God of War Ragnarok length – time to beat chapters endgame details

Kratos’ latest saga is as massive as it is brutal-but how many hours does it truly take to see it through? Here’s how long you’ll spend fighting gods, exploring realms, and finishing every last challenge in God of War Ragnarök.

How long is God of War Ragnarök?

God of War Ragnarök’s main story takes 20 to 30 hours on average, depending on skill and difficulty. A typical run with side quests adds up to 30 to 35 hours. Full completion, including all collectibles and favors, runs 55 to 60 hours or more.

What’s more, God of War Ragnarök never tells you how far along you are, and it doesn’t include a percentage completion meter, so it’s tough to tell for sure how long the game actually is. (Reviewers have largely pegged completion time at around 40 hours. AELGAMES’s staff have found the game takes anywhere from 30-50ish hours, depending on how thorough you are with side quests and other optional activities.)

In the previous God of War, you could get a broad understanding of your story progress by assessing how powerful your gear was. You could level up your primary weapon, the Leviathan Axe, multiple times following key story missions; once you fully leveled it up, you’d know you were in the endgame. But that method doesn’t work for God of War Ragnarök, for reasons that will become clear the more you play.

To that end, here’s a full list of every main mission in God of War Ragnarök (these missions are called “The Path”). We’ve also listed the realms they’re set in, so you can be extra sure where you’re at.

God of War Ragnarökchapter list

The game features 18 main chapters that follow Kratos and Atreus through the events leading to Ragnarök. Each chapter varies in length and intensity, combining exploration, combat, and story-driven moments. Progressing through these chapters steadily reveals new regions, powerful enemies, and deeper character relationships, offering a well-paced structure that keeps the experience engaging throughout the campaign.

Note: While the following doesn’t explicitly spell out any narrative events, the mere nature of revealing mission titles implies spoilers. Proceed with caution.

• Surviving Fimbulwinter – Midgard
• The Quest for Týr – Svartalfheim
• Old Friends – Midgard
• Groa’s Secret – Alfheim
• The Lost Sanctuary – Jotunheim
• Reckoning – Vanaheim
• The Runaway – Asgard
• Into the Fire – Musphelheim
• The Word of Fate – Midgard
• Forging Destiny – Svartalfheim
• Unleashing Hel – Helheim
• Reunion – Helheim
• Creatures of Prophecy – Vanaheim
• Unlocking the Mask – Niflheim
• Hunting for Solace – Midgard
• The Summoning – Musphelheim
• The Realms at War – Asgard
• Beyond Ragnarok – basically everywhere

How does playtime vary by difficulty in God of War Ragnarök

Playtime in God of War Ragnarök varies by difficulty mainly due to combat length, enemy aggression, and the need for more precise dodging or gear grinding on harder settings. Easier modes let you rush through fights, while tougher ones extend battles significantly.

Difficulty Overview

Lower difficulties like Give Me Story (easiest) or Give Me Balance (normal) keep playtime closer to the 25-30 hour baseline for main story, as enemies die faster and hit less hard. Higher ones like Give Me No Mercy ramp up enemy health, damage output, and recovery speed, often adding 5-10 hours even for story-focused runs.

Player Reports

Reddit users on Balance finished in 28-35 hours with side content, while No Mercy players hit 45-50+ hours for similar progress due to repeated deaths and longer boss fights. Completionists on hardest modes report 50-85 hours, citing berserker gravestones as major time sinks.

What is the hardest difficulty in God of War Ragnarök

Give Me God of War is the hardest difficulty in God of War Ragnarök.

Difficulty Details

This mode demands lightning-fast reflexes, precise parries, and expert combat mastery from the start, with no checkpoints in boss fights and enemies hitting much harder than on Give Me No Mercy (hard mode). It’s selectable only at New Game launch and can’t be changed mid-playthrough, making it ideal for veterans seeking a punishing challenge.

Comparison to Others

Give Me No Mercy ramps up enemy health and aggression but still allows adjustments; Give Me God of War goes further with one- or two-shot potential early on and no mid-boss recovery. Player reports note it transforms the game into an endurance test, especially for optional bosses like Berserkers.