Here's how long it takes to beat Baldur's Gate 3

Here's how long it takes to beat Baldur's Gate 3
Images via Larian Studios

Written by 

Tarran Stockton

Published 

17th Aug 2023 16:50

With the full game finally here, it's worth checking out how long Baldur's Gate 3 takes to beat, because if you plan on attempting to do everything in the game, you'll need to carve out a significant amount of time.

Baldur's Gate 3 features a lengthy storyline filled with quests, a bunch of companions to interact with and help out, multiplayer if you want to enjoy the game with friends, and much more that can extend what'll likely be a length playthrough.

How long does it take to beat Baldur's Gate 3?

A previous interview with Larian Studios Director Swen Vincke from IGN illuminated lots about Baldur's Gate 3's length, stating that during playtests it was "between 75 and 100 hours". 

He also estimated the playtime for players "who want to do everything", claiming it will "probably hit 200 hours". 

From these figures, it seems like even players who want to just mainline the story will need to put in well over 50 hours, meaning you'll be spending a long time with the game.

Another interesting fact we recently learned was that the game has 174 hours of cinematics, which is twice the length of every season of Game of Thrones combined. 

an image of Baldur's Gate 3 gameplay
Click to enlarge

Now, most players won't see all of these, as these will include cinematics that account for every possible choice and option in the game, so you'll need to go through multiple playthroughs to watch all 174 hours.

However, it does help to illuminate the sheer length and scale of the game, even on the lower end of a playthrough.

How long is the full release compared to early access?

Compared to the full launch, the early access version of Baldur's Gate 3 had roughly 30 hours of content, which was the entire first act of the game - more than many games still. This was available for around three years before the full launch on August 3.

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Stick with GGRecon for more Baldur's Gate 3 guides. Make sure you also check out how to respec in Baldur's Gate 3, just in case you aren't happy with your current build.

Tarran Stockton
About the author
Tarran Stockton
Tarran is a Senior Guides Writer at GGRecon. He previously wrote reviews for his college newspaper before studying Media and Communication at university. His favourite genres include role-playing games, strategy games, and boomer shooters - along with anything indie. You can also find him in the pit at local hardcore shows.
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