the credits, and move on to the next game in their backlog. And somewhere in the middle is everyone else, making it up as they go.

The truth? Both approaches are valid. But not every RPG is built equally well for both. Some games reward patience with incredible depth. Others shine brightest when you're moving fast and trusting your gut. Knowing which is which can make the difference between a gaming experience you love and one that drags.

Let's break it down.

The Case for Speedrunning (Or at Least Playing Efficiently)

There's a reason speedrunning has become its own culture. Moving through a game with purpose — skipping the filler, hitting the highlights, optimizing your build — is genuinely satisfying in its own right. It's not laziness. It's curation.

For players who game in shorter windows (full-time jobs, kids, that ever-growing Steam backlog), efficiency isn't just a preference. It's a necessity. And some RPGs are genuinely designed with this in mind.

Best RPGs for Efficient Players:

Hades

If you want an RPG that respects your time without sacrificing depth, Hades is the gold standard. Each run is self-contained, the story reveals itself gradually without demanding you sit through hours of setup, and a focused player can see the credits in under 10 hours. The meta-progression means every session counts, even short ones.

Undertale

Short, sharp, and narratively dense, Undertale delivers a complete and emotionally resonant RPG experience in roughly 6-8 hours on a focused run. It doesn't waste your time, but it never feels thin either. Perfect for players who want a full arc without a full weekend commitment.

Final Fantasy XVI

For a mainline Final Fantasy, XVI moves fast. The combat is action-oriented, the main story is front-loaded with momentum, and the game doesn't punish you for skipping side content on a first pass. If you want the epic fantasy experience without grinding for 100 hours, this one delivers.

The Case for Savoring Every Quest

On the other end of the spectrum are the games that genuinely reward players who slow down. These are the titles where the side quests aren't just optional filler — they're some of the best content in the game. Where the lore books sitting on a shelf in some random tavern actually add something. Where taking your time isn't inefficient; it's the whole point.

Best RPGs for Completionists and Slow-Burners:

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

This is basically the patron saint of the "savor it" playstyle. The side quests in The Witcher 3 aren't padding — many of them are better-written than the main story beats in other full games. Players who rush through the critical path miss the best stuff. If you're the type who wants to feel genuinely embedded in a world, Witcher 3 is the benchmark.

Baldur's Gate 3

We talked about this one in our choice-and-consequence piece, but it deserves a mention here too. BG3 is built for players who want to explore every corner. Hidden rooms, companion questlines, faction storylines that only unlock if you've been paying attention — this game has layers that reward curiosity. A completionist can easily sink 150+ hours in and still find new things.

Elden Ring

FromSoftware's open-world masterpiece rewards exploration in a way few games do. The lore is hidden in item descriptions and environmental storytelling. The optional bosses are often more memorable than the required ones. Players who wander — who go left instead of right, who investigate the weird tower in the distance — get a fundamentally richer experience.

Games That Actually Work for Both

Here's where it gets interesting. A handful of RPGs are genuinely well-designed for multiple playstyles — games where you can sprint through if you want to, but the architecture rewards you if you linger.

Dragon Age: Inquisition

Yes, it has some pacing issues. But Inquisition's structure — with its hub world and optional region-by-region exploration — means efficient players can stick to the critical path and still get a satisfying story, while completionists can disappear into the Hinterlands for 20 hours and come out richer for it. The game doesn't punish either approach.

Divinity: Original Sin 2

Larian's earlier RPG epic gives players a ton of freedom in how they engage with the world. Speedrunners can use clever builds and sequence breaks. Slow-burners can spend hours in dialogue trees and environmental puzzles. The game's systems reward both.

Persona 5 Royal

On the surface, Persona 5 looks like it demands completionism — there's a social link system, after all. But the game's calendar structure means you can choose which relationships to invest in and which to let slide. Efficient players can optimize their schedule. Slow-burners can explore every confidant arc. Both get a great game.

A Note on the "Optimal" Playstyle Debate

Let's be real: online gaming communities can be weirdly judgmental about this stuff. "You skipped side quests? You didn't even play the game." Or the reverse: "You've spent 200 hours in one playthrough? That's not efficient."

Ignore all of it. The optimal way to play any RPG is the way that keeps you engaged, keeps you having fun, and fits your actual life. Some of us have 6-hour gaming marathons on weekends. Some of us have 45 minutes on a Tuesday night. Some of us want to live in these worlds; others want to visit them and move on.

The best games — the ones that deserve a spot on your shelf — are the ones that meet you where you are.

Quick Reference: Match Your Style to Your Game

Playstyle	Top Pick	Runner-Up
Speedrunner / Efficient	Hades	Undertale
Full Completionist	The Witcher 3	Baldur's Gate 3
Lore Diver	Elden Ring	Disco Elysium
Flexible / Both	Persona 5 Royal	Dragon Age: Inquisition

The Final Word

At KingMaker Chronicles, we believe every type of player has a kingdom worth building — whether you conquer it in a weekend or spend a year mapping every corner of it. The RPG genre is big enough for all of us.

So figure out how you actually play, find the game that's built for it, and stop apologizing for enjoying things your way. The throne doesn't care how long it took you to claim it.