What is the Shortest Time to Complete Elden Ring?
As gamers, we’re all fascinated by speedruns – trying to complete a game as quickly as possible without compromising the integrity of the game. When it comes to Elden Ring, one of the most impressive aspects of this game is the speedrunning community that has emerged around it. The shortest time to complete Elden Ring on the PC is a whopping 4 minutes and 59 seconds, set by YouTuber and speedrunner SeekerTV.
Main Any% Route vs. Actual Gameplay
While speedruns might seem like a curiosity to some, they have taught us a lot about optimization, strategy, and innovation in game design. There’s a big difference between completing the main story line (Any% route) and actually playing the game through to its conclusion, where you have to unlock various areas, defeat different enemies, and complete NPC questlines. Actual gameplay can take around 30-40 hours, while the main Any% route takes around 4 minutes!
Comparison of Running and Actual Gameplay
Here’s a table comparing running time and actual gameplay in Elden Ring:
| Running Time | Actual Gameplay | |
|---|---|---|
| Any% Route | 4 minutes and 59 seconds | 30-40 hours |
| Complete Main Storyline | 15-30 hours | Not Available |
| Completing All Quests | 100+ hours |
Key Factors Influencing Speedruns
• Optimization: Each aspect of the game’s design, from enemy layouts to boss patterns, requires extensive knowledge to optimize in the most efficient way.
• Pathfinding: A speedrunner must strategically select the best routes and positioning to shave precious seconds from their overall time.
• Movement: Character movement, particularly rolling, dashing, and attacking, is crucial in these early stages, as is controlling the character’s direction to avoid unnecessary obstacles or deaths.
• Avoidance: Players must identify potential hazards, such as attacks, environmental traps, or enemies, and circumvent them using their characters’ abilities or quick thinking.
• Sequence Breaking: Speedrunners focus on exploiting specific sequences within the game, allowing for novel approaches or shortcuts. For instance, exploiting camera transitions or cleverly reusing previously accessed areas may prove crucial.
Beyond Any%: Other Gameplay Strategies
Elden Ring offers many ways for gamers to play beyond traditional Any% speedruns or story completion. Here’s an overview of other challenges to consider:
• 100% Completion: You can spend countless hours acquiring every item, questline, and achievement by dedicating time to a leisurely exploration of this dark fantasy world.
• Speedrunning other Game Modes: You could aim for fast completions within specific modes, like a 5-minute finish of the Invasion mode. Or, explore the dark horse of Elden Ring: the New Game+. For a second playthrough of the entire game and unlocking additional items and bonuses.