How Long Does It REALLY Take to Beat Zelda: Breath of the Wild?
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The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a sprawling open-world adventure, a game that redefined the franchise and set a new standard for the genre. Its sheer size and freedom often lead to one burning question for prospective players: How long does it take to beat? The answer, while seemingly simple, is surprisingly complex and depends entirely on your playstyle.
A straight playthrough focusing solely on the main story will likely take you around 50 hours. However, tackling a more completionist run, exploring the vast world and engaging with side quests, could easily push that time to 100 hours or more. Some dedicated players aiming for 100% completion, including all Korok seeds, shrines, and side quests, might even spend upwards of 200 hours exploring Hyrule.
The beauty of Breath of the Wild lies in its non-linearity. You can theoretically head straight to Hyrule Castle to face Calamity Ganon from the very beginning, though that would be a formidable challenge without proper preparation. Most players will naturally diverge from the main questline, discovering intriguing locations, challenging shrines, and helpful NPCs along the way. This organic exploration is a core component of the Breath of the Wild experience and significantly impacts playtime.
Factors Influencing Playtime
Several factors can significantly impact how long it takes you to complete Breath of the Wild:
- Playstyle: Are you a speedrunner, a completionist, or somewhere in between? Your approach will drastically alter your playtime.
- Exploration: How much time do you dedicate to exploring the world, discovering hidden secrets, and uncovering new areas?
- Difficulty: While the game doesn’t have traditional difficulty settings, your skill level and willingness to learn the game’s mechanics will influence how quickly you progress.
- Prior Zelda Experience: Veteran Zelda players might find certain aspects of the game easier to grasp, potentially shortening their playtime.
- Side Quests and Activities: Engaging in side quests, mini-games, and other optional activities will add considerable time to your playthrough.
- Death Rate: Dying frequently will obviously slow down your progress, especially in the early game.
- Use of Guides: Relying on walkthroughs and guides can speed up your playthrough, but may detract from the organic discovery experience.
Different Playthrough Styles and Estimated Time
To give you a better understanding of the varying playtimes, here’s a breakdown of different playthrough styles and their approximate durations:
- Main Story Only (Rushing): 40-60 hours. Focuses solely on completing the main questline, largely ignoring side content.
- Main Story + Some Exploration: 60-80 hours. Completes the main story while exploring some of the world and engaging with a handful of side quests.
- Completionist (Most Shrines & Side Quests): 100-150 hours. Completes the main story, most shrines, and a significant number of side quests.
- 100% Completionist (Everything): 150-250+ hours. Completes absolutely everything in the game, including all Korok seeds, shrines, side quests, and item upgrades.
Is Breath of the Wild a Long Game?
Yes, Breath of the Wild is considered a long game compared to many other single-player experiences. However, the length is largely dictated by the player’s approach. It offers a vast and immersive world that rewards exploration and provides countless hours of gameplay. Whether you prefer to rush through the main story or meticulously uncover every secret, Breath of the Wild caters to a wide range of playstyles. The open-ended structure allows you to tailor the experience to your desired length, making it both a long and a highly replayable game.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Breath of the Wild Playtime
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding the playtime of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to provide a more detailed and comprehensive understanding:
1. What is the average playtime for Breath of the Wild?
The average playtime for Breath of the Wild, considering a balanced approach of completing the main story with moderate exploration and side quest engagement, is typically around 70-80 hours.
2. Can I beat Breath of the Wild in under 30 hours?
Yes, it’s possible to beat Breath of the Wild in under 30 hours, especially if you focus solely on the main story, skip cutscenes, and utilize speedrunning techniques. However, this approach sacrifices much of the game’s exploration and side content.
3. How many Korok seeds are there, and how long does it take to find them all?
There are 900 Korok seeds hidden throughout Hyrule. Finding all of them is a monumental task that can easily add 50-100+ hours to your playtime, depending on your dedication and use of guides.
4. How many shrines are there in Breath of the Wild?
There are 120 shrines in Breath of the Wild. Completing all of them can take anywhere from 20-40 hours, depending on your puzzle-solving skills and willingness to explore.
5. Does the Master Mode increase playtime?
Yes, Master Mode can increase playtime as enemies are stronger and regenerate health, requiring more strategic combat and resource management. This increased difficulty can add several hours to your playthrough.
6. Does the DLC affect playtime?
Yes, the DLC (The Champions’ Ballad and The Master Trials) adds significant content and can increase playtime by 10-20 hours or more. It includes new quests, challenges, and areas to explore.
7. Is it worth exploring even after beating the main story?
Absolutely! Breath of the Wild offers a vast and rewarding open world. Even after defeating Calamity Ganon, there are still countless secrets to uncover, side quests to complete, and areas to explore, making it worthwhile to continue playing.
8. How long does it take to upgrade all armor in Breath of the Wild?
Upgrading all armor to the maximum level requires a significant amount of resources and can take a considerable amount of time. It’s difficult to give a precise estimate, but it could easily add 15-20+ hours to your playthrough.
9. Can I complete the game without fighting any enemies?
While extremely challenging, it is technically possible to complete Breath of the Wild with minimal combat. This requires a stealthy approach and a deep understanding of the game’s mechanics. However, this significantly lengthens the game.
10. Is Breath of the Wild a good game for completionists?
Yes, Breath of the Wild is a fantastic game for completionists. Its vast world, numerous collectibles, and challenging side quests provide ample opportunities for players who enjoy striving for 100% completion.
11. Does the order I complete the Divine Beasts affect playtime?
The order in which you complete the Divine Beasts doesn’t directly affect the overall playtime, but the order might affect difficulty at the end fight with Calamity Ganon. Completing the Divine Beasts makes that battle easier.
12. What are some tips for speeding up my playthrough?
Some tips for speeding up your playthrough include: focusing on the main quest, using fast travel strategically, utilizing cooking recipes for stat boosts, and learning enemy attack patterns.
13. How does cooking and crafting impact playtime?
Cooking and crafting are essential for survival and progression in Breath of the Wild. While necessary, mastering the best recipes can save time in battles and exploration, thus indirectly affecting playtime. Efficient cooking reduces the need for healing or combat, leading to faster overall progress.
14. Is there a point of no return in Breath of the Wild?
No, there is no point of no return in Breath of the Wild. You can always return to Hyrule after defeating Calamity Ganon and continue exploring and completing side content.
15. Does playing on a specific console (Switch vs. Wii U) affect playtime?
The platform you play on (Switch vs. Wii U) should not significantly affect playtime. The core gameplay experience is virtually identical on both consoles. Any differences would likely be negligible.
Ultimately, the length of your Breath of the Wild journey is yours to define. Embrace the freedom to explore, experiment, and discover the wonders of Hyrule at your own pace.