Bayonetta 3 is almost here, after keeping fans waiting for nearly five years. Bayonetta 3 was announced as a Switch exclusive in 2017, which was followed by years of silence, to the point where some assumed that the game had been canceled. PlatinumGames has finally come through and Bayonetta 3 copies are in the wild, which means that the game’s runtime can now be revealed.
The Bayonetta series of video games is known for its explosive action and over-the-top characters. But it isn’t known for an expansive runtime, with the original Bayonetta taking somewhere around 10 to 12 hours, and Bayonetta 2 is even shorter, clocking in at closer to 9. Though it bears mentioning that these are just for initial run-throughs of the story mode, as the Bayonetta games have a lot of additional post-game content that is meant to challenge the player, as well as offer additional playable characters to use in the game.
Screen Rant has reviewed Bayonetta 3 and played the game through to completion. The game ups the ante in terms of action, with Bayonetta’s new Demon Slave attack letting her summon kaiju-sized fiends to the field that fight in her stead, turning her into some kind of demonic Pokémon trainer. Bayonetta 3 might be even better than its predecessors, but is it longer than either?
How Long It Takes To Complete Bayonetta 3
Bayonetta 3 is the longest entry to date, with a few caveats. It takes around 12-15 hours to complete Bayonetta 3, depending on whether the player watches all the cutscenes and engages with the side content. The levels in Bayonetta 3 have lots of side missions that can be challenging, and their rewards aren’t necessary for completing the game, making them easy to skip – especially the more frustrating ones. Bayonetta 3 has a lot of new content and a lot of time can be spent just exploring the stages for secrets and completing the side missions. The players who want to engage with the story can skip a good chunk of the gameplay, but there is still a lot of mainline content to be engaged with.
There is also post-game content in Bayonetta 3, some of which is unlocked by completing specific tasks in the game. The true Bayonetta 3 masters can also attempt the higher difficulty modes, expanding the game’s content even further. The people who just want to experience Bayonetta’s latest adventure will still get an experience that’s comparable to the other entries in length, even without engaging with the side content. Bayonetta 3, with its many returning characters makes for a perfect Halloween game, as it’s something that can be easily enjoyed over the season.
