Main Story Playtime
The duration of your journey through Sonic Frontiers can vary significantly depending on your playstyle. For players primarily focused on progressing through the main narrative, the game can be completed relatively quickly. However, the game’s structure, which combines traditional Sonic elements with an open-world design across the Starfall Islands, encourages exploration and engaging with various activities.
Some players have reported completing their first playthrough, focusing on the story and collecting most necessary items, in approximately 25 hours. Others, who might prioritize a faster route and skip extensive collecting, could potentially finish sooner. The game’s design allows for flexibility, meaning a direct path through the main objectives will naturally result in a shorter playtime compared to those who delve into side content.
100% Completion and Beyond
Achieving 100% completion in Sonic Frontiers requires a more substantial time investment. This involves mastering every challenge, collecting all items, and engaging with all available activities. Players aiming for this level of completion should anticipate spending around 26 hours. This estimate goes beyond simply finishing the main story, encompassing all collectibles such as Kocos, New Kocos, Red Seeds of Power, Blue Seeds of Defense, Sound Memories, and Memory Tokens, as well as completing all puzzles and combat encounters.
For those who are perfectionists or enthusiasts, the playtime can extend even further. Some players have reported their first playthroughs, including extensive exploration and extra content, reaching about 50 hours. Even after completing the story, many enjoy spending additional time improving Cyber Space stage times or simply exploring the open world.
Factors Influencing Playtime
Several elements within Sonic Frontiers contribute to the variability in how long it takes to complete the game:
- Exploration vs. Direct Progression: The Starfall Islands offer a vast open world with various biomes like flowery fields, forests, ancient ruins, and deserts. Players who meticulously explore every nook and cranny, solving puzzles to reveal map sections and obtain items, will naturally spend more time than those who focus solely on advancing the plot to rescue Sonic’s friends and defeat the Titans.
- Collectible Hunting: The game features numerous collectibles essential for upgrading Sonic’s abilities and progressing the story. Collecting all Kocos, New Kocos, Seeds of Power and Defense, Sound Memories, and Memory Tokens adds considerable hours to the gameplay.
- Difficulty and Customization: Sonic Frontiers allows players to customize controls and adjust difficulty, along with Sonic’s speed, turning, acceleration, and sensitivity. While not directly adding to the core playtime, choosing a higher difficulty or fine-tuning controls might influence the time spent on specific challenges.
- Side Quests and Minigames: Interacting with Sonic’s trapped friends (Miles “Tails” Prower, Amy Rose, and Knuckles the Echidna) often involves completing side quests and minigames, which further extends the overall playtime.
Post-Launch Content Impact
Sonic Frontiers has received significant post-launch support, which has expanded the game’s content and, consequently, its potential playtime. Updates have introduced new game modes, collectibles, physics options (including momentum and the Spin Dash), and additional story content.
Initially, a 100% completion might have taken around 30 hours. However, with the added content, including new collectibles and game modes, this figure has increased, potentially pushing a full completion closer to 40 hours or more for new players experiencing all available content. This ongoing support ensures that even after initial completion, there are new challenges and experiences to engage with, further extending the game’s longevity.
FAQ
What is the average time to beat the main story of Sonic Frontiers? While player experiences vary, a focused playthrough of the main story, including necessary collectibles, typically takes around 25 hours.
How long does it take to achieve 100% completion in Sonic Frontiers? To fully complete Sonic Frontiers, including all challenges, collectibles, and side content, expect to spend approximately 26 hours. Some dedicated players have reported up to 50 hours for a very thorough first playthrough.
Does post-launch content affect the game’s length? Yes, post-launch updates have added new game modes, collectibles, and story content, extending the time required for 100% completion. What might have initially taken 30 hours for full completion could now be closer to 40 hours or more.
Is the game an open world? Yes, Sonic Frontiers features an open-world structure, with the Starfall Islands acting as the series’s first open world. This design encourages exploration and contributes to varied playtimes.