The £-per-hour calculator
Two sliders, one honest number: what each hour of play will cost you.
Our rule of thumb: under £1/hr = bargain, £1–£3 = solid, over £3 = pricey per hour. It's a guide, not a verdict on fun.
Why price per hour helps
A headline price tells you what leaves your account; it doesn't tell you what you get for it. Dividing the price by the hours you'll realistically play turns very different games into one comparable number. A £60 game that becomes your hobby for months can be cheaper per hour than a £15 game you finish in an afternoon.
How to pick your hours honestly
- Look at the estimated ranges on each value page: "finish the main game" and "fuller play".
- Think about your last few games: did you finish them? Most people play fewer hours than they plan.
- Multiplayer and sandbox games are open-ended. Use the hours you'd play in the first few months, not forever.
Our rule of thumb
Under £1 an hour we call a bargain; £1 to £3 is solid value; over £3 is pricey per hour. It's a guide to cost, not a judgement on quality: a short, brilliant game can be worth every penny.
What the number leaves out
Price per hour doesn't count replaying with friends, the value of a shared family game, or the cost of online subscriptions some games need. Read the subscription pages for those costs, and the money guides for ways to bring the price down legally.