If you’re digging through your old PS2 game collection or scrolling through retro game subscription libraries for your next action platformer fix, you’ve probably wondered how long to beat Ratchet and Clank Deadlocked before you carve out time for it. Unlike other entries in the Ratchet and Clank franchise that lean heavily into open world exploration and puzzle solving, Deadlocked swaps most of that for fast-paced arena combat and mission-based progression, so its playtime varies a lot more depending on how you play. I’ve run through this game at least 7 times over the last 15 years, both solo and with friends, so I’ve got a solid breakdown of exactly what you can expect for every playstyle.
Average Playtimes for How Long to Beat Ratchet and Clank Deadlocked
Crowdsourced playtime data from thousands of players gives a clear baseline for every type of run. If you only stick to mandatory missions, skip cutscenes, and ignore all optional side content, you can finish the main story in roughly 7 hours. That’s shorter than almost every other mainline Ratchet and Clank entry, since there’s no large open world to explore or collectible hunt tied to core progression. Main story only runs are the shortest option for casual players who just want to experience the core narrative.
If you stop to do most optional side challenges, upgrade the majority of your weapons, and watch all cutscenes, you’re looking at around 11 hours of total playtime. This is the most common playstyle for most players, since it lets you enjoy all the best parts of the game without the grind of full completion. For completionists who want to unlock every weapon skin, earn all skill points, max out every weapon, and beat all difficulty challenges, average playtime lands around 17 hours. Co-op runs add roughly 10% to total playtime if you’re playing with a new player who needs to learn mechanics, but experienced teams can actually cut down on time by splitting objectives.
Factors That Change Your Total Playtime
Your actual playtime might fall far outside these averages based on a few key choices you make early on. Difficulty level is the biggest variable by far. If you pick Hero mode for your first run, you’ll likely have to replay multiple missions when you get wiped by tough boss fights or large enemy waves, which can add 2 to 3 extra hours to your total run time. Difficulty level is the single biggest factor that can extend your playtime without you planning for it.
Weapon upgrade grinding is another big time drain. If you try to max out every single weapon as soon as you unlock it, you’ll spend extra hours running repeat arena challenges to farm XP and bolts. You don’t actually need most of those upgrades to beat the main story, so this is an entirely optional time sink. Skill point hunts can add 4+ extra hours to your run if you’re going for 100% completion. Some skill points have extremely specific requirements, like beating an entire mission without taking any damage, that can take dozens of tries to pull off. Even experienced players get stuck on a few of the trickier skill points on their first completion run.
Tips to Shorten Your Playthrough Without Missing Content
You don’t have to rush through cutscenes or skip fun side content to cut down on wasted time. I’ve tested these tricks over multiple runs, and they can shave 1 to 2 hours off your total playtime without making the game feel like a chore.
- Stick to upgrading 3-4 core weapons first instead of spreading XP across every weapon you unlock. Weapons like the Holoshield Launcher and the B6-Obliterator work for almost every mission type, so you won’t have to waste time grinding upgrades for niche weapons you’ll only use once.
- Skip the optional low-reward arena challenges unless you need extra bolts for a specific upgrade. Most of these challenges only give small bolt rewards that aren’t worth the 10-15 minutes they take to complete if you’re not going for 100%.
- Play co-op with an experienced friend if you can. You can split mission objectives to cut down on time per level, and you’ll both get credit for collectibles and progress no matter who picks them up.
That said, don’t skip all side content if you want to enjoy the game fully. The optional character banter and silly side mission gags are some of the best parts of the Deadlocked experience, so it’s worth taking a minute to watch them instead of skipping every non-mandatory part. You’ll only miss out on the charm of the game if you rush through every single section just to beat it as fast as possible.
Is 100% Completing Deadlocked Worth the Extra Time?
The answer to this depends entirely on how much you enjoy the Ratchet and Clank franchise. If you’re a long-time fan who loves going back to old entries for replay value, 100% completion is absolutely worth the extra hours. You unlock exclusive character skins, a special post-credits cutscene, and access to the hardest challenge mode that lets you replay the game with all your upgraded weapons. The skill point challenges also show off how creative the game’s developers were, with lots of silly, unexpected requirements that make the game feel fresh even on your third or fourth run.
If you’re just playing through Deadlocked for the first time to see if you like it, 100% completion is not worth the effort at all. Some of the skill points are extremely frustrating, like beating the final boss on Hero mode without taking damage, which can take 10+ tries alone. Casual players can get 90% of the game's fun from a simple main + extras run without investing the extra time for 100% completion. You won’t miss any of the core story or most of the funny dialogue if you stick to the main and mid-priority side content.
At the end of the day, how long to beat Ratchet and Clank Deadlocked depends entirely on what you want to get out of the game. You can blast through the main story in a single weekend, or spend a few weeks grinding for 100% completion if you’re a diehard fan of the franchise. It’s one of the most unique entries in the entire series, with a darker tone and more focused combat than other Ratchet and Clank games, so it’s well worth the time you put into it no matter what playstyle you pick.