Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment isn’t an open-world marathon, but it’s not a quick weekend either. Expect a focused campaign with plenty of optional missions, a meaty post‑game, and a true 100% path that can stretch well past the credits. It’s available on Nintendo Switch 2 via the Nintendo eShop product page.
Playtime breakdown
| Playstyle | Estimated time | What that includes |
|---|---|---|
| Main story | ~18–22 hours | Campaign missions from start to credits, minimal detours |
| Main story + some side content | 25–30 hours | Campaign plus a selection of side quests/challenges and light upgrading |
| Completionist | 55–60 hours | All missions, upgrades, territories, characters, collectibles, and post‑game activities |
What drives the range
- How much optional content you fold in while campaigning. Running the critical path is significantly faster than mixing in side missions and challenges as they appear.
- Stage pacing and recommended levels. Each mission lists a target level. You can clear stages under‑leveled with skillful play, but higher-level builds tend to shorten boss phases and reduce retries.
- Upgrade time. Investing in weapon and character upgrades adds time now but can shave minutes off later missions.
What you’ll do after the credits
Age of Imprisonment doesn’t end at the roll. The world map expands with post‑game activity designed to push your roster and builds further. Expect the bulk of extra hours to come from:
- “Vicious Battles.” New, tougher encounters that prioritize optimised loadouts and precise counters.
- Lenalia’s post‑game questline (varies by naming in-game). A series tied to mural completion beneath Hyrule Castle that effectively asks for 100% territory and task completion.
- Territory clean‑up and defense. Claim remaining regions across Hyrule and defend what you’ve taken as new missions populate the map.
Fitting those pieces in typically pushes a “campaign‑only” save toward the 25–30 hour range, while a full clear with every box checked lands near 55–60 hours.
How to finish closer to 20 hours
- Stick to the story chain. Prioritize the main mission markers and defer side missions until the post‑game map opens.
- Target weak‑point opportunities. Bosses melt when you consistently trigger weak‑point smashes; it’s the fastest way to compress mission times.
- Upgrade only what you use. Narrow your spend to a core set of characters and weapons instead of spreading materials across the roster.
How a completionist run reaches 55–60 hours
- Every mission and challenge. Checking the entire board means clearing repeat variants and high‑level rematches.
- All upgrades and roster leveling. Raising every character and filling out weapon lines takes time and materials.
- Post‑game grinds. Vicious Battles and the mural‑focused questline add a lengthy capstone to a 100% save.
FAQ
Is the campaign really sub‑20 hours? Players focused solely on story and efficient boss clears can land near ~18–20 hours. Mixing in side missions lands most saves around the mid‑20s.
Do missions have time limits? The game’s pacing comes from objectives, recommended levels, and weak‑point cycles rather than strict mission timers, so you control the tempo by how aggressively you route objectives.
Can I play under‑leveled? Yes. It’s harder, but consistent counters, smart use of your toolkit, and carrying healing items make below‑target clears practical.
If you want a fast campaign, trim the detours and lean on weak‑point discipline. If you want the full tour—every mission, upgrade, and post‑game challenge—budget closer to 60 hours and expect the map to keep serving up new fights long after you’ve beaten the Demon King.
