If you’ve been watching Star Wars Outlaws trailers and wondering whether you have time for it, you’re not alone. As gaming adults, we want adventures we can actually finish – not another 100-hour epic that sits half-complete on the dashboard. Ubisoft’s first open-world Star Wars game looks massive, but how long does it really take to beat?
Let’s break it down so you’ll know what kind of commitment you’re signing up for, whether you plan to sprint through the story or explore every planet in the Outer Rim.
Main Story Length
If you stick to the core missions, Star Wars Outlaws will take about 15 to 20 hours to complete.
You’ll guide Kay Vess – a small-time scoundrel with a big heist on her hands – through a focused storyline that balances stealth, shooting, and classic Star Wars set-pieces. The pacing is tight; missions flow naturally from one planet to another, and you’re rarely forced into long stretches of busywork.
That makes Outlaws surprisingly manageable for players who just want the story. You can knock it out over two or three long evenings or a weekend of steady play.
Story + Side Content
Most players will blend the main story with a few detours: side contracts, reputation missions, and exploration. That balanced approach runs about 25 to 30 hours.
You’ll likely spend time improving your reputation with syndicates such as the Hutts or Pykes, chasing bounties, and discovering optional stories hidden in cantinas or outposts. These side threads add flavor without overwhelming you.
Think of it as the “goldilocks” run – enough content to feel immersed in the galaxy but short enough that you’ll actually see the credits.
Completionist Playthrough
If you aim to see and do everything – all side missions, collectibles, reputation tiers, ship upgrades, and achievements – expect 40 to 50 hours or more.
Each planet contains unique ecosystems and points of interest: bustling markets on Cantonica, desert outposts on Tatooine, icy corridors on Kijimi, and new worlds like Toshara and Akiva. Exploring them thoroughly adds dozens of hours.
Completionist play also means experimenting with different approaches to missions (stealth versus full combat), uncovering all ship parts, and maxing out faction alliances. It’s the kind of run for players who love checking every box – rewarding, but definitely a marathon.
What Affects Playtime
| Factor | Impact on Time | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Play Style | Fast → 15 hrs • Explorer → 45 hrs | Focused players move quickly; wanderers double their time. |
| Difficulty Setting | Easier = quicker | Tougher combat adds retries and planning time. |
| Exploration Habits | High impact | Each planet invites roaming and side activities. |
| Reputation System | Medium | Building trust with syndicates unlocks extra missions. |
| Collectibles & Upgrades | High | Hunting ship parts and cosmetics can extend play by 10+ hrs. |
How It Compares to Similar Games
| Game | Main Story | Story + Extras | Completionist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Star Wars Outlaws | 15 – 20 hrs | 25 – 30 hrs | 40 – 50 hrs | Balanced length, flexible pacing. |
| Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order | 15 – 20 hrs | 25 – 30 hrs | ~35 hrs | Linear structure, fewer side areas. |
| Star Wars Jedi: Survivor | 25 – 30 hrs | 35 – 40 hrs | 50 – 60 hrs | Larger maps, more exploration. |
| Assassin’s Creed Odyssey | 40 hrs | 70 hrs | 100 + hrs | Massive RPG; huge commitment. |
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 35 hrs | 60 hrs | 100 + hrs | Deeper narrative but heavier time sink. |
| Horizon Forbidden West | 25 hrs | 45 hrs | 80 hrs | Similar open-world structure. |
Compared to other open-world titles, Outlaws lands on the shorter, more approachable side. It’s still expansive, but it doesn’t demand the kind of life-consuming schedule that Odyssey or Witcher 3 require.
Planet Design and Travel Time
Travel is a big factor in total playtime. Each planet has multiple regions connected by fast travel points once unlocked. Early on, you’ll spend more time in transit – flying between spaceports or piloting Kay’s ship, the Trailblazer – but travel gradually becomes quicker as new shortcuts open.
Exploration feels organic rather than forced. There are collectibles and side contracts on every world, but they’re tied to the environment instead of checklist fatigue. If you lose an extra hour wandering through a canyon just to photograph twin suns setting over a desert outpost, you won’t regret it.
Mission Structure and Variety
The variety of missions also affects pacing. Main quests are cinematic and story-driven, while side activities include:
- Heists and infiltrations that test stealth and planning.
- Dogfights in orbit with optional bounty contracts.
- Syndicate favors that adjust your reputation meter.
- Exploration challenges tied to treasure maps or rumors overheard in cantinas.
Some missions can be completed in ten minutes; others unfold over multiple steps across planets. This diversity keeps the game fresh across long sessions.
Pacing for Busy Players
If you only have a few hours a week, Outlaws fits nicely. The story is segmented into concise missions, and progress autosaves frequently. You can hop in for 45 minutes, finish a job, and log off without losing momentum.
That design makes it one of the most time-friendly open-world games of this generation. There’s still depth for completionists, but casual players won’t feel left behind.
Replay Value
Star Wars Outlaws includes moral choices and branching paths tied to syndicate reputation. Supporting or betraying different groups alters dialogue, prices, and sometimes mission availability.
However, most players will get their fill in a single run. You can revisit planets post-story to clean up side content instead of starting from scratch, so replaying from the beginning isn’t necessary unless you want to make radically different choices.
Efficiency Tips
If you want to keep your total hours reasonable:
- Focus on one or two syndicates. Deepening a few relationships yields better rewards than spreading your time thin.
- Upgrade intentionally. Ship and gear upgrades are easy to chase endlessly; invest in the ones that complement your play style.
- Use fast travel early. Unlock hubs as soon as possible to reduce downtime.
- Don’t chase every collectible. Many are cosmetic – grab them if you stumble across them, not out of obligation.
- Play how you like. The game rewards curiosity but doesn’t punish efficiency.
Following those habits keeps the pacing tight without sacrificing enjoyment.
Who This Length Is Perfect For
If you enjoyed the scale of Jedi: Fallen Order but wanted a bit more freedom, or if Assassin’s Creed Odyssey felt too endless, Outlaws sits comfortably in between.
It’s ideal for:
- Story-driven players who want a complete arc in under 30 hours.
- Explorers who like wandering new planets without feeling buried.
- Time-limited adults who want to actually finish a major open-world release.
Verdict – How Long Does It Take to Beat?
- Main Story: 15 – 20 hours
- Main + Side Content: 25 – 30 hours
- Completionist: 40 – 50 hours +
For a modern open-world Star Wars game, that’s refreshingly reasonable. It’s long enough to feel epic, short enough to complete before the next big release drops.
Final Thoughts
Star Wars Outlaws respects your time. It delivers a galaxy’s worth of adventure without asking you to spend a real-world month living in it. The story is concise, the side content meaningful, and the world big enough to feel vast but not exhausting.
If you’ve been hesitant because of Ubisoft’s reputation for enormous maps and endless icons, relax – this one is scaled for enjoyment, not endurance.
So, how long does it take to beat Star Wars Outlaws?Long enough to feel like a true space adventure, short enough that you’ll actually finish it.
Quick Points
- Main Story: 15-20 hours
- Main + Side Content: 25-30 hours
- Completionist: 40-50 hours+
- Playstyle Impact: Faster if you focus on story; much longer if you explore every planet or max syndicate reputations
- Replay Value: Moderate – choices and reputation paths offer variety, but one playthrough covers most content
- Verdict: A manageable open-world Star Wars game that feels big without wasting your time