how long is cyberpunk 2077 Timeline: A Comprehensive Guide

Cyberpunk 2077, developed by CD Projekt Red, is a vast open-world RPG that has captured the imaginations of players with its immersive setting, deep narrative, and rich character development. Set in the dystopian Night City, the game takes players through a journey filled with choices, consequences, and branching storylines. One of the most common questions among both newcomers and returning players is: “How long is how long is cyberpunk 2077?” This comprehensive guide will walk you through the timeline of the game, from the main story to side quests and expansions, helping you understand what to expect in terms of playtime.

1. The Main Storyline

The core of Cyberpunk 2077 revolves around the story of V, a mercenary whose life becomes entangled with the legendary rockerboy, Johnny Silverhand, played by Keanu Reeves. The main story is highly cinematic and features multiple paths based on the player’s decisions.

Length of the Main Story

On average, the main story of Cyberpunk 2077 takes about 20 to 25 hours to complete if you focus solely on the primary objectives. This duration can vary depending on your playstyle, difficulty level, and whether you engage in optional dialogue and exploration.

Factors Influencing Main Story Length

Playstyle: Players who take a stealthy or non-lethal approach may find that certain missions take longer than those who opt for a more aggressive playstyle.
Difficulty Setting: Playing on higher difficulty levels increases the time it takes to complete missions due to tougher enemies and more complex encounters.
Exploration and Dialogue Choices: Engaging in optional conversations, exploring the environment for lore, or completing alternate objectives can extend the playtime significantly.

2. Side Quests and Gigs

One of the key elements that define Cyberpunk 2077 is its rich tapestry of side quests and gigs. These are not mere filler content; many side quests are intricately woven into the world’s narrative and offer additional insights into the game’s characters and lore.

Length of Side Quests and Gigs

The side quests in Cyberpunk 2077 vary in length, with some taking just a few minutes and others sprawling over multiple hours. If you’re aiming to complete a significant portion of these, you can expect an additional 30 to 40 hours of gameplay.

Major Side Quests: These are often multi-part quests with their own story arcs, such as the Panam Palmer and Judy Alvarez questlines, which can take several hours each to complete.
Gigs and Minor Quests: These shorter missions are scattered throughout Night City and typically take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes each.

Importance of Side Quests

Engaging in side quests is essential for players looking to experience the full depth of Cyberpunk 2077. Many side quests provide important context to the main story, offer unique rewards like rare weapons or cyberware, and can even influence the ending of the game.

3. Exploration and Open World Activities

Night City is a vibrant, living world filled with countless opportunities for exploration. Whether you’re hacking into security systems, engaging in street races, or uncovering hidden secrets, there’s always something to do.

Length of Exploration and Open World Activities

Exploring the open world can add 10 to 20 hours or more to your total playtime, depending on how thoroughly you engage with the environment. Activities include:

Scanning for Secrets: Night City is full of hidden details, data shards, and Easter eggs that can only be found through exploration.
NCPD Scanner Hustles: These are smaller encounters with criminal elements scattered throughout the city. Completing them can provide extra income and experience.
Collectibles: Finding and collecting unique items, such as tarot cards, is another way to spend time in Night City.

4. DLCs and Expansions

CD Projekt Red has released additional content for Cyberpunk 2077, with expansions that offer new storylines, characters, and areas to explore.

Length of DLCs and Expansions

The exact length of DLC content can vary, but expansions like the upcoming Phantom Liberty are expected to add another 10 to 15 hours of gameplay. These expansions typically include:

New Storylines: Expansions often introduce entirely new narrative arcs that are as deep and engaging as the main game.
New Locations: DLCs may unlock new areas within or around Night City, each with its own quests and exploration opportunities.
Additional Side Quests and Content: Expect new side quests, gigs, and world activities that add even more content to the game.

5. Completionist Playthrough

For players who want to experience everything Cyberpunk 2077 has to offer, a completionist playthrough involves completing all main missions, side quests, gigs, NCPD Scanner Hustles, and finding all collectibles.

Length of a Completionist Playthrough

A completionist run can take upwards of 80 to 100 hours or more, depending on how methodically you approach the game. This involves:

Maxing Out Skills and Cyberware: Fully upgrading V’s abilities and acquiring all available cyberware can take significant time.
Exploring Every Nook and Cranny: Night City is densely packed with secrets, and uncovering all of them is a lengthy endeavor.
Achieving All Endings: The game has multiple endings, each requiring different choices throughout the game. Experiencing all endings will require multiple playthroughs, adding to the total time.

6. Post-Launch Updates and Replayability

CD Projekt Red has continued to support Cyberpunk 2077 with post-launch updates that improve gameplay, fix bugs, and add new features. These updates can also extend the length of time players spend with the game.

Replayability

Different Playstyles: The game’s RPG mechanics allow for different builds and playstyles (e.g., stealth, hacking, combat), which can change the way you experience the game on a second playthrough.
Multiple Endings: With several different endings based on player choices, replaying the game to see different outcomes is a significant factor in the game’s longevity.
Ongoing Content Updates: CD Projekt Red has a history of supporting their games long after release, so additional content updates could continue to add to the game’s length and replayability.

7. Conclusion: Your Personalized Cyberpunk Experience

The length of Cyberpunk 2077 varies widely depending on how you choose to play. A focused run through the main story might take as little as 20 hours, while a completionist approach could see you spending over 100 hours in Night City. Add in expansions, side quests, and post-launch updates, and Cyberpunk 2077 offers a truly expansive gaming experience.

Whether you’re in it for the narrative, the exploration, or the challenge of completing every last quest, how long is cyberpunk 2077 provides a deeply customizable experience that caters to different types of players. No matter how long you choose to stay in Night City, there’s always something new to discover, making every minute of gameplay a rewarding adventure.