Final Fantasy VII: How Long Does It Take to Beat the Game?

The time it takes to complete Final Fantasy VII can vary greatly based on your playstyle. Let's explore the different factors that can influence this journey.

Main Story

The main story alone can be completed in approximately 35 to 40 hours. This timing assumes a straightforward progression through the game's narrative, avoiding side quests and optional content.

Main Story Extras

If you decide to include some side quests and optional content, such as side missions and extras, the time can extend to around 50 to 70 hours. These additional elements can provide a richer experience but will naturally increase the overall time required.

For the Completist

Aiming to complete every single aspect of the game - maxing out characters, obtaining all Materia, and defeating optional bosses like Ruby and Emerald Weapon - can extend your playtime significantly. This approach can easily take 80 to 120 hours, and sometimes even more.

Personal Experience and Playstyle

Player experience can vary widely based on how thoroughly one explores the game and engages with its various systems. For instance, my first playthrough took 45 hours, which included extended periods of level grinding and mastering enemies to gather specific Materia. If you choose to focus solely on the main story, completing it should take around 30 to 35 hours.

Tips for an Easier Game

To make the game easier and speed up specific combat, consider the following strategies:

Midgar Level Grinding

Spending 2 hours in a specific area of Midgar, grinding for certain enemy attacks to gain Materia, and occasionally reloading to avoid deaths, can be a good strategy. This can help you gather the necessary Materia and improve your characters' levels.

Combination Strategies

To make regular monster battles faster, equip 4 cut Slash All knights of the round combined with W-Summon to a weapon with a double or triple Materia growth rate. When knights of the round are mastered, they can hit for just under 200,000 hit points when combined with W-Summon. Alternatively, the 4 cut with the Ultima weapon can be a faster way to speed up regular monster battles, saving your hours and days on the game.

Additional Resources

For a detailed list of the best video games I ever played, visit the following link:

The Best Video Game of All Time for You and Why

And for a list of the best video games with the best stories, check out this Quora link:

Video Game Has the Best Story

Enjoy your journey through Final Fantasy VII and may your playtime be both fulfilling and enjoyable!