How Long to Beat Games - A Guide to Using Playtime Data

A Beginner's Guide to How Long to Beat

For avid gamers starting a new game, one of the most common questions is "how long to beat this?". The length of a game is a major factor for many players when deciding which new game to purchase or invest time into playing. Luckily, the website HowLongToBeat.com provides a huge database of game lengths submitted by users to help players estimate how many hours it will take to complete hundreds of different games.

What is How Long to Beat?

How Long to Beat, commonly shortened to HL2B, is a user-driven gaming statistics website that allows users to submit play times for games they have completed. The database covers all platforms from PC to console to mobile games.

The goal is to provide estimates for how long it takes the average gamer to beat a game's main story, complete all main + extra content, and 100% complete everything. Times are divided by gameplay style such as leisurely, normally, or rushing.

With data aggregated from thousands of real players, HowLongToBeat gives gamers an accurate idea of what to expect timewise from a vast library of games when trying to budget time or decide what to play next.

How Does How Long to Beat Work?

The How Long to Beat database is powered entirely by user submissions. After creating a free account, players can search for any game and submit their personal completion time along with their playstyle and platform.

The more submissions received for a game, the more accurate the time estimates. HL2B uses statistical algorithms to calculate average playtimes and exclude extreme outliers.

Times are displayed as main story, main + extras, completionist, and polled ranges for leisurely, normally, and rushed playstyles. There is also data on average total players for each platform and completion percentages.

Using How Long to Beat Estimates

HowLongToBeat can be used as a guideline when deciding which new game to purchase or play next. If you only have 10 hours to dedicate, find a game in that range for your preferred genre. If you want a game to really dive into, sort by longer completionist times.

The different playstyles are useful for gamers who like to take it slow and explore versus those rushing to the end. The averages provide a realistic expectation while the ranges show best and worst case scenarios.

Of course, individuals may play faster or slower. But HL2B data provides an objective starting point before diving into a new game.

Tips for Using How Long to Beat Effectively

Here are some top tips to use How Long to Beat efficiently as part of your gaming strategy:

Compare Playstyles

Don't just look at the default "normal" playstyle time. Check leisurely and rushed as well to see the full range for your gameplay habits.

Factor in Time Per Session

Consider the average game length, but also how much time you personally have per gaming session. A 20 hour game could take 4 hours or 10+ sessions.

Check by Platform

Playtimes can vary across PC, console, mobile etc based on technical performance. Compare within your platforms.

Read Recent Comments

Skim user comments on times to see if any major updates, expansions, or changes affect lengths.

Compare Genres

Certain genres like RPGs take longer on average than platformers or shooters. Know typical times for your preferred genres.

Factor in Difficulty

If you play on harder difficulties or aren't as skilled, you may need more time than average estimates.

Check Completion Data

Low completion percentages mean a game is lengthy. But it could also indicate a challenging game.

Search By Series

See how sequel playtimes compare to previous games in a series before committing.

Compare Modes

Some games offer shorter story modes vs longer creative or online modes. Check times for your preferred modes.

Help Contribute to How Long to Beat

Since How Long to Beat relies on gamer submissions, contributing your own playtimes helps improve the accuracy of the data. Here are some tips for submitting your times:

Finish the Game First

Only submit playtimes for games you've fully completed based on your selected parameters.

Record Your Time

Use a timer or achievement dates to record your accurate start to finish playtime.

Select Your Playstyle

Did you rush or take your time? Be honest about how you played to help others.

Submit Multiple Times

If you replayed a game in different styles, submit each unique playthrough.

Update Old Entries

If you submit a time years after release, make sure major updates didn't affect length.

Check Your Platform

Double check you are submitting for the correct platform you played on.

Comment on Discrepancies

If you see a vastly different time than yours, comment why you think so for others.

Following these tips helps improve the accuracy and recency of HL2B's crowd-sourced data for all gamers to benefit from.

Limitations of How Long to Beat

While How Long to Beat provides useful general estimates, there are some limitations to keep in mind:

Individual Playstyles Vary

Your personal playstyle, skill level, and ability to focus can make your time significantly longer or shorter.

Content Updates Change Times

New expansions and DLC can make completion times longer for newer players.

Data Gaps for New Games

There is limited data for very newly released games that fewer users have completed.

Lack of Context on Difficulty

While times differentiate playstyles, they don't account for game difficulty.

Speedrunners Skew Data

Expert speedrun times don't reflect average playtimes realistically.

Platform Optimization Varies

Performance differences between platforms like PC vs Switch affect times.

So HowLongToBeat should always be used as an estimate, not a definitive guide. Take the averages as starting points before your personal playthrough.

The Bottom Line

HowLongToBeat.com is a valuable resource for gamers to quickly reference expected playtimes for thousands of games. While the crowdsourced data has some limitations, it provides reasonably accurate ballpark estimates to set expectations when budgeting time for new games. Use HL2B to make informed choices about what games to play and support the community by contributing your own completion times.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.