How to Use the HowLongToBeat MCP in Claude

Fetch game completion times directly inside Claude Desktop. Plan your gaming backlog without opening another tab.

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Connect HowLongToBeat MCP to Claude Desktop

Create your Vinkius account to connect HowLongToBeat to Claude Desktop and route execution through our secure gateway. The platform manages server hosting, runtime updates, and security layers. Configuration requires no manual server provisioning.

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Setup HowLongToBeat with Claude Desktop

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Pull game lengths into Claude Desktop.

The `search_game_times` tool connects Claude directly to HowLongToBeat's database. You type a game name, and your agent returns the exact hours needed for main story, extras, and completionist runs. This MCP Server works locally or through the web interface. If you run the desktop app, it operates as a subprocess on your machine. Web users just paste the URL into their integration settings to get the same data instantly.

Budget your free time accurately.

You can budget your free time accurately using the `search_game_times` tool. Gaming backlogs grow faster than you can clear them. Instead of guessing how long a 100-hour RPG will take, you get hard numbers to plan your weekends. Ask your AI client to compare five different titles you want to play. It grabs the completion times for all of them at once, letting you pick a game that actually fits your schedule.

Skip the manual database searches.

Checking game lengths before a sale is faster with the `search_game_times` tool. We usually waste time tabbing out to search external sites before buying something. Now that data lives right where you are already brainstorming or organizing your library. You ask the question, and the tool does the lookup. Your agent formats the results into a clean table or summary, dropping the raw numbers straight into your conversation.

Setup guide

Set up HowLongToBeat MCP in Claude Web or Desktop

1

Open Claude Settings

Go to claude.ai, click your profile icon, then navigate to Customize → Connectors.
2

Add Custom Connector

Click the "+" button and select Add custom connector. Paste your Vinkius endpoint URL: https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your token from cloud.vinkius.com. For OAuth-protected servers, expand Advanced settings to add credentials.
3

Start a conversation

Open a new chat. The HowLongToBeat MCP tools are available immediately — no restart needed.

Endpoint URL

https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp

No configuration file needed — paste the URL directly in the Claude web interface.

Available on Free (1 connector), Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise plans.

Prerequisites

Claude Desktop installed (macOS or Windows)
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open Claude Desktop Settings

Click the menu icon at the top-left corner, go to Settings → Developer → Edit Config. This opens claude_desktop_config.json in your default text editor.
2

Paste the HowLongToBeat MCP configuration

Copy the JSON snippet on the right into the mcpServers object. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Restart Claude Desktop

Close and reopen the application. Claude needs a full restart to load new MCPs — refreshing a conversation is not enough.
4

Verify the connection

Open a new conversation. Click the 🔌 icon at the bottom of the message input. You should see tools listed under howlongtobeat-mcp.

json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "howlongtobeat-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Get your connection token →

Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by HowLongToBeat. All third-party trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this website is strictly for informational purposes to identify service compatibility and interoperability.

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Common questions about HowLongToBeat MCP in Claude Desktop

Open your Claude Desktop settings and click Developer. Edit the claude_desktop_config.json file to add the server details, then restart the app.

Yes. Go to Settings, find Integrations, and add a custom connector. Paste the remote MCP URL there, and the tools become available immediately.

It queries the database for a specific video game title. The response includes the average hours required to beat the main story, side quests, and 100% completion.

You stop switching context just to check if a game is 10 hours or 100 hours long. Your agent handles the search and hands you the numbers.

No. The only data this server processes are the game titles you search for. It pulls public completion metrics and never touches your personal files or chat history.

Use it with your favorite AI tools

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