How Long is the GTA 5 Story Mode in 2024?
For gamers jumping into GTA 5‘s acclaimed story mode, whether for the first time or revisiting Los Santos, a common question asked is "how long will it take me to beat?" According to aggregated data from completionist players, focussed speed-runners and my own extensive experience, the average playtime ranges from 31 hours on the low end to 81 hours for full completion.
Just Getting Through the Main Story Takes Around 31 Hours
Based on Rockstar Games‘ reported 69 core story missions, most first-time players spend 30-35 hours completing just the critical path. This involves pivotal events like the Union Depository heist, blasting through planned robberies as Franklin, Michael and Trevor, and climactic end-game choices that dramatically reshape their lives.
31 hours allows you to experience GTA 5‘s defining plot points across Los Santos and Blaine County. However, it is still only ~60% of the full experience according to analysis by CBR.com. You‘ll miss out on crucial side adventures that add depth to the characters. The next section covers how extra content can double your playtime.
100% Completion Spans 81 Hours – What Does This Entail?
For completionist players who want to unravel all there is to offer in GTA 5‘s vast open world, the average clear time is around 81 hours according to aggregated data on HowLongToBeat.
Reaching the coveted 100% involves:
- 69 Main Missions
- 57 Stranger & Freaks Side Missions
- 14 Random Events
- 20 Hobbies & Pastimes
- 30 Properties and Businesses
- 100 Letter Scraps
- 50 Spaceship Parts
- 30 Nuclear Waste Items
- 15 Stunt Jumps
- 200 Wildlife Photography
As shown above, you‘ll need to scour Los Santos and Blaine Country to find collectibles, partake in recreational activities like tennis, yoga or cinema, invest in profitable properties, complete varied side missions known as "Strangers and Freaks", and check off a range of other checklist tasks.
It is a completionist gamer‘s dream, but certainly an arduous journey for more casual players. Let‘s explore why playtimes can vary so drastically.
Playtime Depends Greatly on Gameplay Focus and Difficulty
Perhaps the most significant contributor to GTA 5‘s fluctuation in clear times is whether players charge through main missions or take time to smell the roses. According to IGN India, some of the factors impacting playtime include:
Focus on Side Content: Prioritizing Strangers & Freaks missions, collectible hunting etc adds ~20 hours.
Game Difficulty: Hard difficulty increases enemy damage and is less forgiving of player mistakes – increasing playtime.
Using Guides: Following collectible maps saves hours over undirected searching in Los Santos‘ vast world.
In addition to the above, player experience with previous GTA games and shooter genre mastery impacts first-run success. With so many variables at play, GTA 5‘s story completion times range wildly – explaining the 31 to 81 hour spread.
How Does the Expanded & Enhanced Edition Compare?
Released in early 2022 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles, GTA 5 Expanded & Enhanced offers visual upgrades like 4K resolution and 60 FPS frame-rates for smoother performance. Depth of field, texture and weather effects are also enhanced.
Despite these graphical improvements however, average clear times are almost identical to the original release according to Rockstar Intel. The core amount of story and optional content remains unchanged. Though Los Santos now dazzles more than ever before, you can expect the same 31-81 hour completion journey.
Regardless of the chosen gameplay focus, from tight main story runs to leisurely 100% checklists, Grand Theft Auto V stands as one of gaming‘s deepest single-player experiences. Its epic three-protagonist journey through careers in crime still captivates nearly 10 years from launch.
With visual upgrades cementing new-gen console ports as the definitive editions, there has never been a better time to tour Rockstar‘s acclaimed depiction of Southern California chaos. Just be sure to set aside 30-80 hours to fully embrace all that Los Santos has to offer!
