Okay, so I was browsing some gaming forums the other day, trying to figure out what to play next. And Persona 5 Royal kept popping up. I’ve played the original Persona 5, and I loved it. But I was not sure how much longer time this new version would take. So, I decided to dig in and do some actual testing.
My Gaming Setup
First off, I cleared my schedule for the week, because I knew this was going to be a time commitment. I’m playing on my PS4, the same one I’ve had for years. Nothing fancy, but it gets the job done. I also made sure to update the game to the latest version, just to avoid any weird bugs or glitches.
Starting the Game
I started a new game on a Monday morning. Fresh save file, no bonuses, nothing. Just me and the game. I played through the intro, which took a while. If you’ve played Persona before, you know these games don’t rush things. It took about 5 hours just to get to the point where I felt like the game really opened up.
Tracking My Progress
To keep track of my playtime, I used a simple stopwatch app on my phone. Every time I started playing, I’d hit start, and every time I stopped, I’d hit pause. I also kept a notebook beside me to jot down major events and how long they took. For example:
- First Palace: Took me around 15 hours.
- Second Palace: Another 12 hours or so.
- Side Quests and Social Links: These added up. I spent about 20 hours just doing these.
Mid-Game Grind
Once I got to the middle of the game, things started to slow down. Not in a bad way, just… there was a lot to do. More social links, more side quests, and the main story really started to pick up. I found myself spending more time in Mementos, grinding for levels and Personas. This part probably added another 30 hours to my total playtime.
The Final Stretch
Getting to the end of the game was a marathon. The last two palaces were huge, and the story got really intense. I was playing for hours every day, just trying to see what would happen next. I didn’t rush, though. I took my time, explored everything, and maxed out as many social links as I could. The final stretch added about another 20 hours.
Final Playtime
So, when I finally saw the credits roll, my stopwatch showed around 102 hours. Yep, 102 hours for one playthrough. But, honestly, it felt like time flew by. I was so engrossed in the game that I didn’t even notice how long I was playing. If I really wanted to see absolutely everything, every dialogue option, every ending, I’d guess it would take close to 140 hours, maybe even more. But that would be the super completionist in me.
In the end, Persona 5 Royal is a massive game. But it’s worth every minute. If you’re thinking about playing it, just be prepared to spend a lot of time in that world. And trust me, you won’t regret it.