How Long to Beat: Complete Game Time Estimates and Completionist Data in 2025
How Long to Beat: Complete Game Time Estimates and Completionist Data in 2025
Understanding how long a game takes to beat is now a critical part of gaming culture. Whether planning your next RPG adventure, squeezing in a short indie game, or completing a AAA title 100%, knowing the average playthrough time helps manage expectations, optimize your schedule, and choose the right game for your time budget.
At Tech Today, we’ve curated the most accurate and current data for 2025 across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and mobile platforms, offering insights on main story durations, main + extra content, and full 100% completion goals.
What Does “How Long to Beat” Mean in Gaming?
In the gaming world, “How Long to Beat” refers to the average time it takes players to finish a game’s campaign. This varies significantly based on gameplay style:
- Main Story: Focused solely on the primary missions.
- Main + Extra: Includes side quests, optional content, and collectibles.
- Completionist: Every trophy, collectible, achievement, and Easter egg.
Many players now check estimated time to beat before purchasing or starting a new title.
Top 20 Popular Games and Their Average Playthrough Times (2025 Update)
| Game Title | Main Story | Main + Extra | Completionist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elden Ring: Shadows of the Erdtree | 26 hours | 50 hours | 85 hours |
| Final Fantasy VII Rebirth | 35 hours | 70 hours | 100+ hours |
| Starfield | 28 hours | 65 hours | 120 hours |
| Baldur’s Gate 3 (Definitive) | 40 hours | 85 hours | 130+ hours |
| Hogwarts Legacy | 25 hours | 45 hours | 80 hours |
| Resident Evil 4 Remake | 12 hours | 20 hours | 35 hours |
| God of War Ragnarök | 24 hours | 45 hours | 70 hours |
| Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty | 20 hours | 45 hours | 75 hours |
| Tears of the Kingdom | 50 hours | 90 hours | 150+ hours |
| Alan Wake II | 15 hours | 23 hours | 30+ hours |
| Lies of P | 16 hours | 25 hours | 40 hours |
| Diablo IV | 20 hours | 50 hours | 85 hours |
| Redfall | 12 hours | 18 hours | 30 hours |
| Assassin’s Creed Mirage | 18 hours | 28 hours | 50 hours |
| Mortal Kombat 1 (Story Mode) | 6 hours | 8 hours | 15 hours |
| Sea of Stars | 25 hours | 35 hours | 50+ hours |
| The Last of Us Part I Remake | 14 hours | 20 hours | 30 hours |
| Spider-Man 2 | 17 hours | 30 hours | 45 hours |
| Lies of P | 18 hours | 26 hours | 42 hours |
| Helldivers 2 | Ongoing | Ongoing | Live-service title |
Mobile Game Lengths: Bite-Sized or Deep Dive?
Some mobile titles are short, but others offer surprisingly long playtimes. Here are a few examples from 2025:
| Mobile Game | Avg. Main Play Time |
|---|---|
| Genshin Impact | 50+ hours (ongoing) |
| Honkai: Star Rail | 45 hours |
| PUBG Mobile (Battle Pass) | 25 hours per season |
| Monument Valley 2+ | 3 hours |
| Dead Cells: Mobile Edition | 12 hours |
The rise of cross-save cloud systems has also blurred lines between console and mobile gaming, making time tracking more essential.
Completionist Trends in 2025
With games becoming more expansive, 100% completion has become a niche goal for hardcore gamers. In 2025:
- Only 12% of players finish a game to 100%.
- Games like Tears of the Kingdom and Baldur’s Gate 3 average 150+ hours for completionist runs.
- Collectibles, hidden bosses, and alternate endings are major drivers for extended playtime.
Many developers include in-game trackers and platinum achievements to reward full completion.
Games with the Shortest Time to Beat
If you’re pressed for time, these 2025 releases offer rich stories without long commitments:
| Title | Play Time (Main) |
|---|---|
| A Space for the Unbound | 6 hours |
| Stray | 4.5 hours |
| Donut County | 2 hours |
| Coffee Talk Episode 2 | 5 hours |
| Unpacking | 3 hours |
These titles often pack emotional or artistic depth into minimal hours, ideal for casual gamers or short sessions.
Longest Games to Beat in 2025
Some experiences are designed to last. Here are the most time-consuming full completions this year:
| Title | 100% Completion Time |
|---|---|
| Tears of the Kingdom | 150+ hours |
| Starfield | 120 hours |
| Cyberpunk 2077 (w/ expansion) | 115 hours |
| Baldur’s Gate 3 (Definitive) | 130+ hours |
| Assassin’s Creed Valhalla | 105 hours |
These games often include multiple endings, decision trees, open-world exploration, and massive side content.
How We Calculate Game Lengths
Our data is pulled from:
- Player-submitted averages across thousands of users
- Verified playthrough logs
- Trophy and achievement timelines
- Speedrun vs casual pacing data
- Patch updates and DLC replays
We revise playtime estimates when games receive new content, expansions, or performance patches that affect pacing.
Why Game Length Matters Today
In 2025, game length isn’t just trivia — it’s strategy.
- Busy players want shorter games they can complete between work and family life.
- Collectors and reviewers plan completion based on length.
- Gamers on a budget use hour-per-dollar value to prioritize purchases.
Knowing how long to beat a game helps avoid burnout, manage expectations, and enjoy the experience more fully.
Speedrunning: The Fastest Way to Finish
For every 50-hour RPG, there’s someone beating it in 2 hours. The speedrunning community continues to thrive in 2025, with new records being set in games like:
- Metroid Dread: under 1 hour (any%)
- Elden Ring: 15 minutes with glitches
- Super Mario Odyssey: 57 minutes (no skips)
Speedrun routes are tracked globally, and many games now include speedrun timers in official modes.
User Reviews: Do Long Games Score Better?
Not always. While longer games offer value, reviews are based more on:
- Narrative pacing
- Bug presence
- Engagement loop
- Replayability
A 5-hour indie with strong story beats can score higher than a 100-hour RPG filled with filler quests.
What’s New in 2025 Game Tracking
Modern consoles now include:
- Auto-tracked playtime stats
- System-level hour counters
- Cloud save hour history
- Parental control game timers
This gives players direct access to their game completion pace.
Final Thoughts on Game Length in 2025
Game time is no longer just a number. It’s a reflection of design philosophy, user experience, and platform capability. Whether you’re playing for fun, streaming professionally, or working through your backlog, knowing how long to beat each game helps you make better decisions and enjoy every minute.
