While fans eagerly await the next original entry in the iconic Zelda series, Nintendo has remastered and revamped the divisive Wii title in the form of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD - but how long does it take to beat? While the game remains structurally the same, many quality of life improvements have been made that ensure this is the definitive version of Skyward Sword, with its improved visuals being an added bonus. Many consider The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword to be the most linear 3D Zelda game, but that doesn't stop it from providing players with a lengthy adventure.
A healthy balance of main story and optional side content might land a Skyward Sword HD playthrough somewhere around 40 hours. Of course, results may vary due to personal play style and just how much side content players choose to engage with. Those who have played the original Wii release might find their subsequent run through on the Switch to be a bit shorter, owing to Skyward Sword HD's new improvements and prior game knowledge.
Though it's too early for much player data to be collected on the HD version, the original The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword has an average of nearly 46.5 hours on HowLongToBeat's aggregate of all play styles. Completionists can naturally expect a longer experience, but for most, Skyward Sword HD's tutorials being truncated might help cut down on hours spent, especially near the beginning of the game. Additionally, the removal of explanatory dialogue throughout (such as every time Link picks up a Rupee after loading a save) might add up to shave a decent chunk off the time it takes to beat Skyward Sword HD.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD's Story Is Quite Long
Common critiques of Skyward Sword involve it being repetitive and linear, but those never come paired with a lack of content. The Legend of Zelda games are typically prolonged adventures, and Skyward Sword HD is no exception. Those who aren't actively looking to complete all the side content before they beat The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD will still most likely find a lot of things to be sidetracked by. While very linear for a large portion of the game, there is ample opportunity for leisurely exploration in the sky surrounding Skyloft - Link and Zelda's airborne home.
Even heavily focusing on just the main story will probably take players 30 hours to beat The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD. The new ability for players to ignore Fi's constant advice will help cut down on some unnecessary down time, but even when not in a dungeon, Skyward Sword HD inundates players with puzzles and encounters. From the many reviews already posted, it appears that the new button-only controls are a good alternative to the motion controls, but don't necessarily streamline the game any. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD is by and large the same game it was when it released a decade ago on the Wii, but some marked changes to the game might be impactful enough to cut down on play time, even if only by a tiny bit.
Source: HowLongToBeat