How long is a VALORANT game?

Let’s face it, you’re here because you’re new to this thrilling first-person-shooter. Otherwise, you’d likely know exactly how long a VALORANT game lasts on average. And you’d know about the fabled time-distortion effect, where a 30-minute game breezes by in what feels like 10 minutes flat.

Don’t worry though - every legend started where you are. And a legend is exactly what you’ll become with us to guide you.

Before we dive in, here’s some key facts you should know:

1. Some VALORANT matches last longer than others.
2. Different game modes last different lengths of time.
3. The more challenging a match, the longer it’s likely to last.
4. An absolute A-team doesn’t guarantee you’ll trash your opponents before your coffee cools – even the most skilled players can go the full time-distance.

Why you need to know average VALORANT game times

Knowing how long a VALORANT game will last isn’t just about figuring out how many matches you can cram in before bed (or other less thrilling responsibilities).

It’s a strategic advantage.

As your skills grow and your rank rises, this knowledge will save you invaluable time. It’ll help you identify a match worth surrendering vs. one you can claw back from the jaws of defeat.

It’ll also help you avoid any penalties for abandoning a match mid-play, and keep you in the good graces of your teams; VALORANT is a team effort, remember – you don’t want to build a bad reputation for leaving your fellow agents high and dry.

So, how long is a VALORANT game going to take?

On average, when you’re playing Competitive or Unrated matches, expect a standard VALORANT game to last between 30 and 40 minutes.

That said, here are some variables that’ll affect things:

1. One-sided stomp – if one team is absolutely dominating the other, the match could be done and dusted in under 25 minutes flat.
2. Tooth-and-nail battle - when both teams are equally killing it right up to the final second, the match will probably last longer than 40 minutes.
3. Last-minute plants – if the Spike is planted in the last few seconds, round time can extend beyond the expected.
4. Overtime – this can drastically extend how long a match lasts.

What’s the longest a VALORANT match can last?

Competitive matches can last up to 80 minutes at a maximum. Don’t worry, this only happens if both teams draw and agree to play Overtime. As a beginner, it’s not likely your VALORANT games will last this long.

Unrated matches are a little different. When you reach a 13-13 draw on Unrated, instead of Overtime, you enter Sudden Death, where the winner of the next round wins the game. This makes Unrated draws far quicker to resolve.

Are there any shorter game options?

Yes, absolutely.

You can play through Spike Rush, Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Escalation, or Replication, game modes in under 15 minutes each, easy. These are definitely your best options if time is short. Swiftplay is another option that can last 15-20 minutes depending on how many rounds are played. It is essentially a shorter Unrated game mode.

But don’t let the standard Competitive and Unrated VALORANT game mode length of 30 to 40 minutes put you off (unless you literally don’t have that time spare). Most VALORANT players find that an average game lasts closer to the 30-minute mark, and many more feel like even that half-hour slot took no more than 10 minutes.

VALORANT: helping gamers time-travel since 2020.

What’s the longest recorded game of VALORANT?

At the time of writing, the longest-ever game of VALORANT was clocked on April 11, 2023, at a mighty 1 hour 29 minutes and 15 seconds.