Shadow Of War Game Length is a common question for players considering diving into this epic action RPG. Just how long will it take to topple Sauron’s forces and forge your own legend in Middle-earth? The answer, like the game itself, is multifaceted and depends on your playstyle and goals. This comprehensive guide will explore various factors influencing playtime, offering insights into completing the main story, conquering all fortresses, and achieving 100% completion.
How Long to Beat Shadow of War’s Main Story?
For players focused solely on experiencing the core narrative, completing the main story in Shadow of War will typically take around 20-30 hours. This involves progressing through the Act I and Act II, culminating in the final confrontation with Sauron. However, this estimate can fluctuate based on the chosen difficulty level and your familiarity with the Nemesis System. Higher difficulty settings naturally demand more strategic combat and careful planning, potentially extending playtime.
Shadow of War Completionist Time: What to Expect
Aspiring completionists seeking to conquer every region, dominate every fortress, and uncover every secret should prepare for a significantly longer journey. A 100% playthrough of Shadow of War, encompassing all side quests, collectibles, and achievements, can easily exceed 100 hours. This includes:
- Conquering all fortresses: Each region in Mordor features a fortress that must be besieged and captured. This involves strategically weakening enemy forces, recruiting powerful allies, and engaging in large-scale battles.
- Completing Nemesis Missions: The Nemesis System generates unique orc captains and warlords with their own personalities, strengths, and weaknesses. Building relationships with these orcs, either through domination or betrayal, adds significant depth and playtime.
- Collecting Ithildin Doors and Gondorian Artifacts: These hidden collectibles unlock powerful upgrades and provide lore insights, encouraging exploration and adding to the total playtime.
- Maxing out skills and abilities: Fully upgrading Talion’s skill tree and unlocking all abilities requires extensive gameplay and experience grinding.
Shadow of War Fortress Siege Gameplay
Factors Affecting Shadow of War Game Length: Difficulty and Playstyle
While the above estimates provide a general guideline, several factors can significantly impact your total playtime:
- Difficulty Level: Choosing a higher difficulty like “Gravewalker” will significantly increase the challenge and potentially double or triple your completion time. Enemies hit harder, have more health, and require more strategic approaches.
- Exploration vs. Focused Progression: Spending time exploring the vast open world, uncovering hidden locations, and engaging in optional activities will naturally extend your playtime compared to a purely linear approach.
- Nemesis System Engagement: Investing time in building relationships with orcs, participating in their power struggles, and manipulating the hierarchy of Sauron’s army can add dozens of hours to your experience.
How Long is Shadow of War’s DLC?
Shadow of War features several DLC expansions that add new story content, characters, and regions to explore. Each DLC adds several hours of gameplay:
- The Blade of Galadriel: This expansion allows players to control Eltariel, an elite elven warrior, and features a new story campaign and abilities. Expect around 5-8 hours of playtime.
- The Desolation of Mordor: This DLC introduces Baranor, a Gondorian Captain, and offers a survival-focused experience in a harsh desert environment. Expect approximately 8-10 hours to complete.
Shadow of War Orc Nemesis Encounter
Is Shadow of War Worth the Time Investment?
Despite its lengthy playtime, Shadow of War offers a compelling gameplay experience with its unique Nemesis System, fluid combat, and engaging story. The vast open world provides ample opportunities for exploration, conquest, and character customization. While the 100% completion might be a daunting task, the core game and DLC offer a rewarding experience for fans of action RPGs and the Lord of the Rings universe.
Asking the Right Questions: Addressing Shadow of War Playtime Concerns
How long does it take to beat Shadow of War on Nemesis difficulty?
Completing the main story on Nemesis difficulty can take 30-40 hours due to the increased challenge.
How many hours to beat Shadow of War and its DLC?
Including all DLC, a full playthrough could take well over 120 hours for completionists.
How long is Shadow of War compared to the first game, Shadow of Mordor?
Shadow of War is significantly longer than Shadow of Mordor, offering a much larger world and more content.
Shadow of War Open World Exploration
Conclusion
Shadow of War game length varies greatly depending on individual playstyles and objectives. While a focused playthrough of the main story can be completed in a reasonable timeframe, achieving 100% completion demands a substantial time investment. However, the game’s rich content, innovative Nemesis System, and engaging story make it a rewarding experience for those willing to immerse themselves in the world of Middle-earth. Whether you’re a casual player or a dedicated completionist, Shadow of War offers an unforgettable journey through Mordor. Share your own experiences with conquering Mordor in the comments below!
