Delving into Eos: How Long is Final Fantasy XV’s Main Story?

So, you’re ready to embark on a road trip with Noctis and the boys, but you’re wondering just how much time you’ll need to dedicate to the quest. The answer, like many things in the world of Eos, isn’t quite so simple. A straight shot through the main narrative of Final Fantasy XV (FFXV) will typically take around 25-30 hours. However, this is a highly variable figure dependent on your playstyle, difficulty setting, and how much you deviate from the main path to tackle side quests and explore the world.

Understanding Playtime Variations

The “25-30 hour” estimate assumes a relatively focused playthrough. Here’s a more granular look at how different playstyles can impact your overall playtime:

• Main Story Only (Speedrun Style): Some experienced players have managed to complete the main story in under 20 hours by skipping cutscenes, dialogue, and non-essential encounters. This approach sacrifices much of the narrative and world-building for the sake of speed.

• Main Story with Limited Side Content: If you occasionally dabble in side quests and explore optional dungeons, expect your playtime to extend to 35-45 hours. This is a good balance for those who want to experience more of Eos without getting bogged down in completionism.

• Completionist Run (100%): For players aiming to conquer every quest, unlock every ability, and defeat every challenging boss, prepare for a much longer journey. A 100% completion run of FFXV can easily take 90-100+ hours. This includes completing all side quests, hunting all notorious monsters, mastering all skills, and obtaining all achievements or trophies.

• Post-Game Content: FFXV features a robust post-game with new dungeons, challenging bosses (like the infamous Adamantoise), and additional content that wasn’t available during the main story. Exploring this content can add dozens of hours to your playtime.

Factors Affecting Your Playtime

Several factors contribute to the variance in playtime among different players:

• Difficulty Setting: Playing on an easier difficulty setting can shorten combat encounters, allowing you to progress through the story more quickly. Conversely, playing on a higher difficulty will necessitate more grinding and strategic gameplay, increasing your overall playtime.

• Exploration and Side Quests: Eos is a vast and beautiful world filled with optional quests, hidden treasures, and interesting characters. Spending time exploring these elements will naturally extend your playtime.

• Combat Proficiency: Players who are skilled at the game’s combat system and can quickly defeat enemies will progress more quickly than those who struggle with combat.

• Cutscenes and Dialogue: FFXV features numerous cutscenes and dialogue sequences that contribute to the game’s narrative. Skipping these elements can significantly shorten your playtime, but you’ll miss out on important story details and character development.

• Grinding: Some players choose to grind for experience points and Gil (the in-game currency) to make combat easier and purchase powerful items. Grinding can add a significant amount of time to your playthrough.

Is Final Fantasy XV A Good Length?

Many players feel that the main story is shorter compared to other main entries in the Final Fantasy franchise, and the length of a game is subjective to personal preferences. But the amount of available extra content could expand the game a lot.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, the length of Final Fantasy XV’s main story is what you make of it. Whether you choose to focus solely on the main narrative or delve into every nook and cranny of Eos, you’re sure to have a memorable adventure. Just remember to pace yourself, enjoy the journey, and maybe grab a cup of instant noodles along the way!

Further Exploration of Game-Based Learning

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Final Fantasy XV Playtime

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding Final Fantasy XV and its duration:

1. How long does it take to beat Final Fantasy XV if I only focus on the main story?

   As stated earlier, a focused playthrough of the main story will take approximately 25-30 hours.

2. What’s the average playtime for a completionist run of FFXV?

   A 100% completion run can take anywhere from 90 to 100+ hours, depending on your efficiency and familiarity with the game.

3. How long is Chapter 13 of Final Fantasy XV?

   Chapter 13 is infamous for being one of the longest and most controversial chapters in the game. It can take 1.5 to 2 hours to complete, primarily due to its linear and stealth-focused gameplay.

4. Is there a point of no return in Final Fantasy XV?

   Yes, there is. The game will warn you before you enter the final battle in Chapter 14. Once you proceed, you cannot return to the open world until you beat the game and load your cleared save.

5. Can I continue playing FFXV after beating it?

   Yes! After completing the game, you can load your clear save and return to the open world with all your progress intact. This allows you to tackle side quests, explore dungeons, and engage in post-game content.

6. How long does it take to beat Adamantoise in Final Fantasy XV?

   The Adamantoise is a formidable post-game boss known for its incredible health pool. Defeating it can take anywhere from 1 to 72 hours of real-time, depending on your level, equipment, and strategy. Some players have even joked about it taking 3 full days to beat.

7. Is Final Fantasy XV an open-world game?

   Yes, Final Fantasy XV features a large and explorable open world. Players can freely roam the world of Eos, discover hidden locations, and engage in various activities.

8. Are there any missable items or quests in Final Fantasy XV?

   While most content can be accessed at any point, some quests or items may become unavailable as the story progresses. However, after completing the game, you can revisit past locations and quests using the post-game system.

9. How long does it take to complete all the DLC episodes in Final Fantasy XV?

   Each DLC episode (Episode Gladiolus, Episode Prompto, Episode Ignis, and Episode Ardyn) typically takes 3-5 hours to complete, adding roughly 12-20 hours of additional content to the game.

10. Does Final Fantasy XV have multiple endings?

    The main story has one primary ending, but “Episode Ignis” DLC has an alternate ending.

11. What is the longest Final Fantasy game overall?

    According to many sources, Final Fantasy XI takes around 707 hours to fully complete, with Final Fantasy XIV taking 231 hours.

12. Is Final Fantasy XV a long game compared to other Final Fantasy titles?

    Final Fantasy XV is longer than a few main entries in the Final Fantasy series, shorter than others, and has less content than FF11 and FF14. It has a good balance to it with the amount of extra content that the player can spend time on.

13. What should I do after finishing the main story of FFXV?

    There’s plenty to do after completing the main story! Consider tackling challenging post-game bosses like Adamantoise, completing all side quests, exploring optional dungeons, playing the episode DLCs, and unlocking all achievements or trophies.

14. Is there a New Game Plus mode in Final Fantasy XV?

    Yes, Final Fantasy XV has a New Game Plus mode. After beating the game, you can start a new playthrough with most of your levels, skills, and equipment carried over.

15. How long is an in-game day in FFXV?

    One in-game hour is 2 and a half minutes of real time. Thus, one real hour translates to 24 in-game hours or a full in-game day. This affects gameplay since some enemies only appear at night, which adds to the real-time length needed to complete the game.