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Does Graveyard Keeper Have Multiple Endings? A Deep Dive into Death and Decisions

Yes, Graveyard Keeper does indeed have multiple endings! This darkly humorous, surprisingly addictive management sim offers a few distinct conclusions to your ghoulish journey. While the core narrative remains consistent – you’re transported to a medieval world and tasked with running a graveyard – the paths you take to achieve “success” (if you can call it that) and the ultimate fate of your character diverge significantly based on your choices and actions. Think of it less as drastically different narratives and more as variations on a theme, each reflecting a different philosophy and approach to your morbid occupation.

Understanding the Endings: More Than Just Resurrection

The various endings in Graveyard Keeper are tied to several key questlines involving the four main NPCs: the Bishop, the Merchant, the Inquisitor, and the Astrologer. These characters represent different aspects of the game’s world: religion, commerce, political power, and scientific knowledge, respectively. By dedicating yourself to furthering their individual goals and completing their related questlines, you unlock different potential ending scenarios. It’s important to note that you can only complete one of the main questlines to achieve an ending. This forces players to make meaningful choices about which path they want to dedicate their time to.

The endings aren’t just cutscenes that pop up after completing a quest. Each one drastically impacts your graveyard and the surrounding town. Here is a brief breakdown of each major ending:

The Bishop’s Ending (The Faith Route): Focus on improving the church and spreading faith amongst the townsfolk. This often involves crafting sermons, organizing church services, and maintaining the cleanliness and beauty of the church grounds. You’ll essentially transform the graveyard into a lucrative and respected religious institution. Completing this quest line allows you to return home in peace and let the Bishop take over as Graveyard Keeper.
The Merchant’s Ending (The Commerce Route): Dedicate yourself to trade and economic prosperity. This requires producing and selling goods, improving trade routes, and establishing a successful business empire. You might even dabble in more… questionable… business practices. You’ll become a wealthy and influential figure in the town, perhaps even leaving to pursue grander mercantile ventures. You can return to your original time but you leave without your love.
The Inquisitor’s Ending (The Ideology Route): Fully embrace his methods of burning witches and spreading his gospel. Help with the Witch Burnings, get more villagers to come to the sermons and improve the burning efficiency. Focus your time on spreading fear and intimidation throughout the valley. This ending results in you being able to continue the Inquisitor’s work for centuries, helping him in many villages.
The Astrologer’s Ending (The Knowledge Route): Pursue scientific knowledge and technological advancement. This involves conducting research, building scientific instruments, and unraveling the secrets of the universe. You’ll effectively use the graveyard as a laboratory for your macabre experiments, perhaps even paving the way for new technologies. Completing this quest line allows you to return home with your love and the new knowledge you gathered.
The Golden Ending (The Best of Both Worlds): This elusive ending requires completing the main questline and then achieving specific goals related to all four factions (Bishop, Merchant, Inquisitor, and Astrologer). This allows you to keep the Graveyard under your control, return home with your love, and make everyone happy.

Choosing which ending to pursue ultimately comes down to your personal playstyle and what you find most engaging in the game. Do you prefer managing resources, building relationships, delving into the occult, or exploring scientific mysteries? Graveyard Keeper offers a pathway for each, and the journey to your chosen conclusion is just as rewarding as the final scene itself. It is also a good example for learning about the power of game design. To learn more about this subject check out the GamesLearningSociety.org website.

Graveyard Keeper: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about the endings and other aspects of Graveyard Keeper:

1. Can I see all the endings in a single playthrough?

No. Once you commit to completing one of the main questlines and reach its conclusion, the game ends. You’ll need to start a new game to experience the other endings.

2. How do I know which ending I’m working towards?

Pay close attention to the quests you’re accepting and completing. Each NPC has a distinct set of quests that contribute to their respective ending. The more quests you do for a particular NPC, the closer you are to their ending.

3. What happens after I complete an ending?

The game presents you with a final cutscene and credits. After that, you can start a New Game Plus, which allows you to carry over some progress into a new playthrough.

4. Is there a “true” ending in Graveyard Keeper?

This is subjective. Some players might consider the Astrologer’s ending or the Golden Ending the “true” ending due to its more hopeful tone or its culmination of all the game’s systems. However, each ending is equally valid and represents a different interpretation of the game’s themes.

5. Can I mess up an ending?

Yes. If you make certain choices or fail to complete crucial quests, you might lock yourself out of a particular ending. Always read quest descriptions carefully and consider the consequences of your actions.

6. What are the benefits of doing a New Game Plus?

New Game Plus allows you to carry over certain skills, technologies, and items from your previous playthrough. This can make subsequent playthroughs easier and allow you to focus on exploring different aspects of the game.

7. Does the DLC affect the endings?

Yes, the DLC introduces new storylines, characters, and quests that can influence the ending you achieve. The “Stranger Sins” DLC focuses on your tavern, the “Breaking Dead” DLC introduces automation through zombies, and the “Game of Crone” DLC adds a refugee camp.

8. How long does it take to get an ending?

The length of a playthrough varies depending on your playstyle and efficiency. However, it generally takes around 30-50 hours to reach an ending.

9. Are there any hidden endings?

While there aren’t entirely “hidden” endings in the traditional sense, there are nuances within each ending that can be influenced by your specific choices. Pay attention to the dialogue and the outcomes of your actions.

10. What’s the best way to optimize my graveyard rating?

Focus on improving the quality of your graves, fences, and decorations. Use the best materials available and keep the graveyard clean and well-maintained. Performing autopsies can also help improve corpse quality, which in turn increases the graveyard rating.

11. How do I earn more money in Graveyard Keeper?

Selling resources, crafting and selling goods, and running a successful tavern are all viable ways to earn money. Focus on maximizing your efficiency and producing high-quality items that fetch a good price.

12. What are the most important skills to unlock early on?

The most important skills to unlock early on are those that improve your resource gathering and crafting efficiency. Skills related to woodcutting, mining, farming, and stonecutting are particularly valuable.

13. How do I deal with zombies in the “Breaking Dead” DLC?

Start by unlocking the zombie resurrection technology. Then, create zombies and assign them to tasks such as gathering resources, crafting items, and transporting goods.

14. What resources should I hoard?

Iron, Steel, Stone, Wood, Technology Points, and Faith are very important resources and should be hoarded at all times.

15. Why is Graveyard Keeper so addictive?

The game’s addictive nature stems from its engaging gameplay loop, its darkly humorous tone, and its sense of progression. There’s always something to do, something to build, or something to improve, which keeps players hooked for hours on end.

In conclusion, Graveyard Keeper offers a surprisingly complex and rewarding experience with multiple paths to completion. Choose wisely, embrace the macabre, and enjoy the ride!

Does Graveyard Keeper have multiple endings?