How Long Does Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Take to Beat? A Deep Dive into the Spartan Experience
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Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, a sprawling epic set in ancient Greece, offers a truly massive experience. To answer the core question directly: finishing the main story of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey typically takes around 42-45 hours on average. However, the playtime can vary significantly depending on your playstyle. For completionists aiming for a 100% run, expect to invest anywhere from 132 to 149 hours exploring every nook and cranny of the ancient Greek world. This article will explore these numbers in more detail, answering common questions to help you plan your own Odyssey.
Unpacking the Playtime: Main Story vs. Completionist Run
The vast difference between the main story completion time and the 100% completion time highlights the sheer amount of content packed into Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. The main story focuses on the core narrative surrounding Kassandra or Alexios (your chosen protagonist) and their family lineage. This path requires you to complete the central quests that advance the main plot, but often skips a lot of side content and optional exploration.
Conversely, a completionist run involves tackling everything the game offers. This includes:
- All Main Story Quests: The core narrative is, of course, essential.
- All Side Quests: Hundreds of side quests populate the world, offering unique stories, characters, and rewards.
- All Location Objectives: Clearing every location on the map, including forts, caves, temples, and shipwrecks.
- All Cultist Branches: Hunting down every member of the Cult of Kosmos, a shadowy organization pulling the strings from behind the scenes.
- All Arena Battles: Proving your skills in the arena against increasingly difficult opponents.
- All Mercenaries: Climbing the mercenary ranks and defeating other high-level mercenaries.
- All DLC Content: Completing the “Legacy of the First Blade” and “The Fate of Atlantis” DLC expansions, which add significant hours to the game.
- Reaching Maximum Level: Grinding to reach the highest possible level for your character.
- Discovering all Islands: Sailing and landing on every island to uncover its secrets.
The decision of whether to pursue a full completionist run comes down to personal preference. If you enjoy thoroughly exploring game worlds, uncovering every secret, and maximizing your character’s power, then the 100+ hour journey will likely be a rewarding experience. However, if you prefer a more focused narrative and are less interested in optional content, sticking to the main story will provide a satisfying experience in a reasonable amount of time.
The Open World Factor: Why Odyssey Takes So Long
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey boasts a truly massive open world. As confirmed by Games Learning Society, open-world games often leverage the sense of exploration and discovery to promote deeper player engagement. The sheer size of the map, combined with the abundance of activities and collectibles scattered throughout, naturally contributes to the game’s long playtime. Sailing the Aegean Sea, exploring ancient ruins, and discovering hidden islands are all integral parts of the Odyssey experience. The freedom to deviate from the main story and pursue your own interests is one of the game’s biggest strengths, but it also significantly extends the amount of time required to complete everything.
Time Management Tips for Your Odyssey
If you’re aiming for a more efficient playthrough, here are some time management tips:
- Focus on Main Story and Key Side Quests: Prioritize quests that advance the main plot or offer significant rewards, such as powerful gear or important information.
- Utilize Fast Travel: Make liberal use of fast travel points to reduce travel time across the massive map.
- Optimize Your Build: Create a character build that suits your playstyle and allows you to efficiently defeat enemies.
- Prioritize Skills: Invest skill points wisely in abilities that enhance your combat prowess and exploration capabilities.
- Manage Your Inventory: Regularly sell unwanted items to vendors to free up inventory space and earn Drachmae (the in-game currency).
- Don’t Feel Obligated to Do Everything: It’s okay to skip content that doesn’t interest you. The beauty of Odyssey is that you can tailor the experience to your own preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about the length and related aspects of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey:
1. What is the average playtime for Assassin’s Creed Odyssey?
The average playtime for the main story is 42-45 hours. A completionist run can take 132-149 hours.
2. How long does it take to beat just the main story?
Focusing solely on the main story will take approximately 42-45 hours.
3. How long does it take to 100% complete Assassin’s Creed Odyssey?
A 100% completionist run can take anywhere from 132-149 hours.
4. Is Assassin’s Creed Odyssey the longest game in the series?
Yes, for completionists, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is the longest game in the series due to its massive world and extensive content.
5. How does the playtime of Odyssey compare to Valhalla?
Odyssey generally takes longer to 100% complete than Valhalla, although Valhalla is also a very lengthy game.
6. What factors affect the playtime of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey?
Factors include playstyle (main story vs. completionist), difficulty setting, and exploration habits.
7. How long does the DLC add to the game?
The “Legacy of the First Blade” and “The Fate of Atlantis” DLC expansions can add an additional 20-30 hours to the game, depending on your completionist tendencies.
8. Is Assassin’s Creed Odyssey hard to beat?
Many players find Assassin’s Creed Odyssey challenging, especially on higher difficulty settings. Strategy and proper character builds are key.
9. Is it worth playing all the side quests in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey?
It depends on your preference. Many side quests offer compelling stories and valuable rewards, but they also significantly increase the playtime.
10. Does the choice of character (Alexios or Kassandra) affect the playtime?
No, the choice of character does not affect the playtime. The story and available content are the same for both protagonists.
11. What difficulty level should I choose for my first playthrough?
If you’re new to the series or prefer a more relaxed experience, start on Normal difficulty. If you enjoy a challenge, try Hard or Nightmare.
12. What’s the best way to level up quickly in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey?
Completing main story quests, side quests, and clearing location objectives are all effective ways to level up quickly.
13. How many years does Assassin’s Creed Odyssey span?
The game’s plot takes place from 431 to 422 BC, during the Peloponnesian War, spanning approximately 9 years.
14. Does sailing contribute significantly to the playtime?
Yes, sailing is a major part of the game and can contribute significantly to the playtime, especially when exploring distant islands.
15. Is Assassin’s Creed Odyssey a good game for completionists?
Yes, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey offers a wealth of content for completionists, with a vast world to explore, numerous quests to complete, and countless collectibles to find.
Final Thoughts: Embark on Your Own Odyssey
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is a truly epic adventure that offers a wealth of content for players of all types. Whether you’re a seasoned Assassin’s Creed veteran or a newcomer to the series, the game provides a rich and immersive experience that can last for dozens or even hundreds of hours. Ultimately, the length of your Odyssey is up to you. Plan your journey based on your preferences and enjoy the ride!
For more information on game design and player engagement, visit GamesLearningSociety.org.