How Long to Beat Zelda: Breath of the Wild? Full Breakdown

It takes about 37.5 hours to beat the story of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, according to players on IGDB. If you take your time with shrines and side quests, expect closer to 92.5 hours. For 100%, buckle up: around 247 hours. The good news is that you decide where to stop, because the game lets you head for the ending whenever you feel ready.

Main story only: about 37.5 hours

Once you leave the Great Plateau, all of Hyrule opens up. To reach the credits by following the main quest, with the Divine Beasts and a little exploring along the way, plan for about 37.5 hours. That is the pace of someone who stays focused, which is harder than it sounds in this game.

With side content: about 92.5 hours

This is where the game really shows what it is. Shrines, Link's memories, villages, side quests from locals and towers to climb all add up to around 92.5 hours. It is the most common way to play, and the most enjoyable. You set yourself a goal, spot something odd on a hill, and two hours later you have forgotten what you were looking for.

100% completion: about 247 hours

Completionist means every shrine, every Korok seed and the whole map explored. That comes to about 247 hours on IGDB. There are so many Korok seeds that most players stop well before the end. Honestly, unless you are a die-hard fan, chasing all of them is not the best way to enjoy the game.

What that means in evenings

With 2-hour sessions, the story alone is about 19 evenings, a little over a month at four nights a week. The version with side content is around 46 evenings, and 100% is about 123. Breath of the Wild works beautifully in short sessions: one shrine, one tower, one village, and you can put the controller down.

Tips to go faster (or to miss nothing)

To speed things up, activate towers as soon as you can: they reveal the map and double as fast travel points. Cook in bulk, it will save you from a lot of deaths. What you should not skip: the Divine Beasts, which make the final fight much easier, and the memories, which tell the whole backstory. Korok seeds can wait.

Verdict

For most players, Breath of the Wild lands somewhere between 37.5 and 92.5 hours, depending on how much side content you do. It is a game to live with for weeks, not to rush. Once you are done, the sequel is waiting: here is how long Tears of the Kingdom takes, and if you want another open world, check our games like Breath of the Wild.

FAQ

Can you beat Zelda: Breath of the Wild quickly?

Yes. The game lets you go fight Ganon at Hyrule Castle as soon as you leave the Great Plateau, though it is very hard without gear. Following just the story takes about 37.5 hours according to players on IGDB, which is still the best balance for a first run.

How long does 100% in Breath of the Wild take?

According to players on IGDB, 100% in Breath of the Wild takes about 247 hours. That includes every shrine, every Korok seed and full exploration of the map. Most players stop long before that, around 92.5 hours with side content done.

Should I finish Breath of the Wild before Tears of the Kingdom?

It is not required, but it is recommended. Tears of the Kingdom uses the same map of Hyrule and continues Link and Zelda's story. You will get more out of the changes and the characters if you have explored Breath of the Wild's world first.