In the gaming world, one question often arises when players consider starting a new game: “How long will it take to beat this game?” Whether you’re embarking on an epic role-playing game (RPG), a challenging strategy game, or a fast-paced action adventure, knowing the time commitment can help you decide which games to play based on your available schedule. This is where the popular website HowLongToBeat (HLTB) comes in handy.
In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about How Long to Beat, from understanding what it is, to how it works, its benefits, and why every gamer should use it. Additionally, we’ll cover ways you can utilize the platform effectively, alternative tools, and frequently asked questions about this powerful resource.
What is HowLongToBeat?
HowLongToBeat (HLTB) is a website dedicated to providing an estimate of how long it takes to complete video games. It’s a user-generated platform where players from all over the world submit their own times for completing different categories of gameplay. Founded in 2011, the site has gained a reputation for being one of the best tools for tracking game completion times and planning gaming sessions based on how much time you can invest.
At its core, HLTB aims to answer a simple yet essential question for many gamers: “How much time do I need to finish this game?” This question is not only relevant for those with busy schedules but also for those who enjoy knowing what they’re getting into before starting a new adventure.
How Does HowLongToBeat Work?
HowLongToBeat operates primarily through user-generated data. When players finish a game, they can submit how long it took them to complete it. These times are collected and categorized based on different types of playthroughs, such as:
- Main Story: The time it takes to complete the game’s primary objectives without diving into side quests or extra content.
- Main + Extras: The time for completing the main story along with some additional content like side quests.
- Completionist: The time it takes to finish everything the game offers, including side missions, collectibles, and additional objectives.
- Speedrun: How fast a game can be completed using optimal strategies, often skipping parts of the game through exploits or specialized techniques.
Once enough users submit their times, the site calculates averages for each category, giving a reasonably accurate estimate. The more data submitted, the more reliable the estimates become.
Benefits of Using HowLongToBeat
There are several advantages to using How Long to Beat for gamers:
- Time Management: Gamers with limited free time can plan their gameplay by choosing titles that fit into their schedule. If you only have a weekend available, you might opt for a 10-hour game rather than a sprawling 80-hour RPG.
- Better Game Selection: Sometimes, the length of a game can be the deciding factor in whether to start it. HLTB helps users avoid jumping into games they might not have the time to finish.
- Community Involvement: Since the times are user-submitted, HLTB fosters a strong sense of community, allowing gamers to share experiences and discuss game lengths. It also gives an opportunity for users to compare how their personal playtimes match up with others.
- Completion Tracking: With the ability to log and track your own completion times, HLTB serves as a personal game journal, helping you track your progress and gaming achievements.
Categories of Game Time on HLTB
HLTB breaks down game completion times into several categories:
- Main Story: The basic playthrough focused solely on completing the game’s main storyline.
- Main + Extras: Includes the main storyline and additional activities like side quests.
- Completionist: For players who want to see and do everything the game offers.
- Speedrun: The fastest possible playthrough using exploits or optimized strategies.
- Custom Categories: Users can create specific playthrough types, such as casual play or multiplayer modes.
This structured breakdown ensures that players get accurate expectations of the time required for their specific style of play.
How to Use HowLongToBeat Efficiently
Using HowLongToBeat is incredibly straightforward, but there are ways to enhance your experience:
- Search for Games: Use the search bar to find the game you want to play. Once located, check out the time estimates based on the categories mentioned above.
- Submit Your Own Times: After completing a game, submit your playtime for any of the categories. The more data HLTB gathers, the more accurate its estimates become.
- Track Your Progress: HLTB allows users to log their games and track their progress. You can see how long you’ve spent on various titles and compare your times with the community.
Accuracy and Reliability
While HLTB provides solid estimates, it’s important to remember that these are averages. Factors that can influence the accuracy of the times include:
- Playstyle Differences: Casual players may take longer than those who rush through a game.
- Game Difficulty: Players who opt for higher difficulty levels may take significantly more time to complete a game.
- Completion Percentage: Some users may consider a game finished after completing the story, while others might pursue every side quest and collectible.
Despite these variances, HLTB remains a highly reliable tool, especially when there is a large number of submissions for a particular game.
Tips to Improve Your Experience on HLTB
Maximizing the benefits of HowLongToBeat requires active engagement with the community and platform features. Here are some ways to get the most out of it:
- Use Filters: When searching for a game, utilize the filters to find the most relevant times for your preferred style of play.
- Submit Feedback: If you find that certain game times seem inaccurate, submit feedback to improve the system’s reliability.
- Engage in the Forums: Join the forums to discuss specific games, strategies for quicker completion, and get tips from other gamers.
Comparison with Other Gaming Resources
HowLongToBeat is not the only gaming resource available. Here are some comparisons with other platforms:
- Metacritic: While Metacritic focuses on aggregating review scores, it doesn’t track game completion times. However, both sites are valuable for making informed gaming decisions.
- IGDB (Internet Game Database): Like HowLongToBeat, IGDB offers detailed game information, but it doesn’t emphasize completion times as much.
- Steam: Steam tracks personal playtime but lacks the community-driven time estimates that HLTB provides.
In this sense, HLTB is more specialized and is better suited for players looking to manage their time effectively.
How Long to Beat a Game: Common Challenges
Various factors can affect how long it takes to beat a game:
- Game Difficulty: Some games, particularly those like Dark Souls or Sekiro, are notorious for their difficulty, meaning it can take much longer to beat depending on your skill level.
- Playstyle: Players who like to explore every corner and discover secrets will spend more time than those who rush through the main story.
- Multiplayer and Online Games: Games like Destiny 2 or Fortnite don’t have traditional “completion” times, as they offer ongoing content and multiplayer experiences.
Popular Games on HowLongToBeat
Many popular games have extensive user data on HLTB, making it easy to see how long each might take. Some of the most tracked games include:
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt: This sprawling RPG takes approximately 50 hours for the main story and up to 170 hours for a completionist run.
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim: Known for its vast open world, Skyrim takes around 35 hours for the main story and over 200 hours to complete everything.
- Cyberpunk 2077: With its multiple questlines, it takes roughly 25-30 hours for the main story but can easily stretch to 100 hours for completionists.
How HLTB Helps in Time Management
For gamers juggling work, studies, or family, managing gaming time becomes essential. HLTB helps with this by offering realistic estimates of how long it will take to beat a game, allowing players to plan accordingly. It can be particularly useful during holidays or weekends, when you might want to tackle a longer title but still manage your free time effectively.
Community Involvement on HowLongToBeat
One of the key aspects of HLTB’s success is its thriving community. By contributing times, reviews, and tips, users help each other make informed decisions about games. The site also offers forums where members can discuss gameplay strategies, time management techniques, and much more.
Speedrunning and HowLongToBeat
Speedrunning has become a significant part of the gaming community, and HLTB has embraced this by including speedrun categories for many games. These times reflect the fastest completion times, often achieved by players who exploit glitches, use specific strategies, or have in-depth knowledge of a game.
The Future of HowLongToBeat
As HowLongToBeat continues to grow, new features are expected, such as:
- Mobile App Development: This would allow players to easily log and track times on the go.
- Expanded Database: Continuously adding new games and more user data will improve the accuracy and reliability of the site.
Conclusion
In today’s gaming world, where players have countless titles vying for their attention, How Long to Beat is an invaluable tool. It offers a way to manage your gaming time effectively, helps in selecting games that suit your schedule, and provides a platform for players to connect and share experiences. Whether you’re a casual gamer or a dedicated completionist, HowLongToBeat ensures you have the information you need to enjoy your gaming experience without overcommitting your time.
