How long is a first run?
If you are playing mostly for the story, a first run of Loddlenaut usually lands around 4-5 hours based on community time trackers. A completionist run is closer to about 8 hours, and going for all achievements commonly lands around 6-8 hours. Think of these as ballpark ranges, not strict timers, so it is totally normal if your run is a little faster or slower.
Your time can stretch when you spend more time caring for Loddles (the small creatures you raise), clearing goop/sludge (pollution stuck around each area), and recycling trash into crafting materials and upgrades. If the late game suddenly feels directionless, you are not doing anything wrong.
Tip: when momentum drops, run a quick 15-minute reset loop in one area only: clear visible sludge first, vacuum loose trash second, then recycle and buy one upgrade or care item. That short, focused cycle usually makes progress feel visible again fast.
What to do after finishing
If you want extra time after the main ending, strong goals are cleaning zones more thoroughly, experimenting with extra Loddles and different diet-based evolutions, and stocking recycled materials so crafting stays smooth. If that feels like too much at once, pick one goal track per session (cleanup, creature care, or resource farming) instead of juggling all three. Focused runs feel less grindy and make progress easier to see.