How much time does it take to see Clive’s odyssey through to the end? From brisk main story runs to deep completionist playthroughs, here’s how long you can expect Final Fantasy 16 to keep you busy.
You can skip through all of the cutscenes, or read every detail in the game’s encyclopedia. You can stick to the main objective and avoid every side quest, or explore every nook and cranny and assist everyone you meet. Whichever route you choose, you’re in for a cinematic treat.
FF16 story length
Players can expect Final Fantasy 16 to take around 35 to 40 hours to complete the main story, depending on playstyle and familiarity with action combat. Those who explore optional content, such as side quests and monster hunts, may spend closer to 70 hours or more reaching full completion. The pacing balances cinematic storytelling with large-scale battles, keeping the experience engaging throughout the campaign.
It may take you around 30 hours of playtime to beat the main story of Final Fantasy 16. However, if you’re someone who tends to skip cutscenes, your playtime will drastically decrease. Since Final Fantasy 16 is such a story-heavy game, a majority of the lore is presented to you in detailed cutscenes. If you skip them, you should expect to complete the game in less than 20 hours.
FF16 100% completion length
Achieving 100% completion in Final Fantasy 16 requires around 70 to 75 hours. Completionists tackle all side quests, hunts, collectibles, and ability upgrades alongside the main story. Estimates from player data and guides align on this range, though Final Fantasy mode adds another 50 hours.
It may take you upward of 50 hours to finish the main story, watch every cutscene, and complete every side quest. However, if you’re looking to collect every chest, item, and orchestrion roll, it can take you upward of 75 hours of playtime. After you complete the game and the credits roll, there is a “New Game ” mode, which will provide more challenges for you to take on – such as Chronolith Trials and harder difficulty settings.
In our playthrough, we’ve been completing every side quest and hunt. We are about 75% of the way through Final Fantasy 16, according to the PlayStation 5’s dashboard, and we have about 35 hours of playtime.
How many chapters are there in FF16?
Final Fantasy 16 is structured around 68 main story chapters, each marked by a title card as you progress through Clive’s adventure. These chapters vary in length, with some being short, cutscene-heavy segments and others stretching into longer combat-focused missions, but you will need to clear all 68 to see the full story.
There are a total of 50 chapters in Final Fantasy 16, all of which vary in length – anywhere from 15 minutes to over an hour. Some chapters will consist mostly of cutscenes, while others will have you trekking across the open world or defeating enemies in a sprawling dungeon.
Here is Final Fantasy 16‘s full main scenario chapter list, which you can also find in the journal as you progress in the story.
Final Fantasy 16 chapter list
Final Fantasy 16 is divided into a series of main story chapters, each marking a different stage in Clive Rosfield’s path through Valisthea. The game’s narrative is structured around major missions and key plot arcs, gradually introducing new regions, allies, and powerful enemies. While some chapters move quickly through linear story events, others include side objectives and exploration that extend playtime. This chapter-based progression helps players track their advancement and estimate how much of the story remains.
- A Flame Summoned
- To Kill a Dominant
- Pride
- Sunrise, Sunset
- Lost in a Fog
- Flight of the Fledgling
- A Chance Encounter
- Hide, Hideaway
- Fanning Embers
- Louder than Words
- The Dead of Night
- Headwind
- Wings of Change
- Awakening
- The Wages of Guilt
- The Hunter and the Hunted
- Homecoming
- Holding On
- Buried Memories
- The Meaning of Life
- Righting Wrongs
- The Crystals’ Curse
- Cid the Outlaw
- Home, Sweet Home
- The Gathering Storm
- Bloodlines
- Black Light Burns
- Here Be Monsters
- Fire and Ice
- After the Storm
- Capital Punishment
- Bolts from the Blue
- Riddle of the Sands
- Into the Darkness
- Out of the Shadow
- Onward
- Fire in the Sky
- Things Fall Apart
- Cloak and Dagger
- Evenfall
- A Song of Hope
- Full Steam
- Through the Maelstrom
- Across the Narrow
- Footfalls in Ash
- The Last King
- Brotherhood
- Streets of Madness
- Back to their Origin
- Of Gods and Men
How does Final Fantasy 16’s length compare to other Final Fantasy games
Final Fantasy 16’s length aligns closely with the franchise average, particularly for main story playthroughs around 35 hours.
Main Story Comparison
Final Fantasy 16 takes about 35.5 hours for the main story, placing it near the median of 30-40 hours across the series. Shorter entries like FF15 (28 hours) and FF1 (17.5 hours) fall below, while longer ones such as FF10 (46 hours), FF13 (48.5 hours), and FF12 (61 hours) exceed it. This duration matches classics like FF6 and FF7 (both around 35-36.5 hours).
Completionist Times
For 100% completion, FF16 requires roughly 78 hours, the shortest among 3D entries since FF7’s 82 hours. Outliers like FF10 (150 hours) and FF12 (160 hours) demand far more due to extensive grinding and side content, while MMORPGs FF11 and FF14 offer hundreds of hours.
Length Overview Table
| Game | Main Story (hours) | Completionist (hours) |
|---|---|---|
| FF16 | 35.5 | 78 |
| FF15 | 28 | 94 |
| FF13 | 48.5 | 105 |
| FF12 | 61 | 160 |
| FF10 | 46 | 150 |
| FF7 | 36.5 | 82 |
What are the shortest and longest Final Fantasy games for main story
Final Fantasy 1 stands out as the shortest main story in the series at around 17.5 hours. Final Fantasy 12 ranks as the longest single-player main story at 60-61 hours.
Shortest Main Stories
The original Final Fantasy clocks in at 17.5 hours due to its basic plot and minimal exploration. Final Fantasy 4 follows closely at 22-23.5 hours with a streamlined narrative. Final Fantasy 2 and 13-2 also fall under 28 hours each.
Longest Main Stories
Final Fantasy 12 demands 60-61 hours for its expansive world and quests. Among MMOs, Final Fantasy 14 requires 231 hours and FF11 up to 707 hours, though these exclude expansions. Single-player runners-up include FF13 at 49 hours and FF10 at 48 hours.
Extremes Comparison
| Category | Game | Main Story (hours) |
|---|---|---|
| Shortest | FF1 | 17.5 |
| Next Shortest | FF4 | 23.5 |
| Longest SP | FF12 | 60 |
| Longest MMO | FF11 | 707 |
