How long does it take to complete the main story of Ghost of Yotei?
Some players who rush through the main missions can finish in under 24 hours, but the game is designed to reward exploration, so taking your time is definitely more enjoyable.
Based on my experience, and what I've seen others saying, if you really just beeline the "Golden Path" main story missions and ignore most of the side content, you're looking at around 25-30 hours. The game is designed with a more open structure, where you can hunt the Yōtei Six in a non-linear way, but the core narrative itself is very focused. If you're a player who likes to dip into a few side quests, maybe a couple of Mythic Tales, and clear out a few strongholds as you travel, a more traditional playthrough will likely fall into the 35-40 hour range. It's similar in scope to Ghost of Tsushima, but the world of Ezo feels dense with more optional activities.
According to most playthrough aggregators like HowLongToBeat, here's the general breakdown: Main Story Only: If you beeline through just the critical path missions, you're looking at about 25-30 hours. Main Story + Some Side Content: This is how most people play. Doing a healthy mix of main quests and the more interesting side activities (like Mythic Tales and character quests) will take you around 40-45 hours. Completionist: For those who want to see every question mark on the map, find every collectible, and achieve 100% completion, you're committing to a 60-70 hour* journey.The world is dense and full of meaningful side content, so I'd highly recommend not rushing. The side stories are where a lot of the world's best lore and character development happens.
I just finished the main story last night and my save file clocked in at 38 hours. I did a bunch of side quests, probably about half of them, and explored a lot just for the sheer joy of it. The pacing feels great—it never dragged, but it also didn't feel rushed. There's a solid, meaty campaign here that respects your time while still offering a vast world to get lost in if you choose to.
On average, completing the main story takes 25–30 hours, depending on playstyle and how much you explore. If you also tackle side quests, collectibles, and mythic tales, expect closer to 50–60 hours for a full experience.
Yeah, 35-40 hours is a solid estimate for a balanced playthrough. I would caution that if you're aiming for the platinum trophy or a true 100% completion—which means finding all the Hot Springs, Bamboo Strikes, clearing every shrine, duel, and all collectibles—you're going to push way past that. Expect to spend 60-70+ hours if you want to see absolutely everything. The freedom to tackle the main antagonists in any order is nice, but it makes it super easy to get distracted by the gorgeous world, so your playtime largely depends on your self-control!