Quick answer (so you can get back to blowing stuff up)
Pick whichever sounds cooler to you — both are safe. The 20-minute option gives you a tiny early loot bonus, but the clock won’t start ticking until after you beat the Scorpion Sentinel boss, so you won’t be sprinting blind into calamity if you choose the shorter timer.
What actually happens in the reactor
When you plant the bomb in Mako Reactor 1 you’ll be asked to set the timer. Whatever you choose, you first have to deal with the Scorpion Sentinel fight. The countdown doesn’t begin until that fight is over, which means the escape segment is very generous. In practice, even the 20-minute setting gives you more than enough time to run, loot a bit, and stab a few enemies along the way without breaking a sweat.
Why some players fuss about the choice
The fuss is mostly about two small items you get later if you picked the 20-minute option. In Chapter 2 a character will hand Cloud two Hi-Potions and a single Ether. Hi-Potions heal 700 HP, and an Ether restores 20 MP — handy, but not earth-shattering. They’re nice freebies, but not game-breaking resources.
20 minutes vs 30 minutes — playstyle guide
If you like a brisk, slightly riskier vibe and don’t mind a tiny item reward, 20 minutes is the spicy choice. If you prefer a relaxed stroll through chaos where you can open every chest and smell the spoils of war, go with 30 minutes. Neither choice will lock you out of anything major — it’s just a mood-setting moment.
Why this little choice matters at all
It’s less about the timer and more about tone. Final Fantasy 7 Remake peppers the story with decisions big and small, and some of those choices ripple into later scenes. This first one is mostly a snack-sized decision: a tiny reward, a tiny difference in pace, and a gentle reminder that your choices will matter later on.
Final thoughts
Short version: don’t stress. Pick 20 for the free Hi-Potions and Ether if you love freebies and micro-dramas, or pick 30 if you want breathing room and fewer speedwalks. Either way, the game gives you more than enough time to escape the reactor — and you’ll probably replay the game later anyway if you want to see every scene and consequence.
