When you’re plotting your next marathon session, one question towers above all: how long is Death Stranding 2 to beat? Whether you’re barreling through Sam Porter Bridges’ main saga or wiring up every outpost in the Outback, here’s the ultimate Death Stranding 2 time-to-beat guide—packed with playstyle estimates, community intel, and a few pro tips to help you shave off precious hours.
Main Story Runtime – 40–50 Hours
On a straight line from Episode 1’s opening monologue to the final curtain call, expect the critical path to land you somewhere between 40 and 50 hours of playtime. That window assumes you’re breezing past most side orders, leaning on shared zip-rails, and ignoring the siren call of every photo-op.
“I hit Episode 17’s last delivery in about 42 hours,” says one tester—“but I was laser-focused, zero detours.”
Pro Tip: Deploy communal rope lines and pre-built vehicle ramps where you can. A handful of player-constructed bridges can trim off minutes (and frustration) every delivery.
Standard Playthrough – 50–70 Hours
For most porters, the sweet spot lies in mixing story beats with a dash of side mission flavor. Pausing to tackle Fragile’s optional orders, scout rogue MULE camps, or catalog a few scenic vistas will tack on 10–20 hours, bringing the total to around 50–70 hours. This is where Death Stranding 2 hums—balancing Kojima’s cinematic drama with the tactile satisfaction of chaining deliveries.
Picture yourself: you’re halfway up a rocky ridge, sun blazing, only to discover a stray memory chip hidden behind a boulder. One detour becomes three… and suddenly you’re nodding along to Woodkid’s procedural soundtrack, wondering where the last two hours went.
Completionist Run – 70–100+ Hours
If you’re chasing 100% completion—every order, every collectible, every trophy—you’re signing up for a true odyssey. Most completionists report 70 to 100+ hours, depending on how optimized your route is and how many community structures you tap into.
- Facility Mastery: Level every terminal and BB pod to max connection—20+ hours.
- Hidden Memorabilia: Scan all memory chips, Ark files, and rare artifacts—another 15–25 hours.
- Perfect Delivery Streaks: Squeeze 5-star ratings on every order, which means tweaking load-outs and rerouting mid-mission.
It’s a grind, sure—but think of the bragging rights (and the Platinum Trophy) that await on the other side.
Difficulty Modes & Speedrunning Tricks
- Story Difficulty (Casual): Skip cutscenes, ignore side content—clears in ~40 hours.
- Normal Difficulty (Balanced): Moderate side content, full cutscenes—50 hours is your baseline.
- Speedruns: Hardcore porters have already clocked sub-30-hour main-only runs by memorizing every spawn and zip-rail location. Want to shave off more time? Master the all-terrain bike and learn jump-boost techniques.
Why Death Stranding 2’s Length Feels “Just Right”
Unlike its predecessor—which hovered around 40 hours for mains—DS2’s expanded Australia map and deeper online weave reward explorers without overstaying its welcome. The pacing nods to Kojima’s obsession with connection: every side quest you pick up is another strand in a vast, player-driven tapestry. It feels long because it is long—but in the best possible way.
Final Verdict
- Story-only porters: Block out 40–50 hours.
- Balanced adventurers: Plan for 50–70 hours.
- Completionist maniacs: Brace for 70–100+ hours.
So, will you sprint to the end credits or chart every hidden ridge first? Share your projected playtime and detour plans below—and may your BB stay calm!
