The Witcher 3is the most backlogged game of all time onHowLongToBeat, but you should just commit and play it already. HowLongToBeat is primarily known for its namesake - a collection of data on the runtime of just about every game you could imagine, split up into various gameplay styles. That makes it an effective resource when it comes to determining which game to play next; do you have time for a big, 100-hour RPG beforethe next big release, or should you stick to something more straightforward and linear?
To that end, HowLongToBeat also gives players access to a backlog feature, similar to Letterboxd’s watchlist. This feature allows you to list games that you know you want to play, but haven’t had the time to yet; it’ll remind you of what you’ve expressed interest in, and you can view each game’s runtime information at a glance. HowLongToBeat also helpfully tracks player data as a whole, ranking the most reviewed, best received, most completed, most abandoned, overall longest games, and more - and it’s not too surprising that this 100+-hour RPG tops the list of most backlogged games.
Witcher 3 Is The Most Backlogged Game On HowLongToBeat
Over 27,000 Backlogs
The Witcher 3tops HowLongToBeat’s list of the most backlogged gameson the site, with roughly 27,100 backlogs as of the time of writing. Coming in second, third, and fourth place, respectively, is the entireBioshockseries in release order, whilePortal 2takes the number five place. Most of these backlogged games are in a similar vein: critically acclaimed, fan-beloved, influential titles that you might just never have gotten around to playing.
Again,it’s hardly surprising, considering thatThe Witcher 3is an immensely popular gameoften considered to rank among the greatest RPGs of all time. But why do so many players backlog it but fail to play it? Looking at other data on HowLongToBeat may provide an answer.
All Play Styles Average 103 Hours To Complete Witcher 3
The Witcher 3 Is A Massive Game
The fact of the matter is thatThe Witcher 3is an incredibly long game, no matter how you decide to play it. HowLongToBeat clocks it at an average of 109 hours across all play styles from 11,300 players polled, but it’s worth taking a look at how that data breaks down. The main story alone takes an average of 53 hours to complete; the main story and a few extras alone could take you up to 107 hours. But the completionist runs come in at a whopping average of 180 hours - over a week of playtime.
Some players report as many as 469 in-game hours.
These figures don’t even account forThe Witcher 3’s two story DLCs, which could easily tack on another 30–40 hours, depending on how much of them you decide to complete. Add it all up, andThe Witcher 3could easily take you over 200 hours to finish, and that’s only if you’re rushing through a 100% run - some players report as many as 469 in-game hours with a completionist play style at a leisurely pace.
Why So Many Have Probably Backlogged Witcher 3
Critical Acclaim + Long Runtime = Lots Of Backlogs
Combine those two stats with another one, and we begin to see whyThe Witcher 3is so commonly backlogged.With a 92 critic score and a 9.1 audience scoreonMetacritic,The Witcher 3has earned near-universal acclaim. Most positively received were its story and exploration - it has a memorable dark fantasy setting, with some unusual twists on ordinary fantasy tropes, and a variable story that can unfold in a variety of different ways depending on your decisions, including those made in the previous games.
ButThe Witcher 3is incredibly long, so it’s difficult to make time for. Most players want to experience everything it has to offer instead of rushing through it, but that means they’ll have to set aside hundreds of hours to complete the full game and its two major DLCs. If there’s a big release coming up that you want to play on day one, or you have a busy month at work ahead, it might not feel like the ideal time to startThe Witcher 3,wanting to get lost in itbut knowing you may have to set it aside for a couple of weeks to get other things done.
The Complete Edition ofThe Witcher 3is easily available and often discounted, and includes all DLC.
As a result, most players wind up slappingThe Witcher 3on their backlogs, and not touching it for anywhere from a few weeks to a few years. But really, that shouldn’t be the case.The Witcher 3is aware of how challenging its long runtime can be, and it provides you with all sorts of tools to get over that hurdle. Every time you open the game, you’re treated to a (skippable) story recap. Any unfinished main or side quests are clearly labeled on your map, and thoroughly described in your quest log.
Speaking from personal experience, I’ve pickedThe Witcher 3up, played it for a few days, then put it down for months at a time, and I never had a problem diving right into it. So, ifThe Witcher 3has been sitting on your backlog for a while, it might be time to take the plunge.
