Breath of the Wild invites players into a huge world where curiosity often dictates pace, and many ask the same question: how long will it take? Botw How Long to Beat matters because time estimates help you plan sessions, set expectations, and decide which playstyle fits your life.
In this article you will learn typical time ranges, what adds or cuts hours, and clear tips to speed up or extend your run. Whether you aim to finish the main quests quickly or soak up every shrine, this guide breaks down realistic timelines and choices so you can play with purpose.
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How long does it take to beat Botw?
Players often wonder how much time to budget for a run through Hyrule. On average, a focused main-story run takes around 50 hours, a main-plus-extras playthrough about 100 hours, and a full completionist effort can exceed 200 hours. These numbers reflect community data and vary with skill and goals.
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Typical playtime by playstyle
Different players approach Botw in different ways, so time varies a lot. A casual player who explores and completes many side quests will naturally spend far more time than someone who heads straight to key objectives.
- Main story: focused but not rushed.
- Main + extras: more shrines and side quests included.
- Completionist: every shrine, korok, and side quest.
Additionally, your familiarity with open-world games changes the pace. If you like to experiment with mechanics like cooking, climbing, and combat, you will likely stretch your hours for the joy of discovery.
Finally, platform and updates can matter. Patch changes, DLC, or added modes sometimes add new content that extends a completionist timeline by dozens of hours.
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Key factors that affect your playtime
Several factors change how long a run will take. How you handle exploration, whether you hunt for korok seeds, and if you use guides all play roles. Below are clear items to watch.
Consider these in order to estimate your own time:
- Goal (main story vs completionist)
- Exploration rate (fast travel vs on-foot discovery)
- Use of guides or walkthroughs
- Skill at combat and puzzles
Moreover, personal play habits matter: do you pause to soak in scenery, or do you optimize every minute? Small choices add up; a few minutes per session become many hours over the full game.
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Shrines, koroks, and how they add hours
Shrines and korok seeds are the primary time sinks beyond the main quest. Shrines give meaningful rewards and usually take 5–20 minutes each, while korok seeds are often tiny puzzles or searches that can be quick or surprisingly time-consuming.
Here’s a simple breakdown of shrine counts versus time investment:
| Content | Count | Typical Time per Item |
|---|---|---|
| Shrines | 120 | 5–20 minutes |
| Korok Seeds | 900+ | 1–5 minutes each |
Therefore, if you aim to clear most shrines and many koroks, expect a substantial time commitment. For example, even finding a quarter of the koroks could add dozens of hours, while full korok collection is a marathon.
Speedrunning versus casual play: how times differ
Speedrunners aim for the shortest possible finish and rely on optimized routes, glitches, and precise execution. Their times are far shorter than typical players, but they represent a niche approach that few casual players will match.
To illustrate, typical differences include:
Speedruns often omit exploration and most side activities, while casual runs embrace them. Also, speedruns rely on repetition to refine routes, improving times through practice rather than luck.
- Casual: play at your own pace, soak in the story and world.
- Speedrun: target efficiency, skip optional content.
As a result, a casual completionist may exceed 200 hours, while top-tier speedruns of the main objective can fall well below 1–2 hours in optimized categories. This contrast shows how playstyle is the single largest determinant of total time.
Practical tips to shorten your completion time
If you want to reduce your hours without losing key story beats, a few focused strategies help a lot. Plan your route, learn efficient shrine solutions, and use fast travel points wisely.
- Prioritize main quests and unlock key fast travel spots early.
- Use online guides selectively for tricky shrines or puzzles.
- Skip excessive korok hunting unless you need seeds for inventory.
Also, prepare your inventory and recipes to avoid repeated trips. For example, cook meals that boost stamina or defense when approaching difficult regions; this saves time lost to repeated deaths and backtracking.
Finally, set session goals. Aim to finish a shrine cluster or a region each session. Small, consistent objectives keep progress steady and prevent aimless wandering that inflates total hours.
Why some players invest 200+ hours and love it
Completionist players often treat Botw as a sandbox rather than a checklist. The game rewards experimentation, and many players find value in side runs like hunting for unique armor sets or testing physics-based puzzles.
Here’s a compact view of why hours grow:
| Reason | Time Impact |
|---|---|
| Korok hunting | High — can add 50–150 hours |
| Exploration & lore | Medium — dozens of hours |
| Challenge runs & mods | Variable — often large |
Moreover, social play and streaming extend playtime. Players who document runs, create challenges, or chase 100% completion for trophies or achievements often spend a very long time because the goals change from "finish game" to "master game."
In short, the open design encourages replay and creativity, so many who start with a short goal find themselves invested for months.
Putting it into context and planning your sessions
Now that you know typical ranges, plan realistic sessions. If you have two hours per night, a 50-hour main story could take about a month. If you prefer longer weekends, adjust expectations accordingly.
Use simple math to estimate your schedule:
- 2 hours/night × 7 nights = 14 hours/week
- 50 hours ÷ 14 hours/week ≈ 3.5 weeks
Additionally, factor in learning time. Your first playthrough may include more trial-and-error; later runs go faster as you know the map and mechanics. Thus, plan for a bit of extra time on your initial run.
Finally, stay flexible. Game sessions should be enjoyable, not a chore. Adjust your goals if you find you love exploring more than racing to the end.
To summarize, Botw How Long to Beat depends mostly on your goals: a focused main story is about 50 hours, a fuller experience about 100 hours, and true completionism can exceed 200 hours. Your choices around exploration, shrine completion, and use of guides will raise or lower that estimate.
Ready to plan your own run? Try setting a clear goal—main story, main + extras, or completionist—then map out how many hours you can play per week and use the tips above to shape your pace. Share your estimated time with friends or in communities and compare notes to learn fast.