As a long-time survival horror fan who has proudly completed every Resident Evil game to 100% completion, I was ecstatic when Capcom announced a full remake of the legendary Resident Evil 4. This masterpiece completely reinvented the franchise when it released in 2005, so my expectations were sky high for the remake treatment.
Now after obsessing over the Resident Evil 4 Remake across countless hours of playtime, I have the definitive breakdown of exactly how long you should expect to spend with Leon S. Kennedy across all styles of play.
Main Story Playthrough Length
For players who stick closely to the critical path by focusing only on completing core story campaigns, you can expect Resident Evil 4 Remake to clock in around 12-15 hours including cutscenes.
My initial playthrough lasted 12 and a half hours playing on Normal difficulty, during which I watched all cutscenes and skipped only a small portion of optional encounters.
The game adheres very closely to the pacing and progression of the original, guiding Leon through the same 16 chapter structure from his initial desperate arrival in rural Spain to the climactic, heart-pounding conclusions. You‘ll traverse beloved locations like:
- The Village
- Castle
- Island
- Military Base
Long-time fans will feel right at home returning to these environments with excellent graphical upgrades and refined modern gameplay.
The Village opening section in particular also received expanded content – it lasted over 2 hours compared to 1 hour previously. This does a better job establishing characters and ratcheting up tension before heading off to the castle. But otherwise the remake channels that perfect survival horror runtime length.
Playtime For Completionist Runs
Players determined to squeeze every last piece of content out of Resident Evil 4 Remake can expect 25-30+ hours for full completionist runs.
This factors in finding all bonuses, unlockables, extras, and secrets the remake has tucked away. Don‘t assume you‘ve seen everything on your first go-around! Challenge runs easily add 8+ more hours.
Some key extras that will extend your playtime include:
- Collecting all 96 Treasures – Tracking down every last dazzling gemstone and golden ornament to complete the Treasure Collection is a marathon. But doing so nets you unlimited funds to splurge on gear!
- Maxing out every Weapon Upgrade – To fully upgrade the arsenal, you‘ll need to hunt down treasure and destroy hundreds of Ganado across multiple runs.
- Finishing every Challenge Mission – Special remixed combat encounters that test your skill and earn points for accessories. Addictive!
- Achieving high scores in The Mercenaries – This intense arcade-style mode returns, pitting you against hordes of enemies as the clock ticks down. Can you come out on top of the leaderboards?
And if you really want to max out your hunter rating, be prepared to scour every nook and cranny of RE4‘s shadowy corridors for extra crafting components and ammo stashes off the beaten trail. Skipping non-critical areas can leave a lot of potential firepower undiscovered!
Between all these engrossing activities, completionist players can easily double (or triple) their total Resident Evil 4 Remake playtime.
Speedrunner Playthrough Lengths
For those interested purely in speedrunning Resident Evil 4 Remake as swiftly as an infected Ganado, the current world records across all platforms peg 100% completions around 1 hour and 39 minutes.
Of course, most casual speedrunners will be hard-pressed to blitz through RE4 this quickly! But focusing on efficient routing through critical path areas yields speed run playthroughs of only 3-5 hours.
This requires huge dedication to truly master – intricate knowledge of enemy patterns, ideal high-risk shortcuts through environments, and quick reflexes are essential. You‘ll gain frames wherever possible, so don‘t expect to follow the story!
Cutscenes and NPC dialogue must be skipped without hesitation or breaking stride. No time for breathing either… speedrunning Resident Evil tests mental fortitude under intense pressure!
Ultimately though, mastering Resident Evil 4 Remake gameplay to this degree shows the incredible skill ceiling at play. And watching optimized world record runs will only increase your appreciation at how much this remake has to offer.
Replay Value – Keep Coming Back For More!
Successfully surviving a first complete campaign run in Resident Evil 4 Remake offers loads of value already for hardcore horror fans. But that‘s not the end of the road…Capcom entices veterans to keep revisiting with rewarding unlockable bonuses, including:
- The Handcannon – This ultra-powered magnum with unlimited ammo is gifted for finishing any campaign run regardless of difficulty. Feel that unlimited power!
- New Game Plus – Carry over all weapons, upgrades, and max ammo count into extra playthroughs. Helpful for mopping up collectibles or speedrun practice.
- Additional Difficulty Modes – Hardcore mode limits you to just 3 saves for the entire campaign. Think you‘ve mastered RE4‘s combat? Prove it!
And if playing through the storyline isn‘t enough, The Mercenaries arcade mode also returns in full force. This challenging score attack format across timed stages helps Resident Evil veterans continue honing combat skills for months after release.
Suffice to say, first-timers are guaranteed an immersive 12+ hour survival horror ride, with tons of enticing post-game content for our loyal veteran players ready to 200% this gem.
Does RE4 Remake Risk Feeling Too Short?
Considering the Resident Evil 4 Remake costs $60 USD at launch across all platforms, some players may worry its ~15 hour initial playtime falls shorter than other massive open world AAA blockbusters.
As an RE aficionado though, I firmly believe Capcom chose quality over quantity here for a tighter and more carefully paced experience. Previous acclaimed Resident Evil hits like RE2 Remake also clocked in around a 10-15 hour runtime, so this aligns with series foundations.
Frankly, I‘m relieved RE4 Remake focused on refining the tension-filled core story rather than inflating playtime with filler content. The expanded visuals, modernized gameplay, and bonus unlockable modes all provide excellent value.
By the finale, I felt wholly satisfied and left eagerly anticipating my next replay rather than wanting. Few games today get horror atmosphere, pacing, and gameplay this spot on the first try!
So while players who quickly chew through the narrative and side missions may be seeking even more, the New Game Plus and speedrunning potential offer plenty of mileage. At the end of the day, Resident Evil 4 Remake respects fans‘ time with heart-pounding, visually resplendent survival horror.
Final Verdict
After tallying up hours across countless passionate playthroughs, I‘m beyond thrilled with what Capcom achieved updating this genre-defining classic for modern audiences. Their Resident Evil 4 Remake strikes the perfect balance across all fronts.
Fans seeking a faithful retelling of Leon‘s horrific Spain misadventures can expect ~15 hours of narrative and combat brilliance. Meanwhile, completionists and score attackers will uncover tens of hours of additional challenges matching RE4‘s pedigree.
Does part of my survival horror-loving soul wish there was even more content to master? Perhaps…but that greed stems from a place of love and respect for the genius of this release! No matter your playstyle, Resident Evil 4 Remake deserves a spot in every gamer‘s library.
