How Long to Beat Ghost of Tsushima? Story, Extras and 100 %

It takes about 40 hours to beat the story of Ghost of Tsushima, according to players on IGDB. Add a good chunk of the side quests and you're looking at about 49 hours, and about 99.5 hours to complete everything. Sucker Punch's game is fairly long, but it has the good sense to make exploring a pleasure instead of a chore.

Main story only: about 40 hours

You play Jin Sakai, a samurai fighting to free the island of Tsushima from the Mongol invasion. To get there, he has to step away from the code he was raised with and become the Ghost. The main story, split into three acts, takes about 40 hours.

That's a solid chunk already, because the game naturally nudges you to explore along the way. Even playing straight through, you spend a lot of time riding across gorgeous landscapes.

With side content: about 49 hours

Tales of Tsushima, the side quests tied to the island's people, and especially the mythic tales, which reward you with unique techniques and gear, add about 9 hours. At about 49 hours total, you get a very complete experience.

The tales of Jin's allies are well worth your time: they give depth to the supporting cast and to the main story.

Completionist: about 99.5 hours

To do everything, you need to liberate every camp and find every shrine, hot spring, fox den, haiku spot and collectible on the map. According to IGDB, that's about 99.5 hours. It stays fun longer than in a lot of open worlds, but it does get repetitive eventually.

How many evenings is that?

At 2 hours a night, the story is about 20 evenings, roughly a month if you play a few nights a week. With side quests, count about 25 evenings. Completionist is around 50 evenings.

The game works great in short sessions: one quest, one Mongol camp, one standoff, and you can turn off the console.

Tips to go faster or not miss the best parts

Follow the guiding wind: it's the fastest and prettiest way to find your way without opening the map. Prioritize your combat stances, which change everything against different enemy types. If you want to move fast, skip some of the collectibles. But don't skip the mythic tales, which unlock some of the best tools in the game.

The Director's Cut also adds Iki Island, an expansion with its own story. Save it for later if you want more.

Verdict

Ghost of Tsushima is an open world that knows not to overdo it. To enjoy the story and the best side quests, plan about 49 hours. If you love this kind of big adventure, compare with how long Sekiro takes, another samurai game that's far more demanding, or browse our favorite open-world games.

FAQ

Is Ghost of Tsushima a long game?

It's about average for a big open world. According to players on IGDB, the story takes about 40 hours, about 49 hours with side quests and about 99.5 hours for 100 %. That's shorter than most of the huge RPGs out there.

How long is the Iki Island expansion?

The times on this page cover the main game. Iki Island, included in the Director's Cut, is an expansion with its own story and region, so plan for it on top. It's best played once you're well into the main adventure.

Should you do the side quests in Ghost of Tsushima?

Yes, at least the allies' tales and the mythic tales. The first flesh out the characters, the second unlock very useful techniques and gear. The collectibles, on the other hand, are optional if you mostly want to enjoy the story.