Typical League of Legends games last between 20 and 45 minutes.
Ever wondered about the time commitment when you dive into a match of League of Legends? It’s a question many new and even seasoned players often ask. The length can vary, of course, but we can get a general sense of how long are League of Legends games.
The duration usually depends on how efficiently teams play, and if one team gets a dominant lead early. A decisive team might end the game quickly, or a more even contest can take longer to play out.
How Long Are League of Legends Games?
Ever wondered just how much time you’ll need to set aside for a round of League of Legends (LoL)? It’s a common question, and the answer isn’t always a simple one. League games aren’t like a board game with a fixed time limit. They can vary quite a bit, which can be exciting but also something you need to plan for. Let’s dig into what affects the length of a LoL match, so you’re never caught off-guard!
Average Game Length: The Short and Sweet (and Sometimes Not-So-Sweet)
On average, a typical League of Legends game lasts between 25 and 45 minutes. This is for the standard Summoner’s Rift mode that most players spend their time on. However, this is just an average. You’ll find matches that finish super quick or drag on a little longer.
Factors Influencing Game Duration
Several things can impact how long a game takes. Let’s explore what these are, so you can see why each game feels so different:
- Early Game Aggression: If one team gets very aggressive and scores a lot of kills early in the game, they can often end things much quicker. A team snowballing (getting stronger and stronger from winning) can finish a game in 20-25 minutes.
- Team Composition: Some team combinations (the champions each player chooses) are better at ending games quickly, while others are better at playing for the late game. A team with lots of champions who get strong later might want to drag out the game, while a team of early-game powerhouses will want to finish things fast.
- Player Skill: The difference in skill between two teams can greatly affect game length. If one team is much stronger, they can gain a big advantage early, leading to a quicker win. Close matches, where both teams are evenly matched, tend to go longer.
- Objectives: Taking down towers, slaying dragons, and securing Baron Nashor all contribute to ending a game. The more objectives a team secures, the faster they can push into the enemy base and win. Teams that focus on objectives tend to finish games faster than teams that just fight constantly.
- Surrendering: In League of Legends, teams can choose to surrender. This usually happens when a game is going really badly for them. This ends the game before it would naturally end. Surrenders typically happen around the 15-20 minute mark if the team has low morale.
Game Modes and Their Typical Lengths
League of Legends offers several game modes, and each has its own typical length:
Summoner’s Rift (Normal/Ranked)
This is the main game mode of League of Legends, and the one we’ve been talking about. These matches usually land in the 25 to 45 minute window. As discussed above, several factors can affect the timing, but this is the sweet spot for the majority of the games.
ARAM (All Random All Mid)
ARAM matches, played on the Howling Abyss map, are generally shorter, usually falling between 15 and 30 minutes. Because there is only one lane and players are stuck with randomly selected champions, they tend to be faster paced and filled with non-stop action.
Clash Tournaments
Clash games are competitive tournament matches that can take a little longer due to the extra draft and ban phase. Generally these games tend to last between 30 and 50 minutes, but some can go over an hour if the teams are very balanced. These longer games come with extra tension and excitement.
Rotating Game Modes
Riot Games often adds temporary modes, like Ultra Rapid Fire (URF) or One For All. These modes have varied lengths. URF matches tend to be very fast, often ending in 15-25 minutes, while modes like Nexus Blitz can have more variable game times. These modes tend to be shorter and more about having chaotic fun!
Understanding the Early, Mid, and Late Game
League of Legends matches progress through different stages: early, mid, and late. Knowing these stages can help you understand how a game is developing and how much longer it might last.
Early Game
The early game generally lasts from the start of the match until around the 15-20 minute mark. During this time, players focus on gaining gold and experience by last-hitting minions, taking down towers, and hopefully getting kills. Games with a lot of early kills and objective takes in this time tend to be shorter.
Mid Game
The mid game usually occurs from about 20 minutes to 30 minutes in the match. Teams start to group up more, fighting over bigger objectives like dragons and Baron Nashor. How well teams transition into the mid game, and how many objectives they can secure, can greatly affect how much longer a game lasts.
Late Game
The late game starts around the 30-minute mark, and can stretch past 45 minutes. In this stage, most players are nearing their final, stronger champion builds and the team fights become very intense. The respawn timers are also longer, so mistakes can be more costly. Games that reach this point often depend on one or two decisive fights. Games that reach late game usually mean that both teams were very evenly matched and the game could’ve gone either way.
When Games Get Extended
Sometimes, a game just refuses to end! A few reasons why matches can go past the typical 45-minute mark:
- Defensive Playstyles: If both teams play very defensively and avoid risky moves, the game can stretch longer as neither team is able to make strong plays to take objectives.
- Evenly Matched Teams: When both teams are very skilled and similar in strength, it can be much more difficult for either to gain a decisive lead. This can lead to prolonged back-and-forth battles.
- Lack of Objective Focus: Sometimes teams get caught in endless fights without focusing on taking towers, dragons, or Baron. This can make a game go on longer because there isn’t a way to close out the game.
- Late-Game Scaling Compositions: If both teams have champions that get very powerful late game, it can take a while for either team to gain a big enough advantage to win, which can result in a longer game.
Time Commitment: Planning Your Play Sessions
Knowing that games can take from 20 to 45 minutes (or even longer), it is important to think about this when you start a gaming session. Here are some tips to help you plan better:
- Set a Time Limit: Decide how long you have to play before you start. This can stop you from getting into a game when you should be doing something else.
- Check the Clock: Before starting a game, look at the time. If you don’t have a lot of time, maybe a quick ARAM game would be better than a normal Summoner’s Rift game.
- Don’t Start at the Wrong Time: Avoid starting a long game just before you need to do something else, like eat dinner or go out.
- Use the /remake Command: If a player disconnects early in a match, you can use /remake to end the game without a penalty, though that doesn’t happen too often and the situation needs to meet some requirements.
Keeping Up with Game Length Changes
Riot Games often makes changes to League of Legends. These changes can sometimes affect how long games usually last. Patches that make champions stronger or weaker, or change objectives on the map, can speed up or slow down the game. This is why paying attention to updates and patches can help you have a better idea of how long your games will last.
By keeping up with changes to the game, you will be more aware of average game lengths and that can help you plan your game sessions better.
In summary, while the average League of Legends game lands between 25 and 45 minutes, many things can change the duration. By thinking about these factors, and the types of modes you play, you can plan your time accordingly and enjoy the game to the fullest. This should also help you avoid getting into a game when you don’t have the time to commit to it fully.
ULTIMATE Beginner's Guide to League of Legends
Final Thoughts
Typical League of Legends matches usually last around 25 to 40 minutes. Shorter games can occur when one team dominates early. Longer matches might happen due to balanced teams and strategic gameplay.
The answer to the question “how long are league of legends games” varies. Game length depends on multiple factors. These include team skill, champion picks, and strategic decisions.
