Finish Elden Ring: How Long Does it REALLY Take? [2024]

The time investment required to complete FromSoftware’s Elden Ring varies considerably based on player skill, playstyle, and the degree of content explored. A direct playthrough, focusing solely on the main story path, typically consumes a smaller amount of time than a comprehensive exploration of the game world.

Understanding the expected completion duration offers several benefits. It aids prospective players in gauging their commitment, assists existing players in pacing their progress, and provides a benchmark for comparing individual experiences against community averages. Prior to release, anticipation surrounding the scale of the game was considerable, making post-launch completion time data a significant point of interest.

The subsequent sections will delve into the specific factors influencing completion time, break down estimates for different playstyles, and examine resources available for tracking progress. This analysis offers a clearer picture of the temporal commitment Elden Ring demands.

Estimating Playthrough Duration

Predicting the necessary time investment for completing Elden Ring requires consideration of multiple factors. Efficient resource allocation and strategic decision-making can significantly impact the overall duration.

Tip 1: Prioritize Key Attributes. Focusing on core stats relevant to the chosen build streamlines combat encounters, reducing the need for extensive grinding and exploration of unnecessary areas. For example, a melee-focused build should emphasize Strength, Vigor, and Endurance early on.

Tip 2: Optimize Weapon Upgrades. Regularly upgrading preferred weapons significantly enhances damage output, shortening boss fights and minimizing time spent on repeat attempts. Smithing Stones and Somber Smithing Stones are essential resources; locate their sources early.

Tip 3: Utilize Spirit Ashes Strategically. Spirit Ashes provide valuable support during challenging encounters, diverting enemy attention and increasing overall survivability. Experiment with different Ashes to identify those best suited for specific bosses or areas.

Tip 4: Focus on Main Objectives. Minimizing detours and concentrating on the critical path reduces unnecessary exploration and minimizes the risk of becoming over-leveled for later areas. While exploration is rewarding, a dedicated run should prioritize required objectives.

Tip 5: Learn Enemy Attack Patterns. Memorizing enemy attack patterns and telegraphs allows for more effective dodging and parrying, reducing the frequency of death and minimizing time wasted reattempting encounters. Practice and observation are crucial.

Tip 6: Consult Reliable Guides (Sparingly). While blind exploration is encouraged, consulting reliable guides or wikis for essential information, such as the location of key items or the weaknesses of challenging bosses, can prevent frustrating roadblocks and save considerable time. Avoid excessive reliance on guides to preserve the sense of discovery.

Tip 7: Manage Inventory Effectively. Regularly organize and manage the inventory to avoid becoming encumbered, which hinders movement and combat effectiveness. Store unnecessary items in the Storage Chest at Sites of Grace.

By implementing these strategies, players can optimize their playthrough and potentially reduce the overall time required to reach the game’s conclusion. Efficient play and targeted preparation are key to minimizing wasted effort.

Adherence to these guidelines provides a framework for a more streamlined and efficient journey through the Lands Between.

1. Main Story Focus

The degree to which a player prioritizes the main storyline significantly influences the completion time of Elden Ring. By minimizing exploration of optional areas and focusing solely on required objectives, the overall duration is substantially reduced compared to more comprehensive playthroughs.

• Reduced Exploration

  A focused approach eliminates the need to explore extensive optional dungeons, caves, and catacombs. This conserves time that would otherwise be spent uncovering hidden areas, solving puzzles, and battling optional bosses. The Lands Between is vast, and a considerable portion of its content is not mandatory for progressing through the core narrative.

• Streamlined Level Progression

  Concentrating on the main storyline allows players to level their character more efficiently by prioritizing encounters directly relevant to progression. This reduces the need for grinding in lower-level areas or tackling challenging optional bosses that offer limited story relevance. Resource allocation is directed towards the most impactful upgrades for the required challenges.

• Skipping Optional Bosses

  Many of Elden Ring‘s bosses are entirely optional. While these encounters offer unique rewards and contribute to the overall lore, they are not essential for completing the game. A main story focus permits players to bypass these demanding battles, saving time and minimizing frustration. Examples include numerous world bosses found in the open world or those residing in optional dungeons.

