• ANALYSIS
  • PLANNING
  • INSIGHT
  • HUMAN

How to compare game completion times with your AI

Connect HowLongToBeat to your AI client to pull specific playstyle data. Once connected, you can ask your agent to contrast different titles or player types.

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Short answer

How can I compare game completion times using AI?

Your AI uses the search_game_times tool to pull data for specific titles. It then analyzes the different categories, like main story versus completionist, to show you the time gaps between games. You'll get a clear breakdown of how playstyles differ across your list.

The outcomes

What you get from the data

The AI processes the raw timing data into useful comparisons.

ANALYSIS

Compare playstyles

The AI pulls data for multiple games and compares how long a main story run takes versus a full completion run. You get a direct look at the time commitment for each.

PLANNING

Build game lists

Ask your agent to find games that fit a specific time window. It uses the timing data to suggest titles that match your available playtime.

INSIGHT

Identify time gaps

The AI identifies which games have the largest jumps between casual and hardcore playstyles. This helps you decide if a game is worth your time based on how much you explore.

HUMAN

Final decision

The AI provides the numbers, but you decide if the gameplay loop justifies the hours. You use the data to make the final call on your backlog.

The workflow

What your AI does when you ask for game data.

The AI acts as a bridge between your chat and the HowLongToBeat database.

  1. Fetch game data

    The agent looks up the specific titles you mention to find their recorded playtimes.

    search_game_times

  2. Extract playstyles

    It pulls the specific durations for main story, main plus extras, and completionist runs.

    search_game_times

  3. Calculate differences

    The AI subtracts the times to show you exactly how much longer a completionist run takes compared to the main story.

    search_game_times

  4. Format comparison

    The agent organizes the results into a readable format, like a list or a table, so you can see the differences clearly.

    search_game_times

Try it

Copy these to start.

Use these prompts to begin your analysis.

Starting points

Swap out the game titles in these prompts with the ones you actually want to check.

HowLongToBeat Connector

You're all set. Choose your MCP client and follow the setup instructions.

Connector linkhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_b0hEavxRJa7aqTwHHsSyWdXgzl65qLSrVKNV3y6P/mcp

Claude Desktop

Follow the steps below to connect in seconds.

  1. 1In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Connectors.
  2. 2Click “Add custom connector” and paste the connector link above as the remote MCP server URL.
  3. 3Click Add and start a new chat — HowLongToBeat capabilities are ready to use.
Configuration · claude_desktop_config.jsonCopy
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "howlongtobeat-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_b0hEavxRJa7aqTwHHsSyWdXgzl65qLSrVKNV3y6P/mcp"
    }
  }
}
Copy into chat04

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Start here

Connect HowLongToBeat once, then ask.

Just click the link to connect the MCP to your client. Your credentials stay encrypted, and you can start asking questions immediately.

Connect HowLongToBeat to your AI

FAQ

Common questions about game timing

  • 01

    Can the AI tell me my personal playstyle?

    No. The AI only has access to the community-sourced data from HowLongToBeat, not your personal gaming history.

  • 02

    Can the AI recommend games based on these times?

    Yes. Once it has the data, you can ask it to suggest games that fit within a specific number of hours.

  • 03

    Can the AI change the data on HowLongToBeat?

    No. The tool is read-only. It can only pull data from the database; it cannot add new games or edit existing times.

  • 04

    Does it work for games not on HowLongToBeat?

    No. If the game isn't in the HowLongToBeat database, the tool won't find any data for it.

  • 05

    Can the AI buy games for me?

    No. This MCP only handles time data. It has no connection to storefronts or payment systems.

  • More questions about HowLongToBeat? The Connector page answers them. See everything the HowLongToBeat Connector can do

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