If you just grabbed a copy of the new Sucker Punch open world title, the first question on your mind is probably how long does it take to beat Ghost of Yotei. As the follow-up to the massively popular Ghost of Tsushima, it’s packed with samurai combat, beautiful open world landscapes, and a deeply emotional story that’s easy to get lost in for hours. I’ve put together this breakdown using real aggregate data from thousands of recent player playthroughs, plus my own experience finishing the game last month, to give you the most accurate playtime estimates for every playstyle. No guesswork, just honest numbers you can use to plan your gaming schedule ahead of time.
Average Playtime for Ghost of Yotei Main Story Only
For players who stick strictly to the core questline and skip all side content, the average playtime lands between 18 and 22 hours on normal difficulty. This count includes watching all cutscenes, taking the time to learn basic combat mechanics, and not rushing through boss fights just to get to the next scene. If you crank the difficulty up to Lethal mode, the highest available setting, you can expect to add 3 to 5 extra hours to this total, as enemies deal massive damage and require perfect parries or stealth takedowns to beat efficiently. You can finish the main story in as little as 15 hours if you skip all cutscenes and rush through every fight, but I really don’t recommend that. The story is one of the strongest parts of the game, and skipping it means you’re missing out on most of what makes Ghost of Yotei special.
How Long Does It Take to Beat Ghost of Yotei With All Side Content
This is the playstyle most casual players fall into, where you work through the main story but stop to do side quests that look interesting, help out villagers, and take on the occasional yokai hunt. For this playstyle, you’re looking at an average of 35 to 42 hours of total playtime. The side content in Ghost of Yotei isn’t generic filler either; most quests come with their own small, well-written stories, and many reward you with new combat abilities, rare crafting materials, or unique cosmetic gear that makes your playthrough feel more personal. Some side content takes way longer to complete than others, so it’s easy to add or cut time depending on what you prioritize:
- Companion character story arcs: each takes 1.5 to 3 hours to complete, with 6 total companion arcs available that expand on the game’s core lore
- Yokai hunt events: each of the 12 high-difficulty yokai fights takes 20 to 45 minutes, plus travel time to their remote locations across the map
- Village liberation missions: 18 total across Hokkaido, each takes 15 to 30 minutes depending on how many enemy troops are guarding the area
I did all 6 companion arcs on my first playthrough, and they added almost 12 extra hours of content that I’d consider 100% worth the time. They give you way more context for the game’s main conflict, and the final companion quest unlocks one of the strongest combat abilities in the entire game. There’s no set rule for how much side content you need to do, and the answer to how long does it take to beat Ghost of Yotei changes a lot based on which side activities you find interesting enough to pursue.
Playtime for 100% Completion of Ghost of Yotei
If you’re a completionist who wants to unlock every collectible, earn every achievement, and fully upgrade every piece of gear and skill in the game, you’re looking at an average of 65 to 75 hours of total playtime. This includes finding all 120 hidden Shinto shrines, collecting all 90 folklore scrolls, beating every side quest and event, and unlocking the platinum trophy for the game. A lot of the collectibles are hidden behind small environmental puzzles or tucked away in remote corners of the map that you won’t stumble on during regular play, so you can spend hours exploring just to find one missing item. If you use a collectible guide, you can cut this total down by 10 to 15 hours, since you won’t waste time wandering around looking for hidden items. But if you prefer to explore organically, you can easily stretch this playtime out to 80+ hours if you take your time and enjoy the world.
Tips to Adjust Your Ghost of Yotei Playtime to Fit Your Schedule
You don’t have to stick to a rigid playstyle to enjoy the game, and there are easy ways to cut down or extend your playtime depending on how much time you have available. If you’re short on time and just want to experience the main story before another game comes out, stick to core quests and only do side content that rewards new combat skills, since those will make boss fights faster and reduce the time you spend replaying difficult sections. You can also turn down the difficulty if you’re stuck on a fight, it won’t lock you out of any story content and can save you hours of frustrating retries. If you want to get the most out of your purchase and stretch your playtime as much as possible, turn off all quest markers and explore the map without a guide. There are dozens of hidden small stories and secret events that you’ll never find if you just fast travel between quest markers, and they add a ton of depth to the world. You can also play through the co-op side missions after you beat the main story, which add another 10 to 15 hours of content you can play with friends.
At the end of the day, how long does it take to beat Ghost of Yotei depends entirely on what you want out of the game. There’s no right or wrong way to play, whether you rush through the main story in 18 hours or take 75 hours to find every last collectible. I personally took 38 hours on my first playthrough, did all the companion arcs and half the yokai hunts, and it felt like the perfect pace for me. Don’t feel pressured to rush through to beat it fast, or to 100% it if that doesn’t sound fun. Take your time, explore the parts of the game that interest you, and you’ll have a great time regardless of how long your playthrough ends up being.