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<h1>How Long to Beat Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night - A Completionist's Guide</h1>
<p>So, you're diving into the gothic world of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night and wondering how much time you'll need to dedicate? The short answer is: it depends. A straight shot focusing on the main story will take around **14 hours**. However, if you're a completionist aiming for 100%, expect to invest around **35 hours** exploring every nook and cranny, mastering shards, and conquering all challenges.</p>
<h2>Factors Influencing Playthrough Length</h2>
<p>Several factors can significantly impact your playtime in Bloodstained. Understanding these will help you gauge how long *your* journey through the game might be:</p>
<h3>Skill Level and Familiarity with Metroidvanias</h3>
<p>If you're a seasoned veteran of the Metroidvania genre, you'll likely breeze through certain sections more quickly than a newcomer. Knowing how to efficiently navigate interconnected maps, optimize combat builds, and exploit enemy weaknesses will shave hours off your playtime.</p>
<h3>Difficulty Setting</h3>
<p>Bloodstained offers multiple difficulty settings. Playing on **Normal** or **Hard** will naturally increase the time required due to more challenging combat encounters and the need for more strategic gameplay. Conversely, **Casual** mode significantly reduces enemy strength, allowing for a faster playthrough.</p>
<h3>Completionist Tendencies</h3>
<p>The biggest time sink comes from aiming for 100% completion. This involves not only finishing the main story but also:</p>
<ul>
<li>Collecting all shards</li>
<li>Crafting all weapons and armor</li>
<li>Completing all quests</li>
<li>Finding all secrets and hidden areas</li>
<li>Unlocking all endings</li>
</ul>
<p>If you're a dedicated completionist, prepare for a long and rewarding adventure.</p>
<h3>Shard Optimization and Grinding</h3>
<p>The shard system is central to Bloodstained's gameplay. Experimenting with different shards and **optimizing your build** can dramatically affect your effectiveness in combat. Additionally, you might find yourself grinding for specific shards or materials, which can add significant time to your playthrough. For example, the true arrow shard, once upgraded, can dramatically reduce boss fight times.
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<h2>Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)</h2>
<h3>Is Bloodstained a hard game?</h3>
<p>Bloodstained can be challenging at the beginning, especially if you're unfamiliar with Metroidvania games. However, once you acquire a few good shards and understand the combat mechanics, it becomes more manageable. Experimentation and strategic shard usage are key to success.</p>
<h3>Will there be a Bloodstained 2?</h3>
<p>While a direct sequel to Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night hasn't been officially announced, a spin-off titled **Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2** was released on July 10, 2020. Keep an eye on official announcements from the developers for any news regarding a potential sequel.</p>
<h3>How many endings are in Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night?</h3>
<p>Bloodstained features **three endings**: a bad ending, a normal ending, and a true ending. Unlocking the true ending requires extra investigation and completing specific objectives.</p>
<h3>Should I play Bloodstained Curse of the Moon first?</h3>
<p>No, you don't need to play Curse of the Moon before Ritual of the Night. Curse of the Moon is a spin-off and doesn't directly impact the story of Ritual of the Night. It offers a classic, retro-style experience but is entirely optional.</p>
<h3>Is Bloodstained Curse of the Moon canon?</h3>
<p>No, the Curse of the Moon games are not considered canon to the main story of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. They are more of an alternate dimension or parallel story, born from a Kickstarter stretch goal.</p>
<h3>Are the Bloodstained games connected?</h3>
<p>Yes, Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon is a companion title to Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. However, they are connected more in theme and style than in a direct narrative sense. You can enjoy Ritual of the Night without playing Curse of the Moon.</p>
<h3>Where is the Millionaires Key?</h3>
<p>The Millionaire's Key is located in the **Den of Behemoths**, relatively close to the beginning of the area. It allows you to access the room where you'll fight Millionaire's Bane.</p>
<h3>Is purification ending the best?</h3>
<p>The term "best ending" is subjective and depends on your preference. In the context of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (which the article mentions for comparison), the Purification ending is often considered one of the better endings, but this doesn't directly relate to Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night.</p>
<h3>What is the bad ending achievement in Bloodstained?</h3>
<p>To get the bad ending, "Just a Flicker," you need to defeat Gebel in the Hall of Termination before fulfilling certain requirements that lead to the true ending.</p>
<h3>Does Bloodstained have DLC?</h3>
<p>Yes, Bloodstained has DLC, including playable characters like Aurora from Child of Light and Bloodless. Keep an eye on official announcements for the availability of specific DLC on different platforms.</p>
<h3>How well did Bloodstained sell?</h3>
<p>Bloodstained has been a commercial success, selling over 1 million units by June 2020 and surpassing 2 million units by September 2023.</p>
<h3>What is the max grade in Bloodstained?</h3>
<p>The maximum grade for shards in Bloodstained is **9**. Increasing the grade enhances the shard's stated effect.</p>
<h3>Can you play as Bloodless in Bloodstained?</h3>
<p>Yes, you can unlock and play as Bloodless by entering "BLOODLESS" (all caps) as your name when starting a new game save.</p>
<h3>Does grade matter in Bloodstained?</h3>
<p>Yes, grade is crucial, especially for Passive Shards. It significantly impacts their power. Rank is also important, particularly for converting shards into Skill Shards.</p>
<h3>How do I get to Den of Behemoths bloodstained?</h3>
<p>To reach the Den of Behemoths, you need to attack Gremory in the Garden of Silence after she flees there. This will create a portal to the Den of Behemoths.</p>
<h2>Bloodstained: A Game Worth Investing Time In</h2>
<p>Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night offers a compelling experience for both casual players and hardcore completionists. Whether you're aiming for a quick playthrough or a deep dive into every aspect of the game, understanding the factors that influence playtime will help you plan your adventure accordingly. The game has elements of learning as indicated by **Games Learning Society** a group looking into Games and Learning. Visit **GamesLearningSociety.org** to see what learning benefits come from video games.</p>
<p>So, grab your sword, prepare your shards, and get ready to explore the gothic world of Bloodstained. Your playtime awaits!</p>
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