How Long to Beat Dragon Age: The Veilguard? (Hint: A Lot)
November 1, 2024If you’re about to play Dragon Age: The Veilguard, get ready for an epic, time-consuming adventure through northern Thedas. This guide will break down how long the main campaign takes to complete, what you’ll miss if you focus solely on the main story, and why this journey is well worth every minute. So buckle up—there’s a lot to explore!
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How Long to Beat Dragon Age: The Veilguard?
Dragon Age: The Veilguard is not for the faint-hearted—or the short on time. If you’re planning to zip through the main campaign, you’re looking at around 25-30 hours to reach the end credits. But here’s the thing: there’s so much more to this game than just the main quests. For a more in-depth experience that includes side quests, hidden secrets, and character interactions, a completionist playthrough will run you at least 70 hours.
And if you’re the type of player who loves replaying with different character classes, races, and factions, well, you can expect to invest dozens more hours into this vast world of Thedas.
What’s in Store: The Main Quests of The Veilguard
Here’s a breakdown of the main quests you’ll tackle in The Veilguard. These missions carry you through the core storyline, and trust us, each one is packed with surprises and emotional weight:
- The End of the Beginning
- In Entropy’s Grasp
- Shadow’s Crossing
- The Singing Blade
- Into the Crossroads
- The Smuggled Relic Case
- Sea of Blood
- Shadows of Minrathous
- A Warden’s Best Friend
- On Deadly Wings/On Blighted Wings – Major choices here impact the rest of the story.
- Completing the Veilguard
- Where the Dead Must Go
- The Dragon Slayer
- Shades of the Blight
- Something Wrong
- The Siege of Weisshaupt
- The Cauldron
- Fire and Ice
- Bloodbath
- Unwanted Guests
- Blood of Arlathan
- Legacies and Legends
- For the Love of Treviso
- To Act As One
- When Plans Align – This quest is the final point of no return in the campaign.
Each quest is loaded with lore and choice-based consequences that shape how the story unfolds. But just a heads-up: once you get to When Plans Align, you’ll have committed to the endgame, so finish up anything else you want to explore before then.
Companions & Relationship Goals
One of the best things about Dragon Age games is the rich relationships you can build with your companions. In The Veilguard, you’ll encounter seven unique companions. Each one has a personal quest that dives into their backstory, values, and even unlocks exclusive rewards and locations. Here’s why they’re worth the time:
- Personal Storylines: Each companion’s journey adds depth to the main plot, providing unique perspectives on the conflicts unfolding in Thedas.
- Exclusive Rewards: Completing these quests can earn you unique items, special abilities, or additional allies for the campaign’s epic finale.
- Time-Sensitive Interactions: Look out for a clock icon next to companion portraits. When you see this, it means you need to talk to them ASAP. Miss these opportunities, and you might lose the chance to bond further.
Investing time in these relationships not only enriches the story but also makes the gameplay experience feel more immersive and meaningful.
The Side Content You Won’t Want to Skip
If you’re a player who can’t resist exploring every corner, The Veilguard is a paradise of side quests and hidden lore. Here are a few things you can explore beyond the main storyline:
- Faction and Region Quests: Each faction and region has its own set of quests that help boost your power, strengthen alliances, and sometimes even unlock new areas or game-altering decisions.
- Crossroads Portals: The Crossroads acts as a hub connecting different regions of Thedas. Each portal leads to quests that uncover hidden secrets or connect back to the main story in surprising ways.
- Hidden Locations and Artifacts: Keep an eye out for secret spots and collectible items scattered across the map. These are often tied to lore and backstory elements that deepen your understanding of the game’s world.
Why You Should Go All-In on Dragon Age: The Veilguard
Sure, you could speedrun The Veilguard in 30 hours and experience the core plot. But you’d miss out on so much of what makes this game special. By investing time in companion relationships, side quests, and hidden lore, you’ll get a fuller, richer understanding of the struggles within Thedas.
Not only do these additional activities boost your character’s strength, but they also create a more dynamic endgame experience where your choices and alliances will shape the final battle. And if you’re a Dragon Age fan, you know the endgame is where things get intense!
While games are fun, it’s highly important to note that there’s more to life than sitting countless hours playing games – there’s a purpose and more to life; seek out that purpose more often!