How Long to Beat Red Dead Redemption 2? Hours Explained

Beating the main story of Red Dead Redemption 2 takes about 49 hours, according to players on IGDB. If you make time for side quests, hunting and random encounters, that grows to about 89.5 hours. Going for 100% means roughly 208 hours. It's one of the longest big open worlds of its generation, and it earns every hour.

Story only: about 49 hours

Red Dead Redemption 2 came out in 2018 from Rockstar Games and tells the story of Arthur Morgan, a member of the Van der Linde gang on the run across late 19th century America. The plot is split into chapters followed by an epilogue. Even if you rush, the game takes its time: horseback rides, camp conversations and heavily staged missions are all part of the deal.

About 49 hours is already more than most full action games. And honestly, this is a game that's a shame to rush.

With side content: about 89.5 hours

This is how most people play it. Stranger missions, those side encounters with colorful characters, are often written as well as the main story. Add hunting and fishing, legendary animals, bounties, camp upgrades and all the random encounters on the road, and you nearly double the time.

That's also where the game shows its true personality: a living world where something is always happening around the next bend.

100%: about 208 hours

Full completion takes a lot of patience. You need to finish the challenges (hunter, weapons expert, herbalist and more), fill the compendium, complete every side mission and earn gold medals. Some tasks depend on lucky encounters or the weather. Keep it for Western lovers who don't want to say goodbye to Arthur.

What that means in evenings

With 2-hour evenings, the story alone is roughly 24 to 25 evenings, close to two months at three evenings a week. With side content, count on about 45 evenings. 100% goes past 100 evenings. The upside: the game breaks into small missions nicely, and an hour-long ride with no goal is still a pleasure.

Tips to go faster (or not)

To save time, unlock fast travel by upgrading Arthur's tent at camp, and use trains and stagecoaches. The cinematic camera also lets your horse follow the road on long trips. Don't skip the best Stranger missions or the camp chats, though: they're what give the story its weight. If you loved this pace, we have a list of games in the same spirit.

Verdict

Red Dead Redemption 2 is long, and that's the point. Plan at least two months of evenings for the story, more if you want to enjoy the world. If you want something to finish in a weekend, look elsewhere. If you want to live in a Western for weeks, it may be the best there is.

FAQ

Is Red Dead Redemption 2 longer than GTA 5?

Yes, Red Dead Redemption 2's story is widely seen as much longer than GTA 5's, at around 49 hours on average. The pace is slower too, with lots of horseback travel and time spent around the camp with the gang.

How many chapters are in Red Dead Redemption 2?

The story is split into several chapters, followed by a fairly long epilogue that's a real part of the main story. The times measured on IGDB include that epilogue, so don't stop at the credits after the last chapter if you want to truly finish the game.

Can you beat Red Dead Redemption 2 quickly?

You can save time if you only chain main missions and use fast travel, but you'd miss most of what makes it special. The average player lands closer to 49 hours for the story alone, and much more once side content comes in.