The Fallout series by Bethesda has always offered players an interesting and expansive world filled with various adventures and dangers in a post-apocalyptic setting. Fallout 4 faced a fair share of criticism from fans of the universe, yet many dedicated their time to this game. But how much time is actually needed to complete it? Let's find out.

Time Required to Complete the Main Story of Fallout 4

If you're focused solely on the main storyline, prepare to spend about 30–35 hours in the Commonwealth. This is an average time for those who don't get sidetracked by side quests and activities in Fallout 4. It's not a sprint, but it's not a marathon either. During this time, you'll experience a complete story arc—from leaving the Vault to the credits.

Completing Side Quests in Fallout 4

Once you start taking on side quests, the time spent in Fallout 4 will begin to increase rapidly. The game is filled with factions, individual stories, and settlements waiting to be explored. Every corner of the map has its activities and events that can captivate you—you'll become not only a witness but also a participant in the stories of the people you encounter.

If you love this world and dive into every aspect of side quests and activities, your playtime can easily exceed 100 hours. This includes resource gathering, base customization, settlement defense, and developing relationships with companions.

DLCs Extend the Duration of Fallout 4

Fallout 4 has three major story expansions, each adding new locations, characters, and stories.

• Automatron introduces a series of adventures involving robot creation, lasting about 5 hours.
• Far Harbor adds an island shrouded in fog with a deep moral story—completing it takes about 6 hours, while full completion exceeds 20.
• Nuka-World, the last major DLC, offers a massive amusement park taken over by raiders. The main story takes approximately 11 hours, and full completion easily doubles that time.

If you plan to complete all the expansions, prepare to spend an additional 25 to 45 hours—depending on how thoroughly you play, explore the world, and engage with dialogues and logs.

Time Required for 100% Completion of Fallout 4

For those who leave no task unfinished and no item unfound, Fallout 4 offers a massive amount of content. To fully complete the game—including the main storyline, all side quests, settlements, collectibles, perks, and DLCs—you'll need to invest over 200 hours.

And this figure doesn't include idle time—it's active gameplay, exploration, experimentation, and full immersion. There will always be another terminal to hack, another vault to explore, another faction to conflict with. Achieving 100% completion in Fallout 4 takes a lot of time, but many Fallout fans believe it's well worth it.

Achievements and Trophies in Fallout 4

If you're also a trophy or achievement hunter, you might spend an average of 50 to 75 hours obtaining them—depending on your gameplay efficiency and knowledge of the game's mechanics. The good news is that you don't have to complete the game 100% to earn all the trophies.

This means you can collect all the rewards without uncovering every secret or building settlements in every region. However, it's important to understand that this number is quite general, as some achievements can be obtained within the overall playtime of the game or its expansions.

Play Style Determines Your Playthrough Duration

Fallout 4 is one of those rare games that adapts to your play style. If you're looking for a straightforward RPG with shootouts and dialogue choices, you can finish your journey in 30–40 hours.

If you want more building, survival, and a bit of bleak science fiction, this content is also available and will take much more time. And if you're set on a long journey—exploring every story branch, leveling up every perk—then 200+ hours will seem quite natural.

There's no exact number that can answer the question: "How long does it take to complete Fallout 4?" because this game doesn't demand a classic playthrough. It invites you to live in its world, explore its systems, and carve your path through the ashes of a ruined civilization.