How long to beat a game depends on how you play it. Most estimates give three numbers: the main story only, the main story plus extras such as side quests, and a completionist run that finishes nearly everything. The best-known source for these numbers is HowLongToBeat, a free site built from times that players submit.
This page is not HowLongToBeat, and it has no connection to that site. Instead, it explains what the numbers mean, why two players can finish the same game hours apart, and how to turn an estimate into a realistic weekly plan. If you just want the time for one specific game, go straight to HowLongToBeat.com and search for the title.
How Long to Beat Estimates Are Split Into Play Styles
A single number would mislead most people, because players use very different routes through the same game. So community databases split each game into play styles. The labels below are the ones HowLongToBeat uses.
| Category | What it counts | Typical player |
|---|---|---|
| Main Story | Credits roll after the required story content only | Someone who wants the plot and little else |
| Main + Extras | Story plus a good share of side quests and optional content | Most players; often the most realistic figure |
| Completionist | Close to 100%: collectibles, achievements, every side task | Players who want to see and finish everything |
| All Styles | A blend of every submitted time for that game | A quick overall guide when you are unsure |
In short, the gap between Main Story and Completionist tells you a lot. For example, a linear action game may show only a small gap, while a large open-world role-playing game can take several times longer to complete fully than to finish the story.
How Game Completion Times Are Measured
In fact, there is no stopwatch inside the game sending results to these sites. Instead, players log their own times, usually from the in-game clock, a console or launcher play-time counter, or their own notes. The site then summarizes many submissions into one figure per category.
First, popular games collect many submissions, so their numbers tend to be stable. However, new or obscure games may have only a handful, and one unusual run can move the figure. Also, in-game clocks often stop during menus, cutscenes or loading screens, while platform counters keep running. As a result, two honest players can report times that differ by hours.
Why Your How Long to Beat Time May Differ
Even so, a well-sampled estimate is still an average of other people. Your own time will shift with a few factors:
- Difficulty setting. Harder modes add retries, so they usually add time.
- Experience. Series veterans often move faster than newcomers.
- Exploration habits. Reading every note and checking every room adds hours.
- Guides. Following a walkthrough tends to cut time; puzzling things out yourself adds it.
- Idle time. Leaving a game paused or running in the background inflates platform counters.
Convert How Long to Beat Hours Into Days and Weeks
However, estimates are listed in hours, which can be hard to picture. So enter any number of hours below to see the same total as days, weeks and minutes of play.
| Hours | Days (24 h) | Weeks (168 h) | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 h | 0.42 | 0.06 | 600 |
| 40 h | 1.67 | 0.24 | 2,400 |
| 100 h | 4.17 | 0.60 | 6,000 |
Keep in mind that these are nonstop clock hours: 40 hours is about 1.67 full days, but nobody plays 40 hours straight.
Planning Play Time Per Week
To turn an estimate into a schedule, divide the hours by the time you actually play each week.
| Game length | Play per week | Weeks to finish |
|---|---|---|
| 10 hours | 3 hours | about 3.3 |
| 25 hours | 5 hours | 5 |
| 40 hours | 5 hours | 8 |
| 40 hours | 10 hours | 4 |
| 100 hours | 10 hours | 10 |
For a quick plan, pick the Main + Extras figure unless you know you will rush or go for 100%. Next, count your free evenings honestly. For example, three 90-minute sessions add up to 4.5 hours a week; see how long 90 minutes really is for more on session lengths. Similarly, our page on how many seconds are in a day shows how a day breaks down.
How Long to Beat FAQs
What does how long to beat mean?
It is a common search for the time needed to finish a video game, usually split into story, extras and completionist play.
Is this page the HowLongToBeat website?
No. This is an independent explainer. For game-by-game times, visit HowLongToBeat.com directly.
Where do how long to beat times come from?
They come from players who log their own completion times. The site then summarizes those submissions for each game.
Which category should I use?
Main + Extras fits most players. Use Main Story if you rush, and Completionist if you want everything.
Why is my time different from the estimate?
Difficulty, skill, exploration, guides and idle time all change your total, so your result can be shorter or longer.
Are the times accurate?
They are good guides for popular games with many submissions. Games with few submissions can be less reliable.
Does the estimate include multiplayer?
Usually not. Online modes have no real end, so estimates focus on single-player content.
How many days is 40 hours of gameplay?
Forty hours equals about 1.67 days of nonstop play. At 5 hours a week, it takes about 8 weeks.
How do I plan a long game?
Divide the estimated hours by your weekly play time, then add about 20% for breaks and retries.
Do in-game clocks count loading screens?
It varies by game. Many in-game clocks pause in menus, while console and launcher counters often keep running.
The Bottom Line
Game length is a range from a quick story run to a full completionist effort, based on what other players report. So check the estimate, choose the category that matches your style, and then use the converter above to turn hours into a weekly plan you can actually keep.
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