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How Long is Breath of the Wild? A Comprehensive Guide to Hyrule’s Immense Adventure

The answer to how long Breath of the Wild is depends entirely on your play style. A focused run through the main story might take you around 50 hours. However, if you’re aiming to experience everything Hyrule has to offer, from completing side quests to exploring its hidden corners, you can easily spend 100 hours or more. For completionists seeking to conquer every challenge, collect every item, and uncover every secret, expect to invest upwards of 190 hours.

Delving Deeper: The Factors Influencing Playtime

Several factors contribute to the varied playtimes reported for Breath of the Wild:

Play Style: Are you a speedrunner focused solely on the main quest, a casual explorer savoring the scenery, or a meticulous completionist dedicated to leaving no stone unturned? Your approach will significantly impact your playtime.
Exploration: Breath of the Wild rewards exploration. Wandering off the beaten path often leads to unexpected discoveries, side quests, and challenging encounters, adding hours to your playthrough.
Combat Proficiency: Mastering the combat system and effectively utilizing weapons, armor, and consumables can streamline battles, reducing the time spent fighting enemies.
Puzzle Solving: Some shrines feature intricate puzzles that can stump players for extended periods. Your puzzle-solving skills will influence how quickly you progress through these challenges.
Use of Guides: Consulting online guides and walkthroughs can expedite your progress, but it can also diminish the sense of discovery and accomplishment.

Breaking Down the Playtime Components

To give you a better understanding, let’s break down the typical playtime for different aspects of the game:

Main Story: A Dash Through Destiny

A playthrough focused solely on the main story typically takes around 50 hours. This involves completing the four Divine Beasts, confronting Calamity Ganon, and experiencing the core narrative.

Side Quests: Expanding the Adventure

Engaging with the numerous side quests adds considerable playtime. You’ll spend time helping the residents of Hyrule, uncovering hidden stories, and earning valuable rewards. This can easily add another 50 hours to your overall playtime, bringing the total to approximately 100 hours.

100% Completion: A Completionist’s Odyssey

Achieving 100% completion in Breath of the Wild is a monumental undertaking that requires dedication and perseverance. This involves:

Completing all 120 Shrines: Each shrine presents unique puzzles and challenges that test your problem-solving abilities.
Finding all 900 Korok Seeds: Collecting these hidden seeds is a time-consuming endeavor that requires scouring every corner of Hyrule.
Completing all 42 Side Quests: Assisting the citizens of Hyrule and resolving their problems.
Completing all 76 Shrine Quests: Embarking on adventures triggered by specific requirements or interactions.
Upgrading all armor to the maximum level: Gathering the necessary materials and rupees to fully upgrade your armor sets.
Completing the Hyrule Compendium: Photographing every creature, monster, weapon, and item in the game.
Defeating all bosses and mini-bosses: Overcoming challenging encounters with formidable foes.
Acquiring all key items and equipment: Collecting all essential items and equipment scattered throughout Hyrule.

This exhaustive completionist run can take upwards of 190 hours.

Is Breath of the Wild the Longest Zelda Game?

While Breath of the Wild offers a substantial playtime, Tears of the Kingdom often surpasses it in terms of sheer content and potential playtime. Both games represent a significant time investment compared to other Zelda titles. According to the article you provided, the longest Zelda game is Tears of the Kingdom which takes approximately 55 hours. The second longest is Breath of the Wild which takes approximately 50 hours.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about the playtime and related aspects of Breath of the Wild:

1. How long does it take to beat Breath of the Wild if I only focus on the main story?

If you only focus on the main storyline, it can take around 25-30 hours to beat the game. However, if you do some of the side quests and explore the world, it can take over 50 hours to beat the game completely.

2. Is Breath of the Wild hard to play?

Breath of the Wild can be challenging, especially in the early game. Mastering the combat system, resource management, and puzzle-solving is essential for survival. However, as you progress, acquire better gear, and gain experience, the game becomes more manageable.

3. Which Zelda game is the hardest?

Based on difficulty, some of the hardest Zelda games are Zelda II: The Adventure Of Link, The Legend of Zelda, A Link To The Past, and Majora’s Mask.

4. Is Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom better?

The “better” game is subjective and depends on personal preferences. Breath of the Wild is simpler and more streamlined, while Tears of the Kingdom builds upon its predecessor with new mechanics and expanded content.

5. What is the shortest Zelda game?

The original The Legend of Zelda (1986) is the shortest official main series entry.

6. How old is Link in Breath of the Wild?

Link’s exact age is never explicitly stated, but he’s generally considered to be around 17 years old in Breath of the Wild.

7. Is Breath of the Wild bigger than Skyrim?

Yes, Breath of the Wild‘s map is significantly larger than Skyrim’s, approximately 1.66 times larger.

8. Is there a true ending to Breath of the Wild?

Yes, there is a “true” ending that requires finding all of Link’s forgotten memories. The difference between the normal ending and the true ending is a short cutscene.

9. Do I need to play Breath of the Wild before Tears of the Kingdom?

While not strictly necessary, playing Breath of the Wild first will enhance your understanding of the world, characters, and lore in Tears of the Kingdom.

10. Is Breath of the Wild worth it?

Absolutely! Breath of the Wild is a critically acclaimed masterpiece that offers a vast, immersive, and unforgettable gaming experience.

11. Do you get anything for 100% completing Breath of the Wild?

There is no in-game reward for reaching 100% completion in Breath of the Wild.

12. Do you need all Korok seeds for 100%?

Yes, collecting all 900 Korok seeds is a requirement for 100% completion.

13. How many shrines are in Breath of the Wild?

There are a total of 120 shrines in Breath of the Wild.

14. Why does Link not talk?

Link’s silence allows players to project themselves onto the character and immerse themselves more fully in the game world.

15. What is the darkest Zelda game?

The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask is often considered the darkest Zelda game due to its themes of death, loss, and impending doom.

The Enduring Appeal of Hyrule

Breath of the Wild offers a vast and compelling experience that can last dozens or even hundreds of hours. Whether you’re a casual player looking for a captivating adventure or a hardcore completionist seeking the ultimate challenge, Hyrule has something to offer everyone. The freedom, the sense of discovery, and the sheer joy of exploration make Breath of the Wild a truly special game.

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How long is Breath of the Wild?