This guide details the four different endings in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl and the key choices that determine them. The game features branching narratives, but the core decisions impacting the ending occur within three specific missions: Subtle Matter, Dangerous Liaisons, and The Last Wish. Conveniently, these missions are located towards the game's conclusion, allowing players to save their progress before Legends of the Zone and explore all endings without extensive replays.
Key Missions and Choice Impact:
Three key missions shape the game's outcome:
- Subtle Matter: Choices here significantly influence the overall direction.
- Dangerous Liaisons: Actions in this mission further define the player's alliances.
- The Last Wish: This final mission often presents a crucial, often binary, choice.
Ending 1: She Will Never Be Free
- Subtle Matter: Choose "Life is for the living."
- Dangerous Liaisons: Choose "[Escape]".
- The Last Wish: Choose "[Fire]".
This ending aligns the player with Strelok, aiming to protect the Zone. It requires antagonizing other factions: rejecting Scar, escaping Korshunov, and eliminating Kaymanov.
Ending 2: Project Y
- Subtle Matter: Choose "Life is for the living."
- Dangerous Liaisons: Choose "[Escape]".
- The Last Wish: Choose "[Lower the Gun]".
Similar to the previous ending, but instead of killing Kaymanov, the player chooses to spare him, siding with his scientific approach to observing the Zone's uncontrolled evolution.
Ending 3: Today Never Ends
- Subtle Matter: Choose "Eternal spring."
- Dangerous Liaisons: Choose "[Escape]".
- The Last Wish: This mission's choice is inconsequential for this ending.
This ending involves aiding Scar, the leader of the Spark faction, leading to his entry into a pod believed to transport him to the Shining Zone. Only two missions directly influence this outcome.
Ending 4: Brave New World
- Subtle Matter: Choose "Life is for the living."
- Dangerous Liaisons: Choose "I'm not your enemy".
- The Last Wish: This mission's choice is inconsequential for this ending.
This ending involves allying with Colonel Krushunov and his campaign to completely eradicate the Zone. Similar to the Spark ending, only two missions directly impact this outcome.