• Direct Pathing

  A main story approach encourages players to identify and follow the most direct path between key locations and objectives. This involves minimizing backtracking and avoiding side quests that deviate from the primary narrative. Understanding the critical path is essential for optimizing the completion time in this context. Reliance on guides and community resources may assist in establishing this route.

In conclusion, the extent to which a player adopts a main story focus directly correlates with a reduced completion time. By minimizing exploration, streamlining level progression, skipping optional bosses, and adhering to a direct path, the overall investment in Elden Ring is significantly decreased. This approach appeals to players seeking a faster-paced experience or those primarily interested in experiencing the core narrative.

2. Completionist Tendencies

Completionist tendencies exert a substantial influence on the duration required to finish Elden Ring. This playstyle prioritizes thorough exploration and the acquisition of all available content, resulting in a significantly extended playtime compared to a main story-focused approach.

• Comprehensive World Exploration

  Completionists dedicate considerable time to exploring every area of the Lands Between, including all optional dungeons, caves, and catacombs. This meticulous exploration aims to uncover hidden secrets, acquire unique items, and engage with all available content. The open-world design of Elden Ring allows for extensive exploration, and a completionist approach seeks to exhaust all available avenues. This facet considerably inflates the total time to completion.

• Defeating All Bosses

  A completionist run necessitates defeating every boss encounter in the game, including all mandatory bosses and optional world bosses. This requires a significant investment of time and effort, as many bosses present challenging combat encounters. Success depends on mastering combat mechanics, optimizing character builds, and potentially utilizing cooperative play. Boss battles can consume a large fraction of the total playtime for completionists.

• Acquiring All Items and Equipment

  Completionists strive to acquire all available items and equipment within the game, including weapons, armor, spells, talismans, and crafting materials. This involves thorough looting of environments, completing quests, and farming specific enemies for rare drops. Acquiring a complete collection of items can be a lengthy and arduous process, contributing significantly to the overall completion time.

• Completing All Quests and Side Objectives

  A completionist approach encompasses the completion of all available quests and side objectives, ensuring that all non-player characters (NPCs) are encountered and all available storylines are explored. This requires thorough engagement with the game’s narrative and a willingness to pursue all available avenues of interaction. Quest completion can add considerable time to the playthrough, as it often involves extensive travel and complex objectives.

In summary, completionist tendencies fundamentally alter the expected completion timeframe of Elden Ring. The pursuit of complete exploration, the defeat of all bosses, the acquisition of all items, and the fulfillment of all quests necessitate a substantial time commitment, potentially tripling or quadrupling the playtime compared to a main story-focused playthrough. This approach caters to players seeking a comprehensive and exhaustive experience of the game’s content.

3. Player Skill Level

Player skill level is a primary determinant of the time required to complete Elden Ring. Proficiency in action role-playing game mechanics directly influences efficiency in combat, navigation, and problem-solving, thereby affecting the overall playthrough duration.

• Combat Proficiency

  Skillful execution of combat techniques, such as dodging, parrying, and utilizing weapon skills, significantly reduces the number of attempts required to defeat enemies and bosses. Players with prior experience in Souls-like games possess an inherent advantage, demonstrating faster adaptation to enemy attack patterns and more effective resource management. Conversely, inexperienced players may encounter frequent deaths and protracted battles, extending the completion time. For example, a skilled player might defeat a boss on the first attempt, while a novice could require numerous attempts over several hours.

• Game Sense and Exploration Efficiency

  Experienced players often exhibit a stronger sense of game design, enabling them to identify critical paths, locate hidden areas, and interpret environmental cues more effectively. This facilitates efficient exploration and minimizes time wasted navigating the expansive open world. Players adept at recognizing level design patterns and item placement can optimize their routes, acquire essential resources more quickly, and progress through the game with greater speed. Examples include recognizing illusory walls or deducing the solution to environmental puzzles without external assistance.

