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Octopath Traveler 0 Playtime: How Many Hours Can You Sink Into This Charming JRPG?

A girl points toward the moon, alongside a 2D pixel-art view of a character.

If you’re wondering just how much time you’ll need to carve out for Octopath Traveler 0, here’s a closer look at what to expect.

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Octopath Traveler 0, the prequel to the beloved HD-2D RPG series from Square Enix, lands on modern consoles with plenty of new tricks up its sleeve, including a revamped combat system and city-building features. But how much actual playtime does this nostalgic journey demand? Let’s break it down.

How Long Is Octopath Traveler 0? Here’s What You’re Signing Up For

This is not a quick weekend RPG. Octopath Traveler 0 is sprawling, and depending on how you approach it, the game can keep you busy for weeks. The three main storylines, a deep job system, and a surprisingly robust town-building mechanic all combine to make this one of the more time-consuming entries in the genre.

  • Main Story: If you focus strictly on the three core story arcs, expect to spend about 45 hours on your journey. Progressing evenly through the Wealth, Power, and Fame storylines takes a considerable commitment.
  • Main Story + Side Content: Dive into side quests, fully restore the village of Wishvale, and recruit new townsfolk, and your playtime quickly balloons to 90 hours or more.
  • Completionist Run: For those aiming to unlock every job, experiment with every character, and place every single building, clocking 100+ hours is entirely realistic.

Massive Scope: City-Building, Jobs, and More

Set once again in the land of Orsterra, Octopath Traveler 0 casts you as the “Chosen of the Ring,” tasked with toppling three tyrants in a darker, more mature narrative. Unlike previous entries, there’s no fixed party of eight. Instead, you create your own protagonist and can recruit up to 30 unique characters, each with their own jobs and abilities.

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Long-term motivation comes from rebuilding the ruined village of Wishvale. This goes beyond cosmetic upgrades: You’ll place buildings, assign NPCs, and unlock powerful bonuses. It’s a little like a city-builder, and it’s tightly woven into the main story. There’s even a limit on how much you can build, forcing you to make some strategic choices along the way.

This isn’t a lightweight RPG — Octopath Traveler 0 is designed for players who want to dig in and stay awhile. Whether you’re here for the story, the strategy, or the satisfaction of a fully restored village, you’ll find plenty to keep you busy.

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Picture of Josef Erl

Josef Erl

Josef is a freelance online journalist and heads the S4G editorial team. He plays anything that captivates him with an engaging story and innovative gameplay mechanics. As the former editor-in-chief of MIXED-news.com, he is also highly experienced in the fields of virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality.