Does Sons of the Forest Have 2 Endings?

Yes, Sons of the Forest has more than two endings – it has three distinct endings. The choices you make throughout the game significantly impact which ending you ultimately experience. Understanding these endings and how to achieve them is crucial for truly mastering the game and experiencing its full narrative scope. This article will explore each ending in detail and answer frequently asked questions to help you navigate the dangers and mysteries of the island.

Exploring the Three Endings of Sons of the Forest

While many initially believed Sons of the Forest offered only two clear-cut choices at the game’s conclusion, Endnight Games has implemented more nuance. The first “ending” available represents the most immediate choice; however, ignoring this choice allows you to continue the story, eventually leading to the second and third, more secretive endings. Here’s a breakdown:

• Ending 1: Leaving the Island (The Helicopter Departure)

  This ending is the most straightforward. After acquiring all necessary equipment and progressing through the main storyline, you’ll reach the point where you’re offered a helicopter extraction. Choosing to board the helicopter triggers this ending. You leave the island, successfully escaping its horrors with Kelvin and Virginia. This might seem like the “good” ending on the surface, but it leaves many questions unanswered and the island’s mysteries unresolved.

• Ending 2: Remaining on the Island (The Cave Door)

  Instead of boarding the helicopter, you can choose to stay on the island. Simply walk away from the helicopter. This activates a new cutscene. After ignoring the helicopter and remaining on the island, the game continues. You and your companions, Kelvin and Virginia, continue to live on the island for an extended period. After some time has passed, and you have achieved a high survival rating, you are instructed to return to the final cave. This ending involves opening the final cave door, revealing a massive, ancient structure. Entering this structure triggers another cutscene, leaving you to oversee the development of a strange, alien-like cube. This ending suggests a deeper, more unsettling truth about the island’s history and its connection to otherworldly forces.

• Ending 3: Sacrifice Ending (The Gold Mask)

  This ending is a variation on Ending 2. After reaching the ancient structure, you can choose to sacrifice Virginia. This ending is very dark, as Virginia can become hostile to the player depending on the state of your relationship. The only way to complete this ending is to kill Virginia, loot her body and take the gold mask. You can then sacrifice yourself to take Virginia’s place as the guardian of the cube.

Factors Influencing Your Ending

Several factors influence which ending you’ll encounter.

• Story Progression: Completing the main quest line and acquiring specific items are prerequisites for reaching any of the endings. Without these, the helicopter or the cave door won’t be accessible.
• Player Choice: The most obvious factor is your decision at the extraction point. Do you get on the helicopter, or do you turn your back on it?
• Survival Rating: The true ending requires a high survival rating. This is built up by how many days you have survived, and your relationship level with Kelvin and Virginia.
• Relationship with Companions: Your bond with Kelvin and Virginia doesn’t directly influence which ending you can access, but it significantly impacts the emotional weight of your choices.

Understanding the Significance of Each Ending

Each ending offers a different perspective on the island’s mysteries and the protagonist’s fate.

• The Helicopter Departure: This ending represents a return to normalcy, escaping the dangers of the island. However, it offers no closure regarding the deeper mysteries and leaves the player feeling as though they’re missing something.

• The Cave Door: Staying behind and opening the mysterious cave door implies acceptance of the island’s strangeness. It reveals a connection to something beyond human understanding and raises questions about the true nature of the island.

• The Sacrifice Ending: This ending is the most mysterious of all. The choice to sacrifice Virginia for the “greater good” reveals a darker side to the player and hints at the insidious influence of the island’s ancient power.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about the endings in Sons of the Forest:

1. Can I get all three endings in one playthrough? No. Once you choose an ending, the game concludes. You’ll need to start a new game to experience the other endings.

2. What happens to Kelvin and Virginia in each ending? In the helicopter ending, they leave with you. In the cave door ending, they remain on the island alongside you. In the sacrifice ending, Virginia dies.

3. Does my relationship with Kelvin and Virginia affect which ending I get? No, it doesn’t prevent you from achieving any ending, but it significantly impacts the emotional resonance of your choices. Killing Virginia will be more difficult if your relationship with her is higher, as she will not be hostile toward you.

4. Is there a “true” ending? This is subjective. The developers haven’t explicitly labeled one ending as the “true” ending. Each ending provides a different perspective, leaving the player to interpret their significance.

5. What items are required to trigger each ending? To reach any ending, you need the Rebreather, the Rope Gun, the Shovel, and the Keycard. Reaching the third ending also requires the Gold Mask.

6. Can I continue playing after getting an ending? No. Once you’ve reached an ending, the game concludes and you’ll be presented with the main menu. To play again, you must start a new game.

7. Does difficulty setting impact the ending? No, the difficulty setting does not change the possible endings. It mainly impacts the intensity of combat, resource scarcity, and enemy behavior.

8. Are there any secret requirements for the “true” ending? No, there are no known secret requirements beyond completing the main storyline, having a good relationship with Kelvin and Virginia, and having the required items.

9. Does exploration affect the ending? Exploration is crucial for finding key items and progressing the story, which is necessary to unlock the endings. However, simply exploring doesn’t automatically guarantee a specific ending.

10. What’s the significance of the cube in Ending 2? The cube’s purpose is unclear but it is hinted that this is the same cube found in the first The Forest game. This is likely the same cube that brought the Obelisk to earth, and granted superpowers to The Sahara Corporation. It seems to be related to the island’s ancient alien or otherworldly power source.

11. Is there a way to save Virginia in Ending 3? No. Virginia cannot be saved and must die in order to achieve the Sacrifice ending.

12. Can I go back and change my decision if I regret my ending choice? Unfortunately, no. Once you choose an ending, there’s no turning back. You must start a new game to explore the other endings.

13. Do cutscenes vary depending on which ending I choose? Yes, each ending features a unique cutscene that reflects the consequences of your choice.

14. Are there any clues or hints within the game that foreshadow the different endings? Yes, the environment and the story of the Sons of the Forest game are filled with clues and foreshadowing. The player can find the clues to foreshadow that the island has a deeper purpose.

15. Where can I find the items required for specific endings? The Rebreather, Rope Gun, Shovel, and Keycard locations are well documented online and are part of the main storyline progression. They are found in caves throughout the island.