The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (BotW), released in 2017 for the Nintendo Switch and Wii U, is one of the most celebrated games of the last decade. Its open-world design, freedom of exploration, and intricate mechanics have set new standards in the gaming industry. However, one question that frequently arises among both new and prospective players is: “How long does it take to complete Breath of the Wild?” The answer to this question depends largely on how you choose to play the game. In this article, we will explore the different factors that influence the playtime of Breath of the Wild, breaking down the time it takes to complete the main story, side quests, and everything in between.
Main Story Completion
If you’re focusing solely on the main story, which involves defeating the four Divine Beasts, gathering the necessary gear, and confronting Calamity Ganon, Breath of the Wild can be completed relatively quickly. However, “quickly” is a relative term in the context of this expansive game.
- Average Playtime: For an average player, completing the main story takes approximately 40 to 50 hours. This includes a basic exploration of the world, some engagement with side quests, and acquiring the necessary items and abilities to progress through the story comfortably.
- Rushed Playthrough: If you’re an experienced gamer familiar with open-world mechanics and focus strictly on the main objectives, you could potentially finish the game in 20 to 30 hours. This assumes minimal engagement with side content and efficient navigation through the game’s main objectives.
100% Completion
For those who seek to fully immerse themselves in the world of Hyrule and achieve 100% completion, Breath of the Wild offers a massive amount of content. Achieving 100% completion includes not only finishing the main story but also completing all side quests, finding all Korok seeds, conquering all shrines, filling out the entire Hyrule Compendium, and more.
- Shrines: There are 120 shrines scattered across Hyrule. Completing all shrines is necessary for obtaining some of the best rewards in the game, such as the Tunic of the Wild. Searching for and solving these shrines can take upwards of 50 to 60 hours depending on your exploration habits.
- Korok Seeds: Collecting all 900 Korok seeds is a monumental task, often considered one of the most time-consuming activities in the game. While not mandatory for completing the game, collecting all the seeds can easily add 60 to 100 hours to your playtime.
- Side Quests: There are over 90 side quests in Breath of the Wild, ranging from simple fetch quests to more complex, multi-step adventures. Completing all side quests can take 30 to 40 hours depending on how thoroughly you engage with them.
- Hyrule Compendium: The Hyrule Compendium is a collection of entries that document the various creatures, weapons, food, and more that you encounter in the game. Completing the Compendium can take 10 to 20 hours, depending on how methodical you are in capturing images.
- Total Time for 100% Completion: If you’re aiming for 100% completion, you’re looking at a playtime of approximately 150 to 200 hours. This playthrough would involve exploring every nook and cranny of Hyrule, completing every quest, and collecting every item.
Casual and Exploration-Focused Playthrough
For many players, the true joy of Breath of the Wild comes from exploration. The game’s open-world design encourages you to stray off the beaten path, climb mountains just to see what’s on the other side, and experiment with the physics and chemistry-based mechanics.
- Casual Exploration: If you’re playing Breath of the Wild at a leisurely pace, enjoying the scenery, and exploring Hyrule without a strict focus on completing the main story, your playtime could easily extend to 60 to 80 hours or more. This allows you to discover secrets, experiment with gameplay mechanics, and immerse yourself in the world.
- Deep Exploration: Players who fall in love with the world and want to explore every hidden cave, climb every mountain, and experiment with every possible gameplay mechanic can expect to spend 100 to 150 hours in the game, even without aiming for 100% completion. This includes extensive exploration of Hyrule’s vast landscapes, experimenting with combat and survival tactics, and engaging in various in-game activities like cooking, taming horses, and more.
Speedrunning
Speedrunning is a popular activity within the Breath of the Wild community, where players attempt to complete the game as quickly as possible using various techniques, glitches, and expert knowledge of the game’s mechanics.
- Any% Speedrun: In the “Any%” category, where the goal is to complete the game as quickly as possible without worrying about percentage completion, top speedrunners have managed to finish the game in less than 30 minutes. This is achieved by heading straight to Hyrule Castle after the Great Plateau tutorial and confronting Calamity Ganon using advanced strategies and glitches.
- 100% Speedrun: Completing the game with 100% in a speedrun is a different challenge altogether, with the world record sitting at around 17 to 18 hours. This includes all shrines, Korok seeds, quests, and other completion criteria.
DLC Content
Breath of the Wild also has two major DLC packs: The Master Trials and The Champions’ Ballad. These add new quests, challenges, and items to the game, extending the playtime.
- The Master Trials: This DLC adds the Trial of the Sword challenge, the Hero’s Path Mode, the Master Mode, and additional armor sets. Completing everything in this DLC can take an additional 10 to 20 hours, depending on your skill level.
- The Champions’ Ballad: This DLC adds a new dungeon, new story content, and the Master Cycle Zero, a motorcycle that Link can ride. Completing this DLC can take another 15 to 20 hours.
Conclusion
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild offers a playtime that can vary widely depending on your goals. If you’re just looking to experience the main story, you can complete the game in about 40 to 50 hours. However, if you’re someone who enjoys exploring every detail of the world, completing all the quests, and achieving 100% completion, you could easily spend 200 hours or more in Hyrule.
No matter how you choose to play, Breath of the Wild is a game that rewards exploration, creativity, and curiosity, offering countless hours of enjoyment in one of the most beautifully crafted worlds in gaming. Whether you’re a speedrunner looking for the quickest