If you are planning to start one of the most cinematic and story-driven action games ever created, you are probably wondering: how long is God of War Ragnarök? Whether you are a casual gamer, a completionist, or someone with limited gaming time, knowing the estimated playtime can help you plan your journey through the Nine Realms.
Developed by Santa Monica Studio and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, God of War Ragnarök continues the Norse saga of Kratos and Atreus. The game builds upon the foundation set by God of War and delivers an even larger world, deeper combat system, and more side content than its predecessor.
In this detailed guide, we will explore exactly how long God of War Ragnarök takes to complete, depending on your playstyle, difficulty setting, and goals.
How Long Is God of War Ragnarök for the Main Story?
The most common question players ask is simple: how long is God of War Ragnarök if you only focus on the main story?
If you concentrate primarily on story missions and skip most optional content, the main campaign takes approximately:
- 20 to 25 hours on average
- Slightly longer (25–30 hours) if you explore casually
This makes it significantly longer than the 2018 installment, which averaged around 15–20 hours for the main story.
The reason the campaign is longer this time is due to:
- Expanded narrative arcs
- Multiple playable perspectives
- Larger explorable regions
- More cinematic cutscenes
- Additional boss encounters
The storytelling is layered and emotional, with deeper exploration of Norse mythology and character relationships. Even if you rush, the narrative naturally stretches beyond 20 hours because of its pacing and structure.
So, if your goal is just to see the ending, you can expect around 22–25 hours comfortably.
How Long Is God of War Ragnarök Including Side Quests?
Now let’s go deeper into the question: how long is God of War Ragnarök if you complete side quests and favors?
If you engage with:
- Favors (side quests)
- Optional bosses
- Realm exploration
- Treasure hunts
- Character-driven side stories
You are looking at:
- 35 to 45 hours of gameplay
Side content in Ragnarök is far more meaningful than in many action-adventure games. Many side quests feel like mini-stories with strong emotional weight and cinematic moments.
For example:
- Optional character arcs reveal more about companions
- Hidden areas unlock powerful gear
- Realm-specific missions expand Norse lore
Unlike typical filler content, these quests feel substantial and rewarding. That’s why many players end up spending 40+ hours before even realizing it.
How Long Is God of War Ragnarök for 100% Completion?
If you are a completionist, your version of how long is God of War Ragnarök will be very different.
To fully complete the game — meaning:
- All Favors completed
- All collectibles found
- All realms explored
- All Berserker bosses defeated
- All armor sets upgraded
- Platinum trophy unlocked
You should expect:
- 50 to 60+ hours
Some players even report 65 hours depending on difficulty and exploration style.
Ragnarök includes:
- 9 explorable realms
- Multiple hidden bosses
- Challenging post-game content
- Puzzle-heavy exploration areas
Completion requires patience, combat mastery, and attention to detail. It is not a quick grind — it’s a full journey.
How Difficulty Affects How Long Is God of War Ragnarök
Another major factor influencing how long is God of War Ragnarök is difficulty level.
The game offers multiple settings:
- Give Me Story (Easy)
- Give Me Grace (Normal)
- Give Me Balance (Standard)
- Give Me No Mercy (Hard)
- Give Me God of War (Very Hard)
If you choose higher difficulty:
- Boss fights take longer
- You may retry encounters multiple times
- Combat requires strategic upgrades
On “Give Me God of War,” playtime can increase by 5–10 additional hours due to tougher enemy scaling and challenging boss mechanics.
Casual players on easier modes might finish the story in 20 hours, while hardcore players may push closer to 30 hours for the main campaign alone.
Comparing How Long Is God of War Ragnarök vs God of War (2018)
Many players compare the sequel with its predecessor.
Here’s a simple comparison:
| Game | Main Story | Completionist |
|---|---|---|
| God of War (2018) | 15–20 hours | 35–40 hours |
| God of War Ragnarök | 20–25 hours | 50–60+ hours |
Ragnarök is clearly the larger game.
Why?
- More diverse realms
- More cinematic storytelling
- Expanded skill trees
- More boss fights
- Larger exploration zones
The sequel significantly expands scale and ambition.
How Long Is God of War Ragnarök Post-Game Content?
After finishing the main story, many players still wonder: how long is God of War Ragnarök beyond the ending?
Post-game content includes:
- Berserker gravestones
- Realm cleanup
- New side quests
- Gear completion
- Final secret challenges
Post-game alone can add:
- 10–15 hours
The game does not simply end after credits. In fact, some of the toughest fights unlock afterward.
This gives the game strong replay value without requiring New Game Plus immediately.
How Long Is God of War Ragnarök New Game Plus?
Once New Game Plus was introduced, players could replay the story with:
- Upgraded armor
- Enhanced enemies
- New gear sets
- Harder scaling
If you replay fully in NG+, expect:
- 20–25 hours again for story
- Additional time for new challenges
For dedicated fans, total playtime can exceed 80+ hours across multiple runs.
Why How Long Is God of War Ragnarök Feels Longer Than It Is
Interestingly, many players report that Ragnarök feels longer than the actual hour count.
That is because:
- Cinematic pacing slows progression
- Emotional storytelling creates depth
- Exploration is dense and layered
- Boss battles are multi-phase
The game rarely feels rushed. Even at 25 hours, the narrative feels epic and complete.
Unlike open-world games padded with repetitive content, Ragnarök maintains high quality throughout its runtime.
Is God of War Ragnarök Too Long?
Some players worry that long games can feel exhausting.
However, in this case:
- Main story length is manageable
- Side content is optional
- Pacing is carefully structured
- Fast travel reduces backtracking
For most players, 25–40 hours is considered ideal for a story-driven action game.
The length strikes a balance between:
- Epic scale
- Emotional storytelling
- Playtime efficiency
Speedrun: How Long Is God of War Ragnarök If You Rush?
Speedrunners can complete the main story in:
- Around 12–15 hours with optimized routing
However, this skips:
- Exploration
- Optional combat
- Dialogue
- Most upgrades
This is not recommended for first-time players, as the experience is built around immersion and storytelling.
Final Answer: How Long Is God of War Ragnarök?
Let’s summarize clearly:
- Main Story Only: 20–25 hours
- Story + Side Content: 35–45 hours
- 100% Completion: 50–60+ hours
- With New Game Plus: 70–80+ total hours possible
So when someone asks, how long is God of War Ragnarök, the real answer depends entirely on how you choose to experience it.
If you love story-driven adventures, expect a solid 25-hour cinematic journey.
If you enjoy exploring every secret and defeating every optional boss, prepare for a 60-hour Norse epic.
Conclusion
Understanding how long is God of War Ragnarök helps set expectations before diving into one of the most celebrated PlayStation titles ever released. It is longer, deeper, and more ambitious than its predecessor, offering players flexibility in how much time they invest.
Whether you rush the main path or uncover every hidden secret across the Nine Realms, Ragnarök delivers a full-scale mythological adventure worthy of its legendary name.
If you are planning your next gaming marathon, now you know exactly how much time to set aside.
Are you going for the main story — or 100% completion?
