How Long to Beat Every Major GTA and Red Dead Game
Last updated: July 31, 2026
The major Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead campaigns can take anywhere from roughly 15 hours to more than 50 hours for the main story. Full completion can multiply that commitment, especially in San Andreas, GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2.
These are rounded community estimates, not official completion times. Your pace changes with retries, travel, difficulty, exploration and whether you skip optional content. GTA 6 is excluded from the estimates because it has not been released and Rockstar has not announced its story length.
Rockstar story-length comparison
| Game | Main story estimate | Story plus substantial extras | Completionist estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| GTA III | 15–18 hours | 22–28 hours | 35–45 hours |
| GTA: Vice City | 17–20 hours | 25–30 hours | 40–50 hours |
| GTA: San Andreas | 30–35 hours | 45–55 hours | 75–90 hours |
| GTA IV | 28–32 hours | 40–50 hours | 70–85 hours |
| GTA V | 30–35 hours | 45–55 hours | 80–100 hours |
| Red Dead Redemption | 17–20 hours | 25–35 hours | 45–60 hours |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 48–55 hours | 75–100 hours | 170–200+ hours |
| GTA 6 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
The ranges summarize commonly reported player data and are intentionally less precise than a single average. A claim that GTA III takes exactly 6.5 hours or GTA 6 takes exactly 50 hours gives false confidence.
GTA III
GTA III's core campaign is short by modern Rockstar standards, but its older mission design can add retries. Driving back to a mission giver after failure, learning Liberty City's routes and handling difficulty spikes all affect the final total.
A focused first playthrough commonly lands around 15–18 hours. Side missions, packages, rampages and full completion can more than double that.
GTA: Vice City
Vice City is similar in scale but adds property progression and a wider set of optional activities. Players must engage with selected assets to reach the final portion of the story, which blurs the line between “main” and “side” content.
Budget about 17–20 hours for a focused run and substantially longer for property missions, hidden packages, stunt jumps and 100 percent completion.
GTA: San Andreas
San Andreas expands across Los Santos, San Fierro, Las Venturas and surrounding countryside. The campaign's travel, training and long mission chain make it a significantly larger commitment than GTA III or Vice City.
A first story playthrough often takes 30–35 hours. Side activities, collectibles, schools, territories and full completion can push the total toward 80 hours or more.
GTA IV
GTA IV's Liberty City campaign is dense and dialogue-heavy. Driving time, relationship activities and the Episodes from Liberty City expansions can change the total dramatically.
The base story commonly requires around 28–32 hours. The Ballad of Gay Tony and The Lost and Damned are separate substantial campaigns and should not be silently included in a base-game number.
GTA V
GTA V's main story shifts among Michael, Franklin and Trevor, with heists and optional mission strands. A focused player can finish in roughly 30–35 hours, while strangers and freaks, hobbies, collectibles and the 100 percent checklist create a much longer run.
GTA Online should not be included in a GTA V completion time. It is an evolving multiplayer experience without one fixed endpoint.
Red Dead Redemption
John Marston's main journey is shorter than Arthur Morgan's later story but still rewards exploration. Side missions, ambient challenges, hunting and Undead Nightmare can add dozens of hours.
Plan around 17–20 hours for the main story. Undead Nightmare is a separate campaign and should be listed independently when comparing totals.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 is the longest major Rockstar story in this comparison. Deliberate travel, camp interactions, long chapters and an extensive epilogue make a focused run roughly 48–55 hours for many players.
The completionist number can exceed 170 hours because the checklist spans challenges, animals, collectibles, stranger missions, hunting and exploration. A relaxed first playthrough can easily fall between the main-story and completionist columns.
How long will GTA 6 take to beat?
Nobody outside authorized development and preview access can provide a verified number. Rockstar has not announced mission count, chapter count or campaign hours.
Claims of a 40-, 50- or 75-hour GTA 6 story are rumors. File references, alleged testers and anonymous posts are not a substitute for post-release player data.
The official description confirms a single-player story centered on Jason and Lucia across Leonida. Scale does not translate directly into campaign length: a larger map can support optional exploration without adding more required missions.
Our complete GTA 6 guide covers the story information Rockstar has actually released.
How to plan a Rockstar marathon
A story-only route through the seven released games above could take approximately 185–210 hours. A completionist run can exceed 500 hours, before counting expansions or GTA Online.
For a more manageable plan:
- Start with one trilogy or franchise at a time.
- Use manual save slots before difficult older missions.
- Separate story completion from a 100 percent run.
- Avoid rushing Red Dead Redemption 2 if exploration is the main appeal.
- Check platform availability before buying older titles.
Our GTA and Red Dead platform timeline shows which releases are available on modern systems.
Accessories for longer play sessions
Affiliate disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
- GTA 6 for PlayStation 5
- GTA 6 for Xbox Series X|S
- DualSense Charging Station
- PULSE Elite wireless headset
- Xbox Wireless Headset
Take regular breaks during long sessions and verify product compatibility before ordering.
Frequently asked questions
Which Rockstar game has the longest main story?
Among these major releases, Red Dead Redemption 2 generally has the longest main campaign.
How long does GTA V take?
A focused story run commonly takes about 30–35 hours. Optional content can push it far higher.
Is GTA Online included?
No. GTA Online has no fixed completion time.
How long is GTA 6?
Unknown. Rockstar has not announced the campaign length.
Are these official times?
No. They are rounded community estimates that vary by player.
Bottom line
Rockstar's campaigns range from compact 15-hour stories to 50-hour epics, while completionist play can reach hundreds of hours. Use ranges, separate expansions and multiplayer, and leave GTA 6 blank until the released game produces reliable player data.