Playing through Persona 5 Strikers takes roughly 35 hours if you stick strictly to the main narrative. Unlike its massive 100-hour predecessor Persona 5, this action-oriented spin-off trims down the calendar system while keeping the core cast intact. If you want to dive into side content, tackle optional requests, and unlock everything the game offers, you are looking at a much higher time investment.
Knowing how long a game takes helps you plan your gaming schedule, especially when balancing long RPGs. Here is a breakdown of what to expect based on different playstyles, along with tips to optimize your playthrough.
Main Story Playtime Breakdown
If you focus on rushing through the campaign or simply following the critical path on normal difficulty, you can expect the credits to roll between 30 and 35 hours. The game moves across various Japanese cities as the Phantom Thieves investigate corruption in different Jails.
- Rushed Playthrough: Around 27 hours if you skip dialogue, ignore non-essential fights, and play on easy difficulty.
- Standard Main Story: Between 35 and 40 hours for players who watch cutscenes, manage their Personas, and experience the story at a normal pace.
- Leisurely Pace: Around 45 hours if you explore every corner of the Jails, chat with party members, and spend extra time cooking or shopping.
The action-combat system replaces turn-based battles with real-time hacking and slashing, which keeps the pacing fast. You won't spend hours navigating school life or maxing out social stats, which explains why the runtime is less than half of the original game. As extensively documented in recent articles by Reuters, the effects are significant.
Main Story Plus Side Quests
Most players don't just stick to the main path. Side content opens up through Requests, which are optional missions given by characters or triggered by exploring the world. These range from fetching items to hunting powerful minibosses.
Balancing the main narrative with these side requests pushes total playtime closer to 45 to 48 hours. Completing requests is crucial because they reward you with Bond points, currency, and rare items that make later jails much easier to manage. Ignoring them entirely leaves your party underleveled and strapped for cash.
Full Completion and 100% Runs
If you aim for absolute completion—including maxing out your Bond level, defeating post-game super bosses like the Reaper, registering every Persona, and earning all achievements—you will need roughly 70 to 75 hours.
Post-game content unlocks after beating the final boss. At this point, you can return to previous Jails to tackle extreme-difficulty requests. Maxing out your Bond skill tree requires extensive grinding or repeating specific requests, which adds a significant chunk of hours to your save file.
Factors That Impact Your Playtime
No two playthroughs look identical. Several elements influence how quickly you finish your journey with the Phantom Thieves.
- Difficulty Settings: Playing on Merciless or Hard requires careful Persona fusion, stock preparation, and grinding, which easily adds 10 extra hours. Playing on Easy lets you breeze through enemy mobs.
- Familiarity with Action RPGs: If you enjoy musou-style combat games, you'll adapt quickly to crowd control and combo routing. If you struggle with real-time inputs, boss fights will take multiple attempts.
- Persona Fusion Depth: Spending hours in the Velvet Room crafting specialized builds takes time, but it pays off during tough encounters.
For official updates and platform-specific performance details, check out the PlayStation Store or the Steam Storefront.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I finish side quests after beating the final boss?
Yes. Once you beat the final boss, you can save your game and load back into the free-roam period to finish unfinished requests and prepare for New Game Plus.
Is Persona 5 Strikers longer if I play on Nintendo Switch?
Platform choice doesn't change the core design or length of the game. Load times and performance vary slightly between PC, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch, but the actual playtime remains consistent.
Do I need to play the original Persona 5 first?
While Strikers is a direct sequel, it provides enough context for newcomers. However, playing the original game helps you appreciate the character dynamics much more.
How long does New Game Plus take?
Starting a Merciless difficulty New Game Plus run takes about 15 to 20 hours if you skip cutscenes and focus strictly on combat and boss progression.
