Red Dead Redemption 2 is widely regarded as one of the most ambitious and expansive games ever made in the entire gaming industry.
Whether youre tackling the main narrative, wandering off on side quests, or exploring the vast open world, theres plenty to keep you busy, thanks to its powerful storytelling, detailed world, and unforgettable lead, Arthur Morgan.
Heres how long it takes to beat the game, and a quick completionist guide for you to prepare for what youre about to jump into.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Completion Time | Source: Rockstar Games
Red Dead Redemption 2 is a massive, immersive experience where youll spend hours riding, hunting, and living the outlaw life as Arthur Morgan.
If you plan on sticking to the main storyline, youll be able to finish the game in about 50 hours. But if youre sticking around for the full experience and 100% completion, youll have to prepare yourself for a whopping 175 to 182 hours of gameplay.
Your total playtime depends on your approach:
- Main Story Only: approx. 50 hours
Stick to the main story and youre looking at around 50 hours of gameplaya substantial journey filled with gripping narrative and character moments. - Main Story + Some Side Content: approx. 80 hours
Taking time to explore, complete side quests, hunt, fish, or enjoy the world will bring your playtime closer to 80 hours. - Completionist Run: approx. 175-182 hours
For those wanting to see and do everythingfrom catching every fish to completing every challengeitll take about 175 hours. And thats not even counting the online mode. - Stranger Missions: approx. 1015 hours
- Collectibles: approx. 1530 hours (less with a guide)
- Challenges: approx. 1025 hours
While the main story takes around 50 hours, reaching 100% completion can easily push your playtime well beyond that, and theres still plenty more to explore beyond the checklist.
How many chapters are there in RDR2 | Source: Rockstar Games
The games story is split into 6 main chapters and 2 epilogues:
- Chapter 1: Colter
- Chapter 2: Horseshoe Overlook
- Chapter 3: Clemens Point
- Chapter 4: Shady Belle
- Chapter 5: Guarma
- Chapter 6: Beaver Hollow
- Epilogue Part 1
- Epilogue Part 2
- Focusing solely on the main journey and the Van der Linde gangs saga, the main story takes around 40 to 60 hours to complete.
- Most players will spend about 50 hours progressing through all six main chapters and the two epilogues.
If you choose to rush through the story by skipping cutscenes and avoiding optional activities like hunting, fishing, or playing poker, you could finish it in 30 to 40 hours.
However, doing so means missing much of the rich atmosphere and depth that make RDR2 such a beloved experience.
How long do side missions and exploration take in RDR2 | Source: Rockstar Games
Red Dead Redemption 2 is packed with side content that can greatly extend your playtime and improve your experience:
- Side Missions & Random Encounters: Add around 1015 hours, as these include engaging subplots and colorful characters that enrich the world.
- Collecting & Exploring: Gathering items like cigarette cards, dinosaur bones, and dreamcatchers can take 1530 hours. Using guides can reduce this time, but exploring by yourself may take longer.
- Challenges & Trials: Completing all hunting, shooting, survival, and other challenges adds another 1025 hours, but helps you in unlocking gear and in-game rewards.
Achieving full completion: covering the main story, all side content, collectibles, challenges, and interactions, typically takes 150180 hours, though some players report spending over 200 hours when exploring thoroughly.
Your total playtime depends heavily on how you approach the game. Explorers and completionists will spend far more time than those who stick to the main path and skip side content.
That being said, theres nothing wrong with taking your time to enjoy everything the game has to offer to get the full, authentic RDR2 experience.
READ: Red Dead Redemption 2 coming to Switch as per Brazils Rating Board
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Red Dead Redemption 2, prequel to 2010s Red Dead Redemption, is an action-adventure game produced and released by Rockstar Games in 2018. The story, set in 1899, follows outlaw Arthur Morgan, a member of the Van der Linde gang.
Red Dead Redemption 2 portrays the Wild West, while being set in the fictional Western and Southern United States.
