Summary
- A Baldur's Gate 3 player took 89 hours to complete Act 1, showcasing the game's extensive content and replayability.
- While some players finished the main story in 25-40 hours, most will likely need 75-100 hours to beat Baldur's Gate 3.
- The game's vast number of NPCs and narrative permutations result in over 17,000 possible endings, adding to its immense replay value.
A Baldur’s Gate 3 player recently shared that it took them 89 hours to complete Act 1 of Larian’s new CRPG. Considering the sheer magnitude of things to do in Baldur’s Gate 3, this play time is not as insane as one might initially think.
Like its predecessors, and Larian Studios’ last hit CRPG Divinity: Original Sin 2, Baldur’s Gate 3 is a sprawling RPG with countless ways to progress through the game. Players could plow through the main story in as little as 25 to 40 hours, but most will probably need between 75 and 100 hours to beat Baldur’s Gate 3.
However, Baldur’s Gate 3 fan Coelho_Branco_ recently posted on Reddit that it took them almost 90 hours just to beat Act 1. The massive starting chapter of the game covers ground spanning from fetid swamps and mountain passes all the way to a sprawling subterranean Underdark region. Even so, Coelho_Branco spent almost as much time in the first part of Baldur’s Gate 3 as other players might take to finish the entire game.
The Steam play time for Baldur’s Gate 3 includes all time spent in the menu, character creation, and across all characters played, so some players have artificially bloated numbers due to the remaking of characters or multiple playthroughs. Additionally, all time spent in Early Access is compiled there as well, meaning some players have over 1000 hours played by now. That said, it seems like Coelho_Branco_'s playtime is on a single, new Baldur's Gate 3 run.
Their Reddit post attracted a great deal of attention, with over 1200 upvotes and close to 800 comments in just a few hours. Some players joked that Coelho_Branco_ needed to slow down and enjoy the game, while others were baffled they were able to wheel away so many hours there, claiming they finished everything in 50 hours or less. On the other hand, some players said it took them 100 hours or more to get through Act 1. Regardless, everyone seemed to agree Baldur’s Gate 3 is best played at one’s own pace.
With a massive number of NPCs and countless permutations for its sprawling narrative, Baldur’s Gate 3 has over 17,000 different possible endings. It’s no exaggeration to say it has massive replayability, especially with the ability to handle four-player co-op. With so much of the game to experience, Coelho_Branco_’s Steam play time for Baldur’s Gate 3 is definitely going to look a lot bigger by the end of his time with the game.
Baldur's Gate 3 is available now for PC. The PlayStation 5 version will be available on September 6th, 2023. A version for Xbox Series X/S is still in development.