How Long to Beat — Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy
Last verified: 2026-09-10 · Game version: Launch
Official estimate: about 20 hours for the main story, per Focus Entertainment's FAQ — which makes Resonance the longest game in the A Plague Tale series.
Quick Time Table
| Play style | Estimated time |
|---|---|
| Official estimate (Focus FAQ) | ~20 hours |
| Main story, fast play | ~15 hours (IGN's reviewer took 13 including side exploration) |
| No-commentary critical-path videos | 7h41–8h49, median ~7h54 |
| Main story + casual collecting | 16–20 hours |
| Completionist (30 charms + 8 blades + 200 points) | 20–25 hours+ |
| Platinum / all achievements | ~25 hours |
Note: the 20-hour figure is the publisher's estimate; actual time varies with difficulty and exploration habits. The 7h41–8h49 range comes from full no-commentary playthroughs and is a critical-path floor — it's not what a normal player exploring and fighting expects to land at.
Why do guides disagree (8h vs 13h vs 20h)?
You'll see three different numbers for this game, and they're all "true" for different players. Each one measures a different kind of run:
| Number you'll see | What it actually measures | Who lands there |
|---|---|---|
| ~8 hours | No-commentary critical-path videos (7h41–8h49) | Speed-focused runs that skip cutscenes, side routes and optional combat — a floor, not a normal player |
| ~13–15 hours | Reviewer / fast main-story runs | Critics on deadline, playing the story while skipping most side content |
| ~20 hours | Focus Entertainment's official estimate | A normal story-focused player exploring as they go |
| 20–25+ hours | Completionist / platinum | All 30 charms, 8 blades and 200 Resonance Points |
The ~20-hour figure is the publisher's estimate, not a measured median. When another guide says "8 hours", it's almost always quoting a full no-commentary video — which skips everything a real player does. When it says "13 hours", that's usually a reviewer rushing to cover the game.
So the honest answer is about 20 hours for a normal playthrough — down to ~8h only if you're rushing the critical path, up to 25h+ if you're chasing the platinum.
How Long Is Each Game in the Series?
| Game | Main story |
|---|---|
| A Plague Tale: Innocence | ~11 hours |
| A Plague Tale: Requiem | ~17 hours |
| Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy | ~20 hours — longest in the series |
Why the Platinum Takes Longer
The three collectible tracks differ in difficulty:
| Track | Retroactive via chapter select? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Charms ×30 | ✅ Yes | The post-game select screen shows each chapter's count — easy cleanup |
| Blades ×8 | ✅ Yes | 6 hide in Hero Tomb puzzles; redo the puzzle in the chapter |
| Resonance Points ×200 | ⚠️ No | Replaying a chapter resets the total to what it was then — grab every one on the first run |
This is the biggest trap in the achievement design: points can't be mopped up after the fact like charms. See Collectibles Overview.
Pacing Reference (No Spoilers)
- Chapters 1–3: tutorial and setup, slow-paced (community consensus)
- After Chapter 3: the combat system and dual timeline fully open up
- Chapter 6 What Lies Beneath: the most "true to the series' roots" chapter
- Chapter 8 Resonance: a pure-story chapter with no collectibles
- The back half: horror elements unfold toward the finale As One
Related
FAQ
Q: How long is Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy? A: About 20 hours for the main story, per Focus Entertainment's official FAQ — the longest game in the series. Fast players can finish in around 15 hours (IGN's reviewer took 13 with side exploration); completionists should budget 20–25+ hours.
Q: Is Resonance longer than Requiem? A: Yes. The official estimate is about 20 hours, versus roughly 17 hours for Requiem and 11 hours for Innocence.
Q: How long does it take to 100% Resonance? A: Budget 20–25 hours or more. One trap: the 200 Resonance Points are not retroactive via chapter select — replaying a chapter resets your total to what it was then — so missed points can force a second full run.