How Long Does It Really Take to 100% Fallout: New Vegas?
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The question of how long it takes to 100% complete Fallout: New Vegas is a complex one, and the short answer is: it’s not really achievable in a single playthrough. While you can spend approximately 135 hours meticulously exploring every nook and cranny, completing all main and side quests, and experiencing as much of the game’s world as possible, the very nature of its branching storylines prevents true, definitive 100% completion. The reason? Fallout: New Vegas features mutually exclusive faction quests that force you to choose sides, locking you out of content aligned with opposing groups. With that said, you can experience the vast majority of content within 100-135 hours if you plan diligently and make the right saves.
The Illusion of 100% Completion
Fallout: New Vegas tempts players with the promise of full exploration. You can dedicate time to complete around 75 side quests, uncover hidden locations, and maximize your character’s skills. However, the core narrative revolves around a conflict between multiple factions: the NCR, Caesar’s Legion, Mr. House, and the Independent New Vegas path via Yes Man. Each path culminates in unique end-game scenarios, which means that aligning with one faction inherently prevents you from completing the storylines of the others in the same playthrough.
This isn’t a matter of simply collecting everything or reaching maximum level. It’s about the narrative choices. Once you decide which group to side with in the latter parts of the game, you are locked on that path. For instance, quests for the NCR will be impossible to complete if you throw your lot in with Mr. House. This means achieving a literal 100% would require multiple playthroughs, each with a different faction allegiance.
Time Investment Breakdown
Core Story and Initial Exploration
A focused run through the main objectives, avoiding excessive side content, takes around 27.5 hours. This is a brisk pace focused on finishing the story while ignoring a lot of optional content. However, if you engage with more of the game’s side quests and exploration, you will find yourself easily within the 60 to 80-hour mark for one thorough playthrough, which would likely be a first run. This will involve side quest completion and significant exploration of locations and caves/ruins.
100% Aspirations – The Extended Journey
If you’re aiming for that “100% experience” as a completionist, this is where the 135-hour figure comes into play. This involves delving deep into every corner of the Mojave Wasteland, completing all the side quests (marked and hidden), and maxing out character skills as much as the game allows. It also entails fully exploring the DLC content, which can add an extra 20 to 30 hours of gameplay.
Keep in mind, however, that this number is about seeing as much as possible within a single play through, not a true completionist run with all options explored. As stated, multiple playthroughs will be required to experience all the available story and ending content.
DLC Considerations
The DLC (Dead Money, Honest Hearts, Old World Blues, and Lonesome Road) significantly expands the game’s lifespan. These add rich storylines, new areas, challenges and equipment and can each take from 5-10 hours to complete. This significantly increases the number of available hours and content to be consumed in a given playthrough, and are vital for players seeking to maximize their playtime.
The Truth About “100%”
In the realm of Fallout: New Vegas, “100% completion” is more about how much you see and experience, rather than achieving a quantifiable completion percentage. The core gameplay encourages replayability; it’s designed for players to try out different choices, alignments, and playstyles. It is a long game and has a large range of content that will keep you engaged for many hours.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can you truly 100% Fallout: New Vegas in a single run?
No, not in the traditional sense. Due to the conflicting faction storylines, you cannot experience all content in one playthrough. You would need to play through the game at least 4 times to experience all story related content.
2. How long does it take to beat just the main story?
The main story of Fallout: New Vegas typically takes around 27.5 hours if you rush through the main objectives and ignore most side content.
3. How many side quests are in Fallout: New Vegas?
There are approximately 75 side quests in Fallout: New Vegas, including both marked and hidden quests.
4. How many hours for a completionist playthrough?
A thorough completionist playthrough, where you aim to see as much as possible in a single run, can take around 135 hours, especially with the DLCs. This does not represent total content, but total content within a single playthrough.
5. Can you play after beating the main quest in New Vegas?
No, you cannot play after beating the game. Fallout: New Vegas has a clear point of no return. Therefore, you need to have save files before this point to continue playing, especially if you want to play DLC.
6. What is the maximum level in Fallout: New Vegas?
The base game’s level cap is 30. Each DLC raises the cap by 5, allowing you to reach a maximum of level 50 with all the DLCs.
7. Can you max out all skills in Fallout: New Vegas?
In the base game, no, there are insufficient skill points to max all skills. With all DLCs and a focus on collecting skill books, you can max out every skill.
8. How many endings does Fallout: New Vegas have?
Fallout: New Vegas has four main endings based on supporting different factions: Mr. House, NCR, Caesar’s Legion, and an Independent New Vegas. It also has variations of these endings.
9. Is Fallout 4 better than New Vegas?
Whether Fallout 4 is “better” is subjective, but it certainly has better graphics due to the time difference in development. However, New Vegas is often lauded for its compelling narrative and character writing. It depends on personal preferences and what a person likes in an RPG.
10. What year does Fallout: New Vegas take place?
Fallout: New Vegas takes place in 2281, four years after the events of Fallout 3.
11. How long are the Fallout: New Vegas DLCs?
Each DLC can add between 5-10 hours of gameplay. Collectively, the four DLCs provide around 20-30 additional hours.
12. What was the original inspiration for Deathclaws?
Deathclaws were originally designed as expendable shock troops using mixed DNA, using a Jackson’s chameleon as the core genetic base.
13. Is Mr. House a good or bad character?
Mr. House is an ambiguous character. He is not inherently “good” or “bad,” instead he is driven by a desire to ensure the survival of humanity by using his plans to return to space. Some see his plans as necessary, others see him as a tyrant.
14. Which Fallout game has the most endings?
Fallout 2 is considered to have the most endings, with an impressive 47 variations based on player choices.
15. How does Fallout: New Vegas compare to Fallout 3 in length?
While Fallout 3’s main quest can be completed quickly, if New Vegas’s main quest is completed to its fullest, it becomes far longer, as well as having lengthier DLC. In general, Fallout: New Vegas is generally considered longer overall.
Conclusion
While a true, quantifiable 100% completion of Fallout: New Vegas is impossible in a single playthrough, experiencing its rich content to the fullest can take 100-135 hours, making it a worthwhile investment for any fan of the Fallout universe. It is a game designed to be replayed, encouraging you to try out different alignments and choices.