Returnal: How Long Does It Take To Beat?

In Housemarque’s Returnal, you take on the role of Selene as she tries to figure out the mysteries behind the alien world of Atropos. As you go through cycle after cycle, you will begin to unearth the mysteries behind the story. Battling aliens, surviving, and picking up new skills and gear are all part of the experience. If you need a breakdown of how long does it take to beat Returnal, this guide is perfect for you.

How Long Does It Take To Beat Returnal

When it comes to the story content in Returnal, simply going through the six different biomes and taking care of the different bosses in the game will set you on the way to the end of the game.

As you learn the different mechanics required for survival, you will no doubt be more well-equipped to handle the challenges ahead. In total, you will have to overcome the following biomes:

• Overgrown Ruins
• Crimson Wastes
• Derelict Citadel
• Echoing Ruins
• Fractured Wastes
• Abyssal Scar

Along with the many challenging foes and bosses, this will likely take you 12 to 15 hours, depending on your skills and luck. Returnal has a lot of RNG situations, and getting the right weapons with the right traits can save you plenty of grief down the line.

Completing All Three Acts

However, that is not quite the end. Beating Returnal does not mean the story has been uncovered. The game is broken up into three Acts. Acts 1 and 2 consist of the front three and subsequent three biomes respectively.

However, if you want to complete Act 3, you will need to have some luck on your side.

During the course of the game, you will experience several House sequences. Following the second to last encounter, you will find the House locked again. This is when you will be able to start finding Sunface fragments that were previously inaccessible. There is one in each biome, and you need all six to see the full ending.

Once you have the full collection, head back to the now-unlocked House, and try to piece together just what is going on in Returnal. The randomness involved may take you up to 20 hours to see everything, but thank goodness the game is fun.

That’s all there is to know about how long does it take to beat Returnal. For more tips, tricks, and info tied to the game, go check out our guide wiki.

If not, take a look at other related articles below. They’ll cover everything from the latest Returnal news and trailers to our review of the game.