How Long Does It Take to Beat Assassin’s Creed Odyssey?

When Assassin’s Creed Odyssey launched in 2018, it represented one of the boldest shifts in the series’ history. The franchise that once focused on silent assassinations and historical intrigue had transformed into a full-scale role-playing adventure. With branching storylines, multiple endings, and one of the largest open worlds Ubisoft had ever built, Odyssey was a massive experience in every sense.

It is also one of the most time-consuming. The game’s vast world of islands, cities, and battlefields can take well over a hundred hours to explore fully. But exactly how long it takes to beat Assassin’s Creed Odyssey depends on how you play. Whether you are chasing the main story, diving into side content, or aiming for total completion, your playtime will vary dramatically.

Let’s break it down by playstyle and explain how the hours add up.

Main Story: 45-60 Hours

If your goal is to experience the main story from beginning to end without getting distracted, expect to spend about 45 to 60 hours.

The story follows either Kassandra or Alexios, two mercenaries caught in the heart of the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta. The narrative spans multiple threads: a personal family journey, the battle between political powers, and the secret conflict with the Cult of Kosmos.

While the campaign is engaging, Odyssey does not allow players to rush straight through it. Level requirements gate progress, forcing you to explore, complete contracts, or participate in side activities to keep pace with the story’s difficulty curve. The game encourages exploration, so even players focused purely on the main missions will naturally wander into detours.

The pacing is designed to balance storytelling with progression. You might spend an hour investigating cult activity, then travel across the sea for a war conquest battle, before returning to family drama on another island. The result is a campaign that feels epic and personal at the same time.

Players who focus on main missions and a few side quests for leveling will likely complete the story in around 50 hours. Those who take their time exploring regions, engaging with dialogue options, and upgrading their ship and weapons may stretch closer to 60.

Main Story + Side Quests: 80-100 Hours

For most players, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey becomes far more than its main quest. The game is packed with meaningful side missions that range from short errands to full narrative arcs. Many of them have branching paths and choices that influence your reputation or affect later story moments.

Spending time on side quests adds roughly 30 to 40 additional hours to your total playtime, bringing your experience to around 80 to 100 hours overall.

These quests flesh out the world beautifully. In one storyline, you might help a playwright prepare for a performance in Athens. In another, you might assist a Spartan soldier fighting to defend his family. Some side quests delve into Greek mythology, letting you encounter the Minotaur, the Cyclops, or Medusa.

The side content also provides valuable gear and resources. Weapons, armor, and engravings improve your combat efficiency, while questlines connected to legendary characters often unlock unique abilities.

This is also the sweet spot for most players. You experience nearly everything the game has to offer without falling into repetition. You get the depth of the world, the satisfaction of side content, and the emotional weight of the story without feeling overwhelmed by the scale.

Completionist: 130-160 Hours

If you are a completionist, prepare for a long journey. Fully clearing Assassin’s Creed Odyssey can take between 130 and 160 hours depending on your pace.

The world of Odyssey is enormous. The map covers much of the Aegean Sea, with dozens of islands and regions to explore. Each contains its own points of interest, forts, treasure locations, tombs, and underwater ruins.

Completionists will want to track down every Cult of Kosmos member, clear every fort, synchronize every viewpoint, and max out every ship and gear upgrade. There are hundreds of side activities, contracts, and random encounters that can easily double your total playtime.

The mercenary system adds even more to do. As you build notoriety, new bounty hunters come after you, each with unique weapons and tactics. Defeating them all requires patience and skill.

Collectibles also contribute to your playtime. You will find ancient tablets, engravings for weapon customization, and artifacts tied to the game’s deeper lore. The world rewards players who explore thoroughly, but it can take dozens of hours to uncover everything.

Those who love ticking every box will find Odyssey one of Ubisoft’s most satisfying sandboxes, but it demands commitment.

DLC Expansions: 25-40 Hours

The two major DLC story arcs add a substantial amount of extra content, bringing the total closer to 150-200 hours for full completion.

Legacy of the First Blade is a smaller, more grounded story that ties directly into the origins of the Assassin Brotherhood. It unfolds across three episodes and takes around 10 to 15 hours to complete. The missions are solid, though they lean heavily on existing gameplay systems.

The Fate of Atlantis is the real highlight. This DLC dives deep into mythology, letting players explore Elysium, the Underworld, and Atlantis itself. Each area has its own storylines, environments, and mechanics. It feels more like a sequel than an expansion and easily adds 20 to 25 hours of additional playtime.

If you include both DLC arcs and their optional objectives, you are looking at roughly 30 to 40 extra hours.

Speedruns and Streamlined Playthroughs

Speedrunners have completed Assassin’s Creed Odyssey in under 40 hours by skipping nearly all side content and optimizing fast travel routes. While this is technically possible, it is not an ideal way to play.

Skipping exploration undermines one of Odyssey’s greatest strengths. The game’s world is built for discovery. Even short detours often lead to new gear, interesting characters, or story connections that deepen the experience.

Players who try to rush the main story might also find the pacing uneven, as some areas require a certain level of progression. Unless you are replaying the game, a streamlined approach tends to feel incomplete rather than efficient.

How Odyssey Compares to Other Assassin’s Creed Games

Among all the mainline entries, Odyssey sits near the top for total playtime. Only Valhalla is comparable in size, but Odyssey’s map feels denser, with more variety in regions and a stronger mix of grounded history and myth.

Where Black Flag and Origins focused on compact but rich experiences, Odyssey expands in every direction. It is both a strength and a weakness: the scale is stunning, but it can easily overwhelm players who prefer shorter, more focused adventures.

Tips for Managing Your Time in Odyssey

If you want to enjoy Assassin’s Creed Odyssey without letting it dominate your gaming schedule, there are a few ways to manage your playtime effectively:

• Prioritize gold-marked quests: These are the story-driven arcs that connect meaningfully to the main narrative.
• Use Ikaros regularly: Your eagle companion can scout objectives and save you from unnecessary wandering.
• Upgrade selectively: Focus on the gear you use most rather than upgrading everything you find.
• Fast travel strategically: Unlock synchronization points early in each region to reduce travel time.
• Set small goals: Tackle one region at a time instead of trying to complete the map all at once.

By pacing yourself, you can enjoy Odyssey’s massive scale without burnout.

Final Thoughts

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is one of the most ambitious games Ubisoft has ever made. It is vast, detailed, and packed with stories that bring Ancient Greece to life. Whether you are dueling cultists in the mountains of Laconia, exploring underwater ruins near Crete, or sailing across the Aegean under a sunset sky, every moment feels cinematic.

If you focus purely on the main story, expect to spend around 50 hours. If you mix in side quests and exploration, plan for 80 to 100 hours. And if you intend to experience everything – every island, every cultist, and every DLC – the total can exceed 150 hours.

It is long, yes, but Odyssey rewards the time you give it. Its world feels alive, its story stays engaging, and its sense of adventure rarely fades. Few games manage to blend history, myth, and personal choice as well as this one.

For players who want an epic journey they can lose themselves in, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is absolutely worth the time investment.