What is HowLongToBeat?
HowLongToBeat (HLTB) is a video game website that crowdsources information on game length and allows users to track their personal video game collections. The main feature of HLTB is its database of over 20,000 games with information on how long it takes to beat them under various conditions.
Users can view average reported times for completing the main story, main story + extra content, and completeness completionist-style playthroughs. This data is gathered by polling the HLTB community members and aggregating the results. So the times represent a good indication based on real player data rather than guesses.
In addition to the game length info, HLTB allows users to log in and maintain a profile with their personal backlogs and completion times. You can add games you've played or want to play, rate games, mark completion status, and record your own times. This allows you to track your backlog and target trophies or achievements.
An additional feature is the statistical tracking offered by the site. You can see graph distributions of times set by other players, allowing you to gauge where you stand. The site also tallies game counts, total completion times, and other stats across your profile or the entire site.
In summary, HowLongToBeat meets the need for reliable game length estimates based on real data, while also providing a way for users to quantify and track their gaming hobby through stats and game collection management.