• Adaptability and Learning Curve

  A player’s capacity to adapt to new challenges and learn from mistakes directly impacts progress. Elden Ring presents a steep learning curve, requiring players to master diverse combat styles, experiment with different character builds, and adapt strategies based on enemy weaknesses. Players who readily analyze their failures, adjust their tactics, and seek out information to improve their gameplay will progress more rapidly. For example, a player struggling with a particular boss might research its weaknesses, modify their weapon setup, or alter their combat approach to achieve victory.

• Resource Management

  Effective management of in-game resources, such as healing items, FP, and crafting materials, contributes to overall efficiency. Skilled players optimize their inventory, prioritize essential items, and conserve resources for challenging encounters. This reduces the need for frequent trips back to Sites of Grace and minimizes downtime spent farming for consumables. Experienced players can often complete areas with fewer resources due to their superior combat skills and strategic decision-making.

These facets of player skill collectively determine the efficiency with which Elden Ring is traversed. While a main-story focused run might offer a baseline completion time, individual skill dramatically alters the actual duration. Higher skill equates to faster learning, more efficient combat, better resource management, and consequently, a shorter time to reach the game’s conclusion.

4. Build Optimization

Character build optimization significantly influences the duration required to complete Elden Ring. A well-constructed build enhances combat effectiveness, reducing the time spent on challenging encounters and contributing to a more efficient playthrough.

• Stat Allocation and Scaling

  Effective stat allocation, prioritizing attributes that directly enhance the chosen combat style, streamlines progression. Investing points into stats that scale well with preferred weapons amplifies damage output, shortening boss fights and minimizing the need for extensive grinding. A poorly optimized stat distribution results in reduced damage and survivability, leading to prolonged encounters and increased instances of death. As an illustration, a faith-based build that neglects Faith investment will suffer significantly in spellcasting power, extending combat durations and increasing vulnerability.

• Weapon Selection and Upgrades

  Choosing weapons that complement the character build and playstyle, followed by consistent upgrades, improves combat proficiency. Utilizing weapons with appropriate scaling, status effects, or weapon skills maximizes damage potential and enhances survivability. Neglecting weapon upgrades or selecting weapons unsuited to the build can severely handicap performance. For instance, a strength-based character wielding an un-upgraded dexterity weapon will experience suboptimal damage output, prolonging combat and increasing the risk of failure.

• Armor Selection and Load

  Selecting armor that balances protection with mobility is crucial for efficient combat. Maintaining a medium load enables effective dodging and rolling, while excessive armor can hinder movement, increasing vulnerability. Conversely, inadequate protection can lead to rapid health depletion during encounters. A player wearing heavy armor with insufficient Endurance might find themselves unable to effectively evade attacks, resulting in more frequent deaths and extended battle times.

• Talisman and Spirit Ash Selection

  Strategic selection of talismans and Spirit Ashes provides valuable buffs and support during combat. Talismans can enhance damage output, improve survivability, or provide utility benefits, while Spirit Ashes can divert enemy attention or provide additional damage. Utilizing talismans and Spirit Ashes that complement the build and combat style can significantly improve efficiency. Ignoring these tools or selecting ineffective options limits combat potential and prolongs encounters. For example, a sorcerer who forgoes talismans that boost magic damage output will experience reduced spell effectiveness and extended fight lengths.

In conclusion, a strategically optimized build reduces the overall completion time of Elden Ring. By carefully managing stats, weapon choices, armor selection, and supplementary items, players can significantly enhance their combat effectiveness, resulting in a more streamlined and efficient journey through the Lands Between. Optimization minimizes wasted effort and enables swifter progress through the game’s challenges.

5. Guidance Utilization

The extent to which a player employs available resources for guidance is directly correlated with the duration required to complete Elden Ring. Guidance utilization encompasses a range of strategies, from consulting online wikis and walkthroughs to engaging with community forums and utilizing in-game messaging systems. The judicious use of these resources can significantly reduce the time spent overcoming obstacles, locating essential items, and deciphering obscure quest lines.

