How Long Does Borderlands 3 Last? A Comprehensive Guide
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Borderlands 3, the wildly popular looter-shooter from Gearbox Software, offers a substantial amount of content for players to sink their teeth into. On average, completing the main story takes around 25-30 hours. However, if you’re aiming for a more completionist run, tackling side quests, exploring the vast world, and leveling up multiple Vault Hunters, you can easily spend over 100 hours in Pandora and beyond. Factor in the four major DLC expansions, and the playtime extends even further, often surpassing 200 hours for dedicated players seeking to experience everything the game has to offer.
Diving Deeper into Borderlands 3’s Playtime
The playtime of Borderlands 3 is highly variable and depends heavily on your playstyle. Let’s break down the different aspects that contribute to the game’s longevity.
Main Story Completion Time
As mentioned earlier, the main campaign of Borderlands 3 typically requires 25-30 hours to finish. This estimation is based on players primarily focusing on the critical path missions and skipping optional side activities. If you rush through the story, ignoring exploration and side quests, you might even complete it faster.
Side Quests and World Exploration
Pandora and the other planets in Borderlands 3 are brimming with side quests, each offering unique stories, characters, and, of course, loot. Engaging with these optional missions significantly extends your playtime. Completing a majority of the side quests can add another 20-30 hours to your gameplay. Furthermore, simply exploring the diverse environments, discovering hidden locations, and uncovering secrets contribute to the overall playtime.
Vault Hunter Variety and Replayability
One of Borderlands 3’s greatest strengths is its cast of four distinct Vault Hunters, each with unique skill trees, abilities, and playstyles. Experiencing the game with each character offers a fresh perspective and encourages multiple playthroughs. Leveling up each Vault Hunter and mastering their unique builds can easily add hundreds of hours to your overall playtime.
End-Game Content and Activities
Once you complete the main story, Borderlands 3 offers a wealth of end-game content to keep you engaged. This includes Mayhem Mode, which increases the difficulty and rewards, True Vault Hunter Mode, which is a New Game Plus mode with increased difficulty and better loot, and Takedowns, challenging raid-like missions designed for coordinated teams. Grinding for specific legendary weapons and optimizing your character build in these modes can add countless hours of gameplay.
DLC Expansion Packs
Borderlands 3 features four major DLC expansion packs that introduce new storylines, characters, environments, and gear. Each DLC adds a significant chunk of content, typically requiring 8-12 hours to complete the main story. Factoring in the DLCs dramatically increases the overall playtime of Borderlands 3, easily pushing it beyond 100 hours.
Multiplayer Co-op
Borderlands is famously a co-op game. Playing with friends not only enhances the experience but can also affect the playtime. Coordinating strategies, tackling challenging encounters together, and sharing loot can make the game more enjoyable and potentially extend your playtime.
Borderlands 3: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Borderlands 3’s playtime and related aspects:
1. How long does it take to beat Borderlands 3’s main story?
Typically, the main story of Borderlands 3 takes around 25-30 hours to complete.
2. How much longer is Borderlands 3 with all the side quests?
Completing a significant portion of the side quests can add an additional 20-30 hours to your playtime.
3. What are the Borderlands 3 DLCs and how long are they?
The four main DLCs are: Moxxi’s Heist of the Handsome Jackpot, Guns, Love, and Tentacles: The Marriage of Wainwright & Hammerlock, Bounty of Blood, and Psycho Krieg and the Fantastic Fustercluck. Each DLC typically takes 8-12 hours to complete its main story.
4. What is the maximum level in Borderlands 3?
The maximum level in Borderlands 3 is currently 72.
5. What is True Vault Hunter Mode?
True Vault Hunter Mode (TVHM) is a New Game Plus mode that allows you to replay the story with increased difficulty and better loot drops.
6. What is Mayhem Mode in Borderlands 3?
Mayhem Mode is a system that introduces modifiers to the game, increasing the difficulty and rewarding players with better loot. There are multiple Mayhem levels, with higher levels offering greater challenges and rewards.
7. How many Vault Hunters are there in Borderlands 3?
There are four playable Vault Hunters in Borderlands 3: Amara (the Siren), FL4K (the Beastmaster), Moze (the Gunner), and Zane (the Operative).
8. Is Borderlands 3 worth playing multiple times?
Absolutely! Each Vault Hunter offers a unique gameplay experience, encouraging multiple playthroughs. Combined with TVHM and Mayhem Mode, Borderlands 3 offers tremendous replayability.
9. Can I play Borderlands 3 solo?
Yes, Borderlands 3 can be played solo. However, it’s often more enjoyable to play with friends in co-op.
10. What is the purpose of the Diamond Keys and Vault Cards?
Diamond Keys unlock the Diamond Armory on Sanctuary III, where you can claim powerful gear. Vault Cards provide challenges that reward you with cosmetics, legendary gear, and Eridium.
11. What are Takedowns in Borderlands 3?
Takedowns are challenging end-game missions designed for high-level characters and coordinated teams. They offer unique rewards and require skillful gameplay.
12. How important is gear in Borderlands 3?
Gear is extremely important in Borderlands 3. Finding powerful weapons and equipment is essential for progressing through the game and tackling challenging content.
13. Is Borderlands 3 cross-platform?
Borderlands 3 offers limited crossplay functionality. Crossplay is enabled between PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Crossplay is not available on the Nintendo Switch.
14. Does Borderlands 3 have seasonal events?
Yes, Borderlands 3 features seasonal events that introduce new challenges, rewards, and cosmetic items.
15. How much storage space does Borderlands 3 require?
Borderlands 3 typically requires around 75 GB of storage space. However, this can vary depending on the platform and whether you have installed any DLC packs.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Borderlands 3 offers a significant amount of content that can keep players engaged for dozens, if not hundreds, of hours. Whether you’re focused on completing the main story, exploring side quests, leveling up multiple Vault Hunters, or tackling end-game activities, Borderlands 3 has something to offer every type of player. The addition of DLCs further expands the game’s lifespan, making it a worthwhile investment for fans of the looter-shooter genre. So, buckle up, Vault Hunter, and prepare for an epic adventure in the Borderlands!