How Long to Beat Red Dead Redemption 2: Ultimate Edition – 50 Hours for Story, 180+ for 100%

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Red Dead Redemption 2‘s vast open world and plethora of activities can keep cowboys and cowgirls saddle for weeks or months. For gamers debating whether to take the plunge into this western epic, a key question is just how much gameplay is actually included? And is the Ultimate Edition worth paying extra for?

In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll cover everything you need to know about beating RDR2‘s main story, achieving 100% completion, and if the Ultimate Edition bonuses are worthwhile.

Main Story Length – Around 50 Hours

For players focused solely on completing Red Dead 2‘s critical storyline path as efficiently as possible, the main story will take approximately 50 hours.

This includes racing through the 60 core story missions that make up the 5 chapters and epilogue. Very few detours, no side quests, just pure plot.

Here‘s a breakdown of how long it takes to finish each chapter:

As you can see, Chapter 2 and 3 are the real meat, with the most important story moments. Chapter 5 rushes towards the dramatic conclusion. The epilogue neatly wraps up the tale.

All up, 50 hours is on the longer side for a modern AAA game campaign. But it makes sense given RDR2‘s sprawling scope and level of polish. Take your time to soak in the story, characters and cinematic moments.

You‘ll complete around 60% of all available missions on this story run. So there‘s a ton more optional content once the credits roll!

100% Completion – Around 180 Hours

For cowpokes who want to experience everything Arthur Morgan‘s vast open world has to offer, only 100% completion will do. This means completing the main story, all side content, and every other challenge.

Here‘s an overview of everything you‘ll need to do:

• Complete all Story Missions – around 60
• Finish all Side Missions – around 76
• Find every Collectible – 43 Weapons, 10 Dreamcatchers, 10 Rock Carvings, 30 Dinosaur Bones
• Complete every Compendium entry – skin all animals, study every plant
• Max out Health, Stamina and Dead Eye Cores
• Achieve 100% in all Challenges – Bandit, Explorer, Herbalist, etc
• Finish all Activities – Poker, Bounties, Fishing, etc
• Fully upgrade Camp and Satchels
• Discover every Location
• Upgrade all Equipment – All kits, all satchel expansions
• Reach Maximum Honor

It‘s a monumental amount of content that will require at least 180 hours for most gamers.

Here‘s a quick breakdown of how long each activity will roughly take:

As you can see, there are weeks worth of adventures to be had! Very few titles can compete with RDR2 for sheer volume.

The sense of satisfaction exploring every corner of Rockstar‘s lush frontier is incredible. But it represents a massive time investment. Only the most committed cowpokes will reach the 100% summit.

Is the Red Dead Redemption 2 Ultimate Edition Worthwhile?

Now you know the sheer scope of the base game, is it worth paying extra for the RDR2 Ultimate Edition?

Here‘s what‘s included in each version:

Red Dead Redemption 2 Standard Edition

• Base Game
• Pre-order Bonuses:
  • War Horse
  • Outlaw Survival Kit
  • Cash for Red Dead Online

Red Dead Redemption 2 Ultimate Edition

• Base Game
• Pre-order Bonuses
• Additional Bonuses
  • Bonus Outfits and Rank Bonuses for Red Dead Online
  • Black Chestnut Thoroughbred Horse
  • Free Access to Survivor Camp Theme
  • Free Access to Weapons in Online

Given the $40 price bump, are the Ultimate extras worthwhile? Let‘s dig into the key pros and cons:

Pros of the Ultimate Edition:

• Exclusive Chestnut Thoroughbred has excellent Speed and Acceleration – one of the best horses in the game
• Additional weapons and survivor camp access provide gameplay advantages in Red Dead Online
• Bonus XP boosts also useful for ranking up online
• Steelbook case is nice collectible for hardcore fans

Cons of the Ultimate Edition:

• Online items don‘t affect single player experience
• True value of online bonuses unknown with multiplayer in beta
• $40 very steep for minor cosmetic upgrades and small gameplay boosts

Is the Upgrade Worth It?

For the average gamer, the Ultimate Edition isn‘t essential. The bonuses are relatively minor and won‘t dramatically change the core RDR2 experience. And the base game already provides tremendous value.

However, if you plan to heavily invest in Red Dead Online long-term, the extras will come in handy. Though still probably not mandatory buys.

Personally, I don‘t think the Ultimate Edition is worth it for most players. The Standard Edition provides 100+ hours of utterly amazing single player content without missing much.

However, if you really want every possible cosmetic item, the additional horse and weapons will provide small advantages in online. Just know these bonuses are not game changing.

The Bottom Line

Red Dead Redemption 2 is a masterpiece no matter what version you play. The Standard Edition will provide weeks of mesmerising adventures across a jaw-dropping open world.

The Ultimate Edition‘s perks are relatively minor for steep price. But if you plan to play online extensively, they offer slight advantages.

I hope this detailed guide helps you decide which version is best for you. And more importantly, assists with setting gameplay expectations before embarking on this unforgettable frontier epic.

Saddle up cowboy! Just be ready for an adventure taking 50 hours minimum, and over 180 hours for full completion. Yeehaw!