How Long to Beat Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom?

Beating the story of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom takes about 55 hours, according to players on IGDB. If you make time for side quests and exploration, plan on about 117 hours, and about 176 hours for 100%. It's one of the biggest games on Switch, and the sequel to Breath of the Wild won't be wrapped up in a month unless you give it your evenings.

Main story only: about 55 hours

If you head straight for the end, Link has to cross Hyrule and the sky islands, clear the big regional dungeons and face the threat hanging over the kingdom. About 55 hours is already a lot for a so-called main path. The game lets you tackle things in any order, so that number shifts with your sense of direction and how often you wander off.

Even on a straight line, you'll spend time getting the hang of the new powers: Ultrahand to build vehicles, Fuse to combine weapons, Ascend to pass through ceilings and Recall to rewind an object. That's where the game gets fascinating, and where the hours disappear.

With side content: about 117 hours

This is how most people play Tears of the Kingdom. You clear the shrines you stumble on, follow village quests and explore the Depths, a huge underground world shrouded in darkness. About 117 hours, more than double the story alone.

Honestly, it's the best way to play. The Depths and the sky hide a lot of the best gear, and some side quests are more memorable than parts of the main story.

100% completion: about 176 hours

100% means every shrine, every quest, the whole map revealed and, above all, Korok seeds hidden absolutely everywhere. About 176 hours is a real multi-month project. Only for players who loved every minute and want to live in Hyrule.

How many evenings that is

At 2 hours an evening, the story alone is about 28 evenings, a little over a month playing every day, or two to three months at a few nights a week. With side content, that climbs to about 58 evenings. 100% takes about 88 evenings, enough to keep you busy for a good chunk of the year.

The good news is that the game splits up nicely. A shrine, a small quest, one sky island: every session has a goal, even a short one.

Tips to go faster (or play smarter)

Activate Skyview Towers as soon as you can: they reveal the map and launch you into the sky, which saves a ton of time. Boost your stamina and hearts early through shrines. And don't force yourself to collect every Korok seed, that's the fastest way to burn out.

Worth doing even in a hurry: a bit of Depths exploration, the quests tied to the big dungeons and messing around with Ultrahand with no goal at all. If you loved Breath of the Wild, compare with how long to beat Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Verdict

Tears of the Kingdom is long but rarely repetitive. About 55 hours for the story is the minimum. The real experience sits around 117 hours, letting yourself drift. If you're after more big adventures, check out our open world picks.

FAQ

How long does it take to beat Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom?

According to players on IGDB, expect about 55 hours for the main story, about 117 hours with side quests and exploration, and about 176 hours to do everything for 100%, Korok seeds included.

Is Tears of the Kingdom longer than Breath of the Wild?

Yes, it's generally seen as longer, since it adds the sky islands and the Depths to an already huge map of Hyrule. The new building powers also stretch out every puzzle and every bit of exploration.

Do I need to play Breath of the Wild first?

You don't have to, the story still makes sense on its own. But Tears of the Kingdom is a direct sequel that reuses the same map of Hyrule and some characters. You'll appreciate the changes more if you know the first game.