Embark on an epic journey through the stars with Starfield, Bethesda’s sprawling new RPG universe, where the main campaign unfolds over 19 thrilling missions and takes roughly 20 to 40 hours to complete-depending on your pace. Whether you’re a speedrunner aiming to blitz through the story or a cosmic explorer eager to dive into side quests and faction adventures, this guide breaks down every main story mission and what to expect on your voyage across more than 1,000 planets and 100 star systems on PC and Xbox.
Starfield campaign length: How long to beat Starfield explained
Starfield’s campaign length varies depending on playstyle, but focusing solely on the main story typically takes around 20 to 30 hours to complete, with some estimates as low as 12-15 hours for a very rushed playthrough and up to 40 hours on harder difficulties. Including faction quests and side missions can extend gameplay to 60 hours or more, while completionists exploring all content may spend over 100 hours in the game. The game’s vast open world, with over a thousand planets and numerous side activities, encourages players to invest significant time beyond the main storyline, making Starfield a deep and expansive RPG experience.
Our estimate for completing Starfield’s campaign is between 20 and 30 hours for those prioritizing the story. For one staff member at AELGAMES, this one was on the lower end with their intent to mainline the campaign, bar some playing around with inventory management and light exploration in the early and late game.
It should also be noted that focusing on the story alone means you will run up against some nasty enemies at higher levels towards the end of the game – so be prepared for a challenge if you do.
You can, of course, play 20 hours before even getting into the meat of the story. Though we recommended you play at least some of the campaign before anything else, know there’s plenty to do out there beyond the main questline.
If you are looking for direction outside the story, we have a list of what to do first and the best side missions to help.
Starfield main mission list: How many story missions are there?
Starfield’s main story campaign consists of 19 core missions, taking players from their first encounter with a mysterious artifact as a miner to a climactic finale that unlocks the New Game Plus mode. These missions form the backbone of the narrative, guiding you through the central mysteries of the Constellation faction and the wider universe. The full list of main missions includes titles such as “One Small Step,” “The Old Neighborhood,” “Into the Unknown,” “High Price to Pay,” and concludes with “One Giant Leap”. Depending on your playstyle, completing just these main story missions typically takes between 20 and 40 hours, though the campaign length can vary if you explore side content or optional objectives along the way.
Within the first few hours, your quest log will be quickly filled with activities which distract you from the main narrative. so it’s easy to be pulled away and forget exactly how far you are through the story.
There are 18 story missions in Starfield, and here’s a list of every one in order (bar some exceptions, which we’ll address in the footnotes below):
- One Small Step
- The Old Neighborhood
- Into the Unknown *
- Back to Vectera *
- The Empty Nest *
- All That Money Can Buy
- Starborn
- Further Into the Unknown
- Short Sighted
- No Sudden Moves
- High Price to Pay
- Unity
- Unearthed **
- In Their Footsteps **
- Entangled **
- Revelation
- Missed Beyond Measure ***
- One Giant Leap
* You’ll receive all three of these missions together, and they can be completed in any order you choose – though we have a recommendation of which mission to do first.
** These three missions are all connected; you’ll receive “Unearthed” and “In Their Footsteps” together, and in order to finish “In Their Footsteps,” you have to complete “Entangled.”
How do all the main story missions in Starfield shape your journey through space
The main story missions in Starfield guide your journey through a vast and mysterious universe by gradually unveiling the secrets behind ancient artifacts and the enigmatic Constellation faction. Starting as a miner who discovers a strange object, you are drawn deeper into a narrative that explores humanity’s mastery of interstellar travel and the fate of Earth, with each of the 19 missions pushing you further into uncharted space and complex choices that shape your path. These missions serve as a backbone to your exploration, providing structure while allowing you to diverge into side quests and faction storylines, making the journey as much about discovery and player agency as about reaching the final revelation. The story’s design encourages immersion and reflection, with detailed mission logs helping you keep track of your progress amid the vastness of space, reinforcing that Starfield is as much about the journey as the destination.
How do the main missions reveal the mysteries behind artifacts in Starfield
The main story missions in Starfield reveal the mysteries behind the Artifacts by gradually guiding the player to collect these enigmatic gravitational rocks scattered across the galaxy. Each Artifact is a piece of an ancient alien device called the Armillary, which functions as a cosmic map and key to locating the Unity, the center of the cosmos. As players gather more Artifacts, they unlock visions and clues that lead to temples and ruins where these pieces fit, unveiling their connection to a powerful and mysterious force beyond human understanding. The missions also introduce the Starborn, a faction with deep knowledge of the Artifacts who seek to prevent the player from uncovering the full truth, adding tension and urgency to the quest. Ultimately, assembling the Armillary allows access to the Unity, revealing profound cosmic secrets and enabling a unique New Game Plus experience, where the player can explore alternate universes and gain new powers. This unfolding narrative turns the Artifacts from mere collectibles into a central, universe-spanning mystery that shapes the entire campaign and the player’s journey through space.
