Summary: This article answers the question of how long to beat Dark Souls, detailing main story and 100% completion times for each game in the series, along with tips to optimize playtime and enhance your experience using tools like Xmod.

If you’ve ever wondered how long it takes to beat Dark Souls, you’re not alone. FromSoftware’s iconic action RPG series is known for its punishing difficulty, intricate world design, and deep lore.

Whether you’re a newcomer planning your first playthrough or a veteran chasing 100% completion, this guide breaks down playtimes for Dark Souls and every game in the franchise, including tips on managing your time and enhancing your experience.

Table of Contents

1. How Long to Beat Dark Souls (Original & Remastered)
2. Completionist Run: 100% Time Breakdown
3. How Long Does It Take to Beat Every Dark Souls Game
4. Factors That Affect How Long Dark Souls Takes
5. Tips to Manage or Shorten Your Playtime
6. How to enhance Dark Souls gaming with Xmod?
7. Conclusion

How Long to Beat Dark Souls (Original & Remastered)

The original Dark Souls and its Remastered version take around 40 to 50 hours to complete the main storyline. This includes defeating all required bosses and progressing through the key areas of Lordran. The remastered edition offers the same content, with updated visuals and smoother performance, but playtime remains similar.

However, your experience may vary based on familiarity with the game, combat skill, and how much time you spend exploring or getting lost in its complex interconnected world.

Completionist Run: 100% Time Breakdown

A true 100% completion run in Dark Souls requires far more than finishing the main quest. Here’s what you’ll need to do:

• Defeat all optional bosses (e.g., Kalameet, Manus, Gwyndolin)
• Join and level all covenants
• Collect every ring, miracle, sorcery, pyromancy, and weapon
• Acquire all Estus Flask upgrades, Titanite Slabs, and boss soul weapons
• Unlock every shortcut, bonfire, and secret area
• Complete every NPC questline (which can be very missable)
• Earn all achievements/trophies (some requiring multiple NG+ cycles)

Estimated Time: 80–120+ hours (depending on guides used and player skill)

How Long It Takes to Beat Every Dark Souls Game

Here’s a quick comparison of average completion times across the entire Dark Souls series:

Game	Main Story	100% Completion	NG+ Average
Dark Souls	40–50 hrs	80–100+ hrs	20–30 hrs
Dark Souls II	45–60 hrs	100–120 hrs	25–35 hrs
Dark Souls III	35–45 hrs	90–110 hrs	20–30 hrs

While Dark Souls III has a slightly shorter campaign, it offers one of the most polished and fast-paced combat systems, making it ideal for players looking to speed through multiple New Game+ cycles.

Factors That Affect How Long Dark Souls Takes

Several elements can influence your overall playtime:

• Player experience – Newcomers may take longer due to the high learning curve.
• Boss difficulty – Some encounters can take hours to master.
• Exploration habits – Completionists will naturally take longer.
• Build choices – Magic builds might breeze through areas faster than melee ones.
• Multiplayer – Engaging in PvP or summoning help can extend or shorten playtime.

Tips to Manage or Shorten Your Playtime

Want to make the most of your Dark Souls experience without sinking in 100+ hours unnecessarily? Here are a few tips:

• Choose a balanced build (e.g., strength/dexterity with some healing miracles).
• Skip optional areas like the Painted World or Ash Lake (if you’re not aiming for 100%).
• Use online guides to navigate tough puzzles or questlines.
• Summon NPCs or players to help with challenging bosses.
• Focus on mainline objectives to avoid aimless wandering.

How to Enhance Dark Souls Gaming with Xmod

Xmod is an advanced modding and trainer tool designed to enhance your single-player experience across the Dark Souls trilogy. Whether you’re looking to reduce grind or explore new builds freely, XMOD offers powerful features to support your journey:

• Unlock all bonfires instantly for faster travel
• Boost soul gain and item discovery rates to reduce farming
• Enable god mode or infinite stamina for practice sessions
• One-hit kill mode for those replaying the game just for story
• Teleport and spawn control to access hidden areas
• Speed hack and time manipulation to experiment with PvE encounters

All of Xmod’s features are designed for offline, single-player use and are frequently updated to support mod safety and stability.

Conclusion

So, how long does it take to beat Dark Souls? The answer depends on how you play—rushing the main story could take as little as 35–50 hours, while a full 100% completionist journey might exceed 100 hours. Every game in the series offers a unique challenge, and with tools like XMOD and smart play strategies, you can shape your journey through Lordran, Drangleic, and Lothric just the way you want.

Ready to take the plunge into the world of Dark Souls? Prepare to die—again and again—and maybe save some time while you’re at it.