You just walked out of the Stranded Graveyard. The wind is howling across Limgrave, a massive golden tree is mocking you from the horizon, and some guy in a white mask basically just called you a loser. Welcome to the Lands Between. The first question everyone asks—usually right after getting stomped by that golden knight on the horse—is simple: how long is Elden Ring exactly?
Honestly, there is no single answer. It's a bit like asking how long it takes to walk across a continent while people are constantly trying to set you on fire. Some people sprint. Most people wander. A few people get so lost in the weeds that they’ve put in 300 hours and still haven't seen the credits roll.
The Short Version: Main Story Length
If you are a "critical path" kind of person, you can technically reach the final boss in about 50 to 60 hours. This assumes you aren't spending three days trying to find a specific pair of pants in a swamp.
FromSoftware’s Yasuhiro Kitao famously suggested it would take around 30 hours back before the game launched in 2022. He was mostly wrong for the average person. Unless you’re a veteran of these games who knows exactly which bosses are optional and which ones are mandatory, 30 hours is a pipe dream. Most players will hit walls. You'll get stuck on Margit. You'll spend five hours just trying to figure out how to get into the Raya Lucaria Academy. That's the real experience.
Why "Just the Story" is a Trap
Focusing only on the main path is actually harder. In Elden Ring, your power level is tied to exploration. If you rush, you'll be underleveled. You'll have less health (Vigor) and weaker weapons. This means you’ll spend more time dying to the same boss than if you had just spent ten hours exploring a random cave to get better gear. It's a weird paradox.
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The "I Want to See Everything" Completionist Run
For the completionists out there—the folks who need every spell, every legendary armament, and every single spirit ash—prepare to lose your social life. A 100% completion run of the base game usually clocks in between 130 and 150 hours.
This involves:
- Finding every Site of Grace.
- Conquering every hero's grave and catacomb (even the ones with the annoying chariots).
- Completing complex NPC questlines like Ranni’s or Fia’s.
- Beating all 200+ boss encounters scattered across the map.
Factor in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC
As of 2026, you can't really talk about the length of this game without mentioning the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. It’s massive. It’s basically Elden Ring 1.5.
If you add the DLC to your plate, tack on another 25 to 40 hours for a standard playthrough. If you’re trying to 100% the Land of Shadow, finding every Scadutree Fragment and hidden boss, you're looking at 50+ hours just for the expansion. Totaling it all up? A full "everything" run of Elden Ring plus the DLC is a solid 200-hour investment.
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The Speedrun Reality
Then there are the speedrunners. These people are playing a different game entirely.
The current world records for an "Any%" glitchless run sit around the two-hour mark. If they use glitches—like the infamous "zips" that teleport them across the map—they can finish the game in under 20 minutes. It’s impressive, but it’s not how 99% of people will actually play. Don't compare your 80-hour save file to a guy who finished the game before his coffee got cold.
Why Your Playtime Will Vary (Wildly)
The biggest factor in how long is Elden Ring for you personally is your build and your playstyle.
- Magic vs. Melee: Pure Intelligence builds often progress faster early on because they can "cheese" bosses from a distance. A pure Strength build might spend more time learning frame-perfect dodges.
- Using Spirit Ashes: Using the Mimic Tear or Black Knife Tiche can cut boss fight times in half. If you insist on playing solo with no summons, prepare to double your playtime on late-game bosses like Malenia or Radagon.
- The "Map Obsession" Factor: Some players can't leave a greyed-out area on the map. If you are a "map-cleaner," you are easily looking at a 150-hour journey.
- The Learning Curve: If this is your first Souls-like, add a "tax" of 20 hours just for the learning curve of the mechanics.
Real Talk: The Average Experience
Most people who actually finish the game end up in the 80 to 100-hour range. This is the "sweet spot" where you do the main story but also get distracted by cool-looking towers and side quests. You’ll probably finish around Level 120 to 150.
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It’s a long game. It’s meant to be. The scale is the point.
Actionable Next Steps for New Players
If you're worried about the time commitment, here is how to manage it without burning out:
- Focus on Vigor early: Leveling your health to 40 as soon as possible prevents the "death loop" that inflates playtime.
- Don't clear every cave: Most small dungeons give specific rewards (like a spirit ash or a niche spell). If it doesn't fit your build, skip it. You don't need to do everything to have a "full" experience.
- Use the markers: The map lets you place 100 custom markers. Use them for bosses you can't beat yet so you don't waste time wandering back to things you already cleared.
- Follow the Grace: If you feel lost, the literal "rays of gold" coming from Sites of Grace point you toward the next major story beat. Follow them when you want to make progress; ignore them when you want to explore.
At the end of the day, Elden Ring isn't a race. Whether it takes you 40 hours or 400, the only thing that matters is that you eventually stand before the Elden Throne. Take your time. The Lands Between aren't going anywhere.