According to the developers, Mortal Shell takes between 15 and 20 hours to beat for the average player. Completionists may take longer.
That information was released ahead of the game’s PC beta, alongside a new gameplay trailer. And it seems to hold up now that the game is out on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
The length of Mortal Shell partly depends on how much exploration you do. There’s plenty of lore to find, and there are several secrets to uncover, including hidden locations and important items. That completion time can be extended, too, with new game plus, which offers players more collectibles, challenges, and opportunities on top of the base game.
How long it takes to beat the game also depends on your skill and how fast you learn new systems.
For some, like me, Mortal Shell is a bit harder than Dark Souls. I’m still learning how to parry because I can’t seem to get the timing down. Though, I’ve already found all of the shells and weapons in about six hours.
For others, such as John Schutt, who reviewed the game for us, it’s relatively easier. He beat the game in about 10 hours by mainlining the story, wrecking through bosses like Grisha, Tarsus, and Imrod with little problem.
To put some context around Mortal Shell’s length, How Long to Beat says it takes about 46 hours to beat the main story in the original Dark Souls. A completionist run clocks in at about 105 hours. Bloodborne comes in at about 34 hours and 76 hours, respectively. And Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice takes roughly 28 hours and 69 hours.
Despite the help of Sester Genessa, the world of Mortal Shell can be rough, no matter how long it takes to beat or your final completion time. If you’re looking for tips or some extra help, take a look at our growing list of guides, which includes a complete item familiarity list and info on how to upgrade your weapons.