Over-reliance on external assistance, however, may diminish the sense of discovery and challenge that defines the Elden Ring experience. A player who meticulously follows a step-by-step walkthrough from the outset may complete the game more quickly but at the cost of personal agency and problem-solving skills. Conversely, a player who stubbornly refuses any form of guidance may spend excessive time struggling with trivial challenges or missing critical items, drastically extending the playthrough duration. A balanced approach, involving independent exploration and strategic consultation of resources when facing intractable problems, typically yields the most satisfying and efficient experience. Examples include researching boss weaknesses after multiple failed attempts or consulting a map to locate a specific crafting material.

Effective guidance utilization requires discernment and a clear understanding of individual goals. Players seeking a streamlined experience may prioritize efficiency and readily consult external resources, while those valuing exploration and self-reliance may limit their reliance on external assistance. Regardless of the chosen approach, recognizing the potential impact of guidance utilization on the completion time is essential for setting realistic expectations and tailoring the Elden Ring experience to individual preferences. The judicious incorporation of external information stands as a strategic tool, the employment of which reflects individual playstyle and desired engagement with the game’s inherent challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions about Elden Ring Completion Time

The following addresses common queries regarding the temporal investment required to finish Elden Ring, aiming to provide clear and concise answers based on available data and player experiences.

Question 1: What constitutes “finishing” Elden Ring for completion time purposes?

For completion time estimates, “finishing” generally refers to defeating the final required boss and viewing the associated ending sequence. It does not necessarily include completing all side quests, collecting all items, or exploring every area of the game. This definition provides a standardized benchmark for comparing player experiences.

Question 2: Does cooperative play significantly impact Elden Ring completion time?

Cooperative play can influence completion time in various ways. While summoning other players for assistance during challenging boss encounters may reduce the number of attempts required, the process of summoning and coordinating with other players can also introduce delays. The overall impact on completion time depends on the frequency of cooperative play and the skill level of the participants.

Question 3: How does the choice of starting class affect Elden Ring’s completion time?

The starting class primarily influences the initial stats and equipment of the player character. While some classes may offer a slight advantage in the early game, the impact on overall completion time is generally minimal. Players can re-spec their character build later in the game, mitigating any initial disadvantages associated with their chosen class.

Question 4: Is there a recommended level range for facing the final boss in Elden Ring?

While there is no explicitly mandated level, most players typically reach the final boss encounter within a level range of 120 to 150. Attempting the final boss at a significantly lower level may increase the difficulty and extend the completion time, while a significantly higher level may trivialize the encounter.

Question 5: Are there any missable items or quests that can significantly affect Elden Ring completion time?

Some quests and items are indeed missable, potentially requiring an additional playthrough for completionist endeavors. While these omissions typically do not prevent reaching the game’s ending, they may impact the overall sense of fulfillment and influence completion time for players aiming for comprehensive content acquisition.

Question 6: Do post-launch updates and patches affect Elden Ring completion time?

Post-launch updates and patches may introduce changes to enemy difficulty, weapon balance, and game mechanics, which can indirectly influence completion time. Significant changes may either increase or decrease the time required to overcome certain challenges, depending on the nature of the modifications.

In summary, several factors influence how long it takes to complete Elden Ring. These include playstyle choices, cooperative play, level, and guidance. A balanced approach is the most rewarding experience.

The next article section will examine resources to help the player to know more about Elden Ring.

Elden Ring Completion

The preceding analysis has explored the multifaceted nature of Elden Ring‘s completion time. Factors such as player skill, playstyle, and strategic employment of resources significantly influence the temporal investment required to reach the game’s conclusion. Estimates vary widely, ranging from focused main story runs to exhaustive completionist endeavors, underscoring the game’s adaptability to diverse player preferences.

Ultimately, understanding the variables influencing completion time empowers players to approach Elden Ring with realistic expectations. Whether prioritizing efficiency or embracing comprehensive exploration, a mindful awareness of these factors facilitates a more informed and fulfilling gaming experience. Prospective players are encouraged to consider their personal preferences and available resources when embarking on their journey through the Lands Between. The commitment required reflects the scale and depth of the game itself.