How Long to Beat Death Stranding? Story, Extras and 100%

According to players on IGDB, Death Stranding takes about 36.5 hours to finish the story, about 60.5 hours with side deliveries, and about 125 hours to do everything. Kojima Productions' game is slow by design: you walk, you carry, you plan. Here's how those hours break down and how to enjoy them without burning out.

Main story: about 36.5 hours

You play Sam Porter Bridges, a courier tasked with reconnecting a shattered America, one city at a time. Sticking to the main orders, plan for about 36.5 hours.

The opening is deliberately slow, with long cutscenes and demanding controls. Once you unlock your first tools, the pace gets much more enjoyable and the story builds momentum.

With side content: about 60.5 hours

Side orders, building relationships with remote shelters and constructing infrastructure push the total to around 60.5 hours. That's where the game really clicks: every road you build and every zip line you place changes how you cross the map.

It's also where the online side shines. Roads and bridges you build can show up in other players' worlds, and theirs in yours, so the map slowly fills with shared shortcuts and the trips get noticeably faster.

100% completion: about 125 hours

Completing everything means maxing your rating with every shelter, finishing every order and unlocking all the gear. According to players on IGDB, that takes about 125 hours. It gets repetitive at times, so save it for players who truly love the delivery loop.

What that looks like in evenings

With 2-hour sessions, the story alone is about 18 evenings, a month and a half at three nights a week. With side content, you're at about 30 evenings. 100% is around 62 evenings, a proper multi-month project.

Tips to keep moving (and what not to skip)

Use structures left by other players: ladders, bridges and shelters make trips much easier. Don't overload Sam, since a badly balanced pack sends you tumbling. Invest in roads early, they speed up deliveries enormously. And don't skip the cutscenes: the story is strange, but it's what gives the whole journey its meaning.

Verdict

Death Stranding is something to savor more than something to finish. Aim for around 60 hours to enjoy the building and the connections between players, without chasing 100%. If you love games driven by their story, our story games list has more ideas.

FAQ

How long is the Death Stranding story?

According to players on IGDB, Death Stranding's main story takes about 36.5 hours. The opening is slow and cutscene-heavy, then the pace picks up once you unlock vehicles, tools and your first pieces of infrastructure to speed up deliveries.

Is Death Stranding boring?

It splits people. Most of your time is spent walking and delivering cargo while managing balance and route. If you enjoy planning and building, the loop gets very absorbing. If you want nonstop action, it probably isn't for you.

How long does it take to 100% Death Stranding?

According to players on IGDB, 100% completion takes about 125 hours. That includes every order, top ratings with every shelter and all the equipment, which means a lot of back-and-forth trips across the map.