Some video games are a weekend fling; others are a genuine lifestyle commitment. If you’re picking your next game based on how much value you’ll squeeze out of it, these are the biggest time investments in gaming, based on average completionist playtimes tracked by HowLongToBeat.
Table of Contents
Longest Video Games to 100% Complete: Quick Info
| Rank | Game | Completionist Playtime |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim | ~231 hours |
| 2 | Red Dead Redemption 2 | ~190 hours |
| 3 | The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | ~189 hours |
| 4 | The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | ~173 hours |
| 5 | Xenoblade Chronicles 3 | ~150 hours |
| 6 | Final Fantasy VII Rebirth | ~140 hours |
| 7 | Elden Ring | ~133 hours |
| 8 | Persona 5 Royal | ~120 hours |
| 9 | Grand Theft Auto V | ~95 hours |
| 10 | Horizon Forbidden West | ~90 hours |
Skyrim Still Eats the Most Hours
Even 15 years after release, Bethesda’s Skyrim remains the biggest time sink on this list, thanks to its enormous quest density, mods, and multiple official re-releases that fans keep replaying. Red Dead Redemption 2 and Breath of the Wild aren’t far behind, both rewarding exploration far beyond their main story. If you’re chasing pure value per rupee spent, these open-world epics remain some of the best long-term investments in gaming, especially with GTA 6’s reported 80-hour story already promising to join this list.
FAQs
Q1. What is the longest video game to 100% complete?
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, at an average of around 231 hours for full completion.
Q2. How long does it take to finish Red Dead Redemption 2’s main story?
The main story alone takes roughly 50 hours, but full completion including side content pushes that to around 190 hours.
Q3. Is GTA 6 expected to be one of the longest games ever?
Early reports suggest an 80-hour main story alone, which would place it among the longest story-driven games ever made once side content is included.
Q4. Are these playtime estimates the same for every player?
No, they’re community-sourced averages from HowLongToBeat and can vary significantly based on playstyle, difficulty, and how much side content a player pursues.
