How Many Hours is FFXIV in Total? A Staggering Amount Over 1500+ Hours of Content Awaits

At over 1500+ hours to fully complete, Final Fantasy XIV contains a staggering amount of content that provides incredible value for the money. Let‘s dive deep into the virtual world of Hydaelyn to understand the immense scope of activities, storylines, and progression FFXIV offers that can easily provide months of entertainment.

Completing the Main Story Quest Alone Takes Over 500 Hours

Here is the estimated time it takes to complete just the Main Scenario Questline (MSQ) of FFXIV including all expansions and major content patches:

• A Realm Reborn – 120 hours
• Post ARR Patches – 30 hours
• Heavensward – 70 hours
• Post HW Patches – 30 hours
• Stormblood – 60 hours
• Post SB Patches – 40 hours
• Shadowbringers – 80 hours
• Post ShB Patches – 40 hours
• Endwalker – 70 hours

Total – Approximately 540 hours (22.5 full days)

This includes only mandatory questing content needed to progress the core story. Yet it already amounts to nearly a full month of playtime!

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activities|Estimated Hours

|-|-|
| Main Story Quests | 540 hours |
| Optional Side Quests | 160 hours |
| Dungeons and Trials | 80 hours |
| Leveling Jobs | 300 hours |
| Professions/Crafting | 160 hours |
| PvP | 80 hours |
| Achievements | 40 hours |
| Housing | 40 hours |
| Social Activities | 40 hours |
| Glamour | 20 hours |
| Miscellaneous | 40 hours |
| Total | 1500 hours |

Side Content Adds Up to 1000+ Hours

FFXIV contains a massive amount of optional content beyond the MSQ that can easily double or triple game time:

• Side Quests: Over 10,000 exist, providing 150+ hours of content

• Jobs: Leveling all jobs to 90 takes over 300 hours

• Dungeons/Trials: Approximately 80+ hours to unlock and complete them all

• Crafting: Leveling Disciple of Hand jobs takes 160+ hours

• Achievements: 1000s provide 40+ hours for completionists

• Player Housing: Decorating and designing a house adds 40+ hours

• PvP: Frontlines, Feast, and Rival Wings provide 80+ hours

• Collectables: Mounts, minions, glamours, orchestrion rolls, etc.

• Social Activities: RP, performances, nightclubs, weddings, etc.

Adding up all optional content brings the total playtime to over 1500 hours – equivalent to 2 whole months of play!

Playtime Comparison to Popular Single-Player RPG Franchises

To appreciate FFXIV‘s scope, let‘s compare it to completing popular single-player RPGs:

• The Witcher 3: 51 hours main story, 86 hours for completionists

• Skyrim: 38 hours main story, 90 hours 100%

• Fallout 4: 39 hours main story, 87 hours for 100%

• Dragon Age Inquisition: 49 hours main story, 141 hours compleionist

Even giant single-player RPGs often top out around 100 hours. FFXIV dwarfs them all with over 10x that amount of content!

Evaluating FFXIV‘s Value Proposition

With such a huge scope of activities – is taking the plunge into FFXIV worth it? Here is an in-depth evaluation for different player types:

For Story-Oriented Players

FFXIV features a grand, overarching narrative spanning 5 full JRPG-style storylines with emotional payoffs – veteran players praise it as some of the best storytelling in gaming. If you crave adventure and lore, you‘ll struggle to find a better value.

For Social & Casual Players

The welcoming community and numerous social/casual activities like glamour collecting, performances, and decorating a house make FFXIV a relaxed world to hang out in with friends.

For Hardcore Progression Players

Although FFXIV is story-focused, challenging battle content like Savage raids scratches the progression itch at endgame. But players seeking hardcore raiding as the primary goal may feel limited.

For Goal-Oriented Players

Achievements, collections, leveling all jobs, and housing provide incremental goals for hundreds of hours. Alt-friendliness lets you collect most everything on one character.

For MMO Newcomers

The free trial lets you experience unlimited play up to level 60. Progression is very linear at first, easing you into the world. Thousands of hours of new adventures await.

For Solo Players

Nearly all content can be done with AI companions, so you can focus on the story and take your time without needing to group up. The community is very welcoming if you want to be social.

For Economical Players

Unlike pay-to-win games, FFXIV offers a fair subscription model where everyone has access to the same content updates. You get tremendous value compared to a standard $60 RPG.

For Laptop Gamers

Modest system requirements allow FFXIV to run smoothly on many mainstream laptops. Customizable graphical settings help optimize performance on lower end hardware.

No matter your playstyle, FFXIV can provide hundreds if not over a thousand hours of entertainment for the cost. The sheer volume of content alone makes it perhaps the best value proposition in gaming.

Comparing Major Expansions

While all FFXIV expansions offer hundreds of hours of gameplay, some stand out in scope. Here is how they compare in terms of content volume:

Heavensward

With a heavy focus on main story quests guiding you through epic dragon slaying adventures, Heavensward provides more linear gameplay centered around narrative. Fantastic story but lighter on side content.

Estimated hours: 380 hours

Stormblood

Stormblood opens up huge new areas like Gyr Abania but features slightly less MSQ hours than other expansions. However, deep job/class adjustments and additions provide more replayability.

Estimated hours: 400 hours

Shadowbringers

Shadowbringers is packed with critical MSQ content and introduces huge new systems like Trusts and New Game+. The zippy zone travel also makes side content quicker to complete.

Estimated hours: 500 hours

Endwalker

As the finale of the 10+ year storyline, Endwalker is incredibly story-heavy with grand spectacles and set pieces. While lighter on battle content, the MSQ playtime is lengthy and satisfying.

Estimated hours: 410 hours

Maximizing Playtime With Recent Changes

Due to FFXIV‘s rising popularity, the devs have made a few changes to reduce login queues and server congestion:

• Increased Free Trial cap to Level 60: Lets you enjoy 100s of hours of content without a sub

• Added idle kick timer: Logs you out after 30 minutes AFK to open up server space

• Suspended sales: Temporarily halts new purchases to ease server loads

While inconvenient at times, these measures ultimately allow more players to experience FFXIV‘s ocean of content.

Conclusion

With over 1500+ hours of gameplay spanning immersive storylines, endless side activities, collectables to earn, and incremental goals to achieve, FFXIV offers one of the most staggering amounts of entertainment for your money out of any video game.

The development team continues providing massive content updates every 3-4 months along with frequent QoL improvements and communication with fans. While the sheer scope can feel intimidating for newcomers, taking the time to immerse yourself in the charming world of Hydaelyn is an investment that pays back tenfold.

So take the leap, enjoy the journey, and see everything Eorzea has in store – you‘ll be embarking on an adventure beyond anything you could have imagined! Let us know when you finally finish it all.