How Long Does it Take to 100% Breath of the Wild?
The journey to completely conquer Hyrule in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a significant undertaking, far beyond simply defeating Calamity Ganon. The time required for a full 100% completion is significantly greater than the time it takes to beat the main storyline. On average, achieving full 100% completion in Breath of the Wild will take you around 190 hours. This substantial playtime is necessary to accomplish every task, find every secret, and explore every corner of this expansive open-world game. Be prepared to dedicate a good portion of your gaming hours to this goal, as it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
What Constitutes 100% Completion in Breath of the Wild?
Achieving 100% completion in Breath of the Wild is more than just beating the final boss. It requires meticulous exploration and completing specific tasks. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what needs to be done:
Main Story Progression
- Defeating All Four Divine Beasts: Completing the four Divine Beast dungeons and freeing the Champions within is necessary for progressing the main story but also essential for 100% completion.
- Confronting Calamity Ganon: You need to actually defeat Ganon, though this alone won’t give you full completion.
Side Quests and Exploration
- Completing all 120 Ancient Shrines: Finding and solving every single shrine is a core part of 100% completion. These shrines vary in challenge and puzzle type, and discovering their locations is half the fun.
- Acquiring All 900 Korok Seeds: This is perhaps the most time-consuming aspect of 100% completion. Korok seeds are hidden throughout Hyrule, and finding them all requires dedication and patience.
- Visiting Every Named Location: Exploring every named location on the map is also a requirement. This includes towns, ruins, peaks, and other points of interest.
- Completing all side quests: Finishing all side quests scattered through the map, adding many hours of gameplay
- Acquiring all Memories: Collecting all memories will fill out the storyline of the past in the game.
Post-Completion Note
It’s important to note that while you can achieve the “100%” marker in the game, there is NO REWARD for this achievement. This is purely for bragging rights and the satisfaction of completely mastering the game.
Is 100% Completion Worth It?
The question of whether 100% completion is “worth it” is subjective and varies from player to player. For many, yes, it’s absolutely worth it for a sense of accomplishment, especially if you’re a completionist. The real reward is experiencing every aspect of the game. However, here’s a balanced look:
The Positives
- Full Game Experience: You truly experience every puzzle, every location, and every piece of the world when you aim for 100%.
- Shrine Puzzles: Completing the shrines is widely regarded as fun and engaging.
- Mastering the Mechanics: You become a master of the game’s mechanics when you play this much.
The Negatives
- The Korok Seeds Grind: The vast majority of players and fans agree that collecting all 900 Korok seeds is tedious and the reward – a golden turd – is widely considered a joke.
- Time Commitment: It is a significant time investment.
- No In-Game Reward: Beyond the satisfaction of completion, there’s no special game reward.
The Verdict
If you enjoy exploration, puzzle-solving, and immersing yourself in the world, then pursuing 100% completion is generally worth it—as long as you don’t mind the Korok grind. If you find collecting hundreds of hidden collectibles to be tedious, then 100% might not be for you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How long does it take to beat just the main story in Breath of the Wild?
Focusing solely on the main objectives, defeating the Divine Beasts, and then confronting Ganon, will take approximately 50 hours on average.
2. Does the DLC contribute to 100% Completion?
While the DLC adds significant content to the game, it is not technically required for the in-game 100% completion marker. However, for many players, it is a crucial part of fully experiencing Breath of the Wild.
3. What’s the fastest completion time for Breath of the Wild?
Speedrunners have managed to complete the game (any%) in under 25 minutes by using various glitches and shortcuts. This is completely different from a standard 100% playthrough.
4. Do you need all Korok Seeds for 100%?
Yes, all 900 Korok seeds are a requirement for 100% completion according to the game’s internal metrics.
5. What happens when you collect all 900 Korok seeds?
You get Hestu’s Gift, which is widely considered a joke gift. You receive a golden turd and no real in-game benefit for your time spent.
6. Is Tears of the Kingdom longer than Breath of the Wild?
Yes, Tears of the Kingdom is considerably larger, featuring two additional layers to Hyrule to explore. It is more than twice the size of Breath of the Wild in terms of content.
7. How old is Link in Breath of the Wild?
Link was approximately 117 years old in Breath of the Wild due to a 100-year sleep. He is physically younger, though.
8. How old is Link in Tears of the Kingdom?
Link is around 122-125 years old in Tears of the Kingdom, taking into account the time passed between games.
9. What’s the hardest enemy in Breath of the Wild?
The Silver Lynel is often considered one of the most challenging standard enemies due to its aggressive attacks and high health.
10. What is the hardest boss fight in Breath of the Wild?
The Monk Maz Koshia boss fight from the DLC is widely considered the hardest boss in the game, due to its multi-stage nature and unique mechanics.
11. What is the scariest part of Breath of the Wild?
The Blood Moons and the Typhlo Ruins are often cited as some of the most unsettling and creepy moments in the game.
12. Can you get 30 hearts in Breath of the Wild?
Yes, you can achieve a maximum of 30 hearts or three full bars of stamina. However, you cannot have both simultaneously; you must choose one to maximize.
13. Is it better to fight Ganon after doing the divine beasts?
It is highly recommended to complete all four Divine Beasts before fighting Ganon. Each Divine Beast completed makes the final battle significantly easier by weakening him.
14. What are the most annoying enemies in Breath of the Wild?
Wizzrobes are often mentioned by players as some of the most annoying due to their teleporting and elemental magic.
15. Is The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild the hardest Zelda game?
While Breath of the Wild has its challenges, older Zelda titles like Zelda II: The Adventure of Link and The Legend of Zelda are often considered the hardest in the franchise due to their unforgiving nature and design.