How Long Does It Really Take to 100% Grand Theft Auto Story Mode?
The quest for 100% completion in a Grand Theft Auto game is a badge of honor for many gamers. It signifies not just finishing the main storyline but also delving into every nook and cranny the vast open world has to offer. So, the burning question remains: how long does it actually take to achieve 100% completion in a GTA game? Specifically, let’s dissect the time commitment required for the wildly popular Grand Theft Auto V.
The answer, while straightforward, isn’t a simple number. For Grand Theft Auto V, focusing solely on the main objectives will typically take around 31½ hours. However, if you’re aiming for the coveted 100% completion, expect to invest significantly more time, roughly 82½ hours. This figure is an average, and it can fluctuate based on individual playstyle, skill level, and how meticulously you approach each task.
What Constitutes 100% Completion?
Achieving 100% in GTA V isn’t just about finishing the main story missions. It involves a comprehensive checklist of tasks, side activities, and collectibles. Here’s a breakdown of what contributes to that coveted 100%:
Story Missions and Beyond
- Complete all Story Missions: This is the core of the game, encompassing 69 main missions. This includes all assassination missions given by Lester.
- Complete all Strangers and Freaks Missions: These are the side missions scattered throughout the map, some of which are character-specific. This includes Tonya’s towing missions, Beverly’s paparazzi missions, and Hao’s Shift Work mission – all for Franklin.
- Miscellaneous Tasks:
- Hobbies and Pastimes: These include activities like playing tennis, golf, darts, and participating in triathlons.
- Random Events: These pop up throughout the map and often involve helping random people.
- Collectibles: Finding all 50 spaceship parts and 50 letter scraps contribute to your percentage.
- Under the Bridge and Knife Flights: Completing all of these flying challenges adds to your completion.
- Stunt Jumps: Successfully executing all 50 Stunt Jumps will help boost your progress.
The Time Sink
The reason the time jumps from 31½ hours for just the main story to 82½ hours for 100% is because of the extensive nature of the additional content. While story missions are structured and relatively straightforward, many side tasks require exploration, dedication, and at times, significant skill. Finding collectibles, for instance, can be time-consuming, requiring you to meticulously search the vast map.
Not Necessarily Everything
It’s also worth noting that you don’t have to complete every single task in the game to reach 100%. Certain optional activities aren’t required. The goal is to complete the tasks on the official 100% checklist, not just to do absolutely everything the game offers.
100% Completion Rewards
Once you’ve finally cracked the code and achieved 100% completion in GTA V, you’re not left empty-handed. Here are some of the rewards that await you:
- Exclusive In-Game Item: An orange T-shirt with “100%” written on it will appear in Franklin’s closet.
- UFO Sightings: Multiple UFO sightings become available at Mount Chiliad, Fort Zancudo, and Sandy Shores, but only at night.
- The Last One Mission: A hidden Strangers and Freaks mission, “The Last One,” becomes available for Franklin.
- Career Criminal Achievement/Trophy: This is the ultimate bragging right, proving your mastery of the game.
The Longest GTA Game to 100%
While GTA V takes around 82½ hours for 100%, it’s important to note that the longest GTA game in the series for 100% is not GTA V. The title for the longest GTA when it comes to full completion belongs to Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Although the average completion time isn’t specified within the provided article, it’s widely known to be more extensive than GTA V, due to the scale of its world and the sheer number of activities it offers.
Is 100% Completion Worth It?
Whether or not 100% completion is worth the effort is a purely subjective question. It depends on what you seek from your gaming experience. If you are a completionist, you’ll find great satisfaction in fully exploring every aspect of the game. However, if you’re primarily interested in the main story and don’t have the time or patience for extensive side content, then aiming for 100% might not be the best use of your gaming time. Ultimately, the decision is yours.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions related to achieving 100% in GTA games, focusing primarily on GTA V:
1. What percentage of the game is the main story in GTA V?
The main story in GTA V accounts for approximately 60% of the overall completion level.
2. How long did it take to make the GTA 5 story mode?
Preliminary work began around the release of Grand Theft Auto IV in April 2008, with full development lasting roughly three years.
3. Which GTA game has the longest main story?
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas has the longest main story among all GTA titles, clocking in at around 31½ hours for the main objectives. GTA V’s story also takes 31.5 hours, but San Andreas’s 100% time is longer overall.
4. Is it hard to get 100% in GTA V?
Achieving 100% in GTA V requires a significant time investment and completion of numerous missions, side tasks, and collectible hunts. While not the hardest challenge in gaming history, it requires diligence and perseverance.
5. Can you get 100% if you kill Trevor?
Yes, you can still achieve 100% completion in GTA V even if you choose to kill Trevor at the end of the main story, provided you’ve completed all his required missions before that point.
6. How many main missions are there in GTA V?
There are a total of 69 main story missions in GTA V.
7. Which GTA game is the hardest?
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is often cited as one of the hardest GTA games, despite its popularity.
8. Is GTA V an endless game?
Through its advanced modding community and the introduction of RP (Role-Playing) servers, GTA V can provide a nearly endless experience. The game can be continuously expanded by its community.
9. Which is the shortest GTA game?
Among the main installments, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City are some of the shortest games, with around 19½ hours of gameplay.
10. Are there any hidden money locations in GTA V?
Yes, there are 12 Hidden Packages containing substantial amounts of cash that are located underwater near sunken objects in GTA V.
11. What happens after you reach 100% completion in GTA V?
Reaching 100% completion in GTA V unlocks exclusive cosmetic items, additional missions, and the satisfaction of completing one of gaming’s most challenging tasks.
12. Which GTA game takes the longest to complete?
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is widely considered the longest GTA game when considering time needed to achieve 100% completion.
13. What is “What Lies Beneath” in GTA V?
“What Lies Beneath” is the final Strangers & Freaks Mission for Abigail, a part of the 100% completion checklist.
14. Is GTA V the easiest GTA game?
Many players consider GTA V one of the easiest games in the series, citing features like mission skipping and streamlined gameplay mechanics.
15. Which GTA game has the best story?
Many players consider Grand Theft Auto IV as having one of the best storylines, citing the in-depth character development and compelling narrative.
Achieving 100% in a Grand Theft Auto game is no small feat. It requires dedication, exploration, and a significant time commitment. While the time investment may seem daunting, the rewards of 100% completion – both in-game and in terms of satisfaction – can be well worth the effort for dedicated players.