How Long to Beat Dark Souls III? Story, Extras and 100%

Dark Souls III takes about 28 hours to beat if you stick to the main story, according to players on IGDB. Exploring optional areas and taking on the extra bosses brings it to about 51 hours, and doing everything takes about 104 hours. It's the trilogy's most manageable length, but your real number will depend a lot on how many attempts each boss costs you.

Main story: about 28 hours

Following the main path through the kingdom of Lothric and beating the required bosses to link the First Flame takes around 28 hours. Dark Souls III is more linear than Elden Ring, so you waste less time figuring out where to go. What drives the clock up is the bosses: some of them will eat an entire evening.

With side content: about 51 hours

The game hides several optional areas, some of the best bosses in the whole game, and NPC questlines that are easy to miss. If you take your time and poke around, you'll land around 51 hours. That's the most realistic figure if you want to really enjoy the game without hunting every single item.

100% completion: about 104 hours

Going for 100% means seeing the different endings and collecting the weapons, spells and rings, some of which only show up in New Game Plus. Plan on about 104 hours, plus a good amount of patience for covenant items.

How many evenings is that?

At 2 hours a night, the story alone fits into about 14 evenings, an easy month at three or four sessions a week. With side content, it's about 25 evenings, and around 50 for 100%. A perfect fit for a long winter.

Tips to go faster (or play smarter)

Level Vigor early: a bit more health forgives a lot of mistakes. Upgrade one good weapon instead of trying ten. If a boss is walling you, summon another player or an NPC, that's what the system is for. On the other hand, don't skip the optional areas: some of them are among the most beautiful places in the series, and their bosses are unforgettable.

Verdict

Dark Souls III is the trilogy's best balance between length and intensity. Around thirty hours for the story is doable in a month without giving up every night. If you've already played Elden Ring, it'll feel shorter and tighter, which is no bad thing. And if you want more, check our games like Dark Souls III.

FAQ

Is Dark Souls III shorter than Elden Ring?

Yes. Dark Souls III takes about 28 hours for the story, compared with about 46 for Elden Ring. It's more linear and has no open world, so there's less optional content to explore. See how long to beat Elden Ring to compare.

Do you need to play the earlier Dark Souls games first?

No. Dark Souls III works perfectly well on its own, and its story is told in small fragments anyway. You'll miss a few nods to the earlier games, but the gameplay and bosses stand on their own. It's actually a solid entry point into the series.

How many endings does Dark Souls III have?

Dark Souls III has several endings, which depend on choices and quests you complete during your run. Seeing them all usually means playing through New Game Plus or following specific NPC questlines from early on.