The Life is Strange franchise has been around since 2015, having spurned not only new games across the franchise but even a comic series that takes place after the events of the first game. The games were originally told in an episodic format and released periodically, but the upcoming Life is Strange: True Colors will be the first to be released all in one. Because of the episodic format of the previous games, it would take players months to finish the game, as they had to wait for each episode installment to drop.
If players picked up the Life is Strange games after all the episodes were released, they can easily play them back to back without any delay. In fact, some players might want to replay the old Life is Strange games before the release of Life is Strange: True Colors, though it is worth mentioning that both Life is Strange and Life is Strange: Before the Storm are getting remastered editions around the time Life is Strange: True Colors releases. Regardless, players looking to replay all the Life is Strange games probably want to know how many hours it takes per game.
How Long is Life is Strange?
The introductory game in the franchise, Life is Strange lets players step into the shoes of high school student and photographer, Max Caulfield. When Max witnesses a tragedy, she discovers that she has the ability to rewind time, though she soon learns that meddling with time travel can have dangerous consequences. Life is Strange also introduced players to Chloe Price, a fan-favorite character for many players.
Life is Strange has five episodes total, each averaging about 2 to 3 hours of playtime. However, how fast or slow players go will obviously affect the overall amount of time put into the game. From episode one to episode five, the main storyline playthrough takes roughly 14 hours. If players want to invest in the side stories, it can take anywhere from 16 to 20 hours to play through.
How Long is Life is Strange: Before the Storm?
The prequel to Life is Strange, Life is Strange: Before the Storm lets players step into the world of a younger Chloe Price. This entry in the franchise helps players get a sense of who Chloe was before Life is Strange, but also lets them see what Rachel Amber was like before her disappearance in the first game. Before the Storm is shorter than its predecessor, having only three main episodes and then a bonus revolving around Chloe and Max as kids.
This is the shortest entry in the Life is Strange franchise, with the main episodes averaging around 3 hours of playtime each. The bonus episode only has about an hour of playtime. If players want to only follow the main story, they’re in for about a 10-hour playthrough. If they want to factor in other side items, the playthrough will take a bit longer, ranging anywhere from 11.5 to 12.5 hours.
How Long is Life is Strange 2?
Life is Strange 2 is set in the same universe as the previous games but doesn’t feature major characters, like Chloe or Max, from the other games. Instead, it’s the story of two brothers, Sean and Daniel, who run away from home and must trek along the west coast to find safety in a new place. Like the first Life is Strange, there are five total episodes whose combined playtime is actually longer than the first franchise game.
Each episode in Life is Strange 2 takes about 3 hours to complete, though the last episode is a bit shorter at a 2 hour playthrough time. Overall, the main storyline takes about 16 hours to complete which is 2 hours longer than the original Life is Strange. For extra side items or completionist playthroughs, it can take anywhere from 18 to 20 hours to complete Life is Strange 2.
Overall Play Time Ahead of Life is Strange: True Colors
If players were to play through all three predecessor Life is Strange games to just complete the main story, no side items, it would take approximately 40 hours total. However, those who like to complete the main story and side items would need to invest a bit more time, about 46 hours' worth of dedicated play. Of course, completionists will have the longest playthroughs of all, clocking in at 50.5 hours total.
Given the fact that Life is Strange: True Colors releases in a few months, it would be doable for players to go back and play through every prior Life is Strange game. Steph Gingerich of Before the Storm returns in True Colors, so it might be a good idea for players to revisit the games ahead of the release of Life is Strange: True Colors.
Life is Strange: True Colors will release September 10 for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.