Paul Sage, Creative Director on Borderlands 3, mentioned in an interview that it will take you around 30 hours to complete the main storyline of the game. If you compare this to previous Borderlands games then Borderlands 3 clocks in around the same time as Borderlands 2. According to ‘How Long to Play’ it takes players around 31 hours to complete the main quest of that game. This all depends on your play style but it’s an indication of what to expect from Borderlands 3. Here is a comparison to the other games.
Playtime
“If you beeline it through, and I mean beelining it through, it might take you 30 hours to complete the main story.”
Paul Sage – Creative Director Borderlands 3
Borderlands (1)
- Main Story: 22½ Hours
- Main + Extra: 35 Hours
- Completionist: 63½ Hours
Borderlands 2
- Main Story: 30½ Hours
- Main + Extra: 52½ Hours
- Completionist: 115 Hours
Borderlands the Pre-Sequel
- Main Story: 17½ Hours
- Main + Extra: 28 Hours
- Completionist: 49 Hours
Borderlands 3 (Updated: 2022)
- Main Story: 23 Hours
- Main + Extra: 43 Hours
- Completionist: 70½ Hours
Side Quests and End Game
Playing those 30 hours doesn’t mean you are finished with the game. As always Borderlands games are packed with side quests. While these are not necessary to complete the game they do help you level up in the game and earn cool new loot. Then there is the end game content and judging from previous tweets by Randy Pitchford there will be a lot to do. In the hands-on playable demo during the Borderlands 3 gameplay reveal we already saw Guardian Rank. At first sight, this looks a bit like the Badass Rank from Borderlands 2. Guardian Rank unlocks after you completed the main story. Another thing you can do is farm for legendary gear. During my hands-on time, I managed to get a few legendary drops from the mini-bosses.
Personal Experience
I have played all the previous Borderlands games and I can tell you they have kept me entertained for a lot of hours. I always pick up all the side quests before heading out on the next main story quest. The previous Borderlands games also had a New Game+ mode, True Vault Hunter Mode and Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode, that let you level up further. After completing the game for the second time I would start farming bosses for their legendary weapons to get them all. I would say, I definitely had my money’s worth.
