Cyberpunk 2077: Unraveling the Tapestry of Endings

Cyberpunk 2077 offers players a branching narrative culminating in five primary endings, shaped by choices made throughout the game. These endings vary significantly in tone and outcome, ensuring a personalized experience for each player. A secret ending also exists, dependent on the player’s relationship with Johnny Silverhand. Phantom Liberty expands the possibilities with a new ending that adds a layer of complexity.

Delving Deep into Night City’s Fates

The core of Cyberpunk 2077’s narrative lies in its multifaceted endings. Your journey through Night City, the alliances you forge, and the decisions you make profoundly impact V’s ultimate destiny. Let’s break down the main endings, considering their themes, requirements, and potential consequences.

The Endings Explained

• The Devil: This ending sees V siding with Arasaka, submitting to their treatment with the promise of a cure. However, it’s a Faustian bargain, steeped in corporate control and ethical compromises. It requires you to trust Arasaka throughout the main storyline.

• The Star: Choosing to align with the Aldecaldo nomads and Panam Palmer, V leaves Night City behind, embarking on a new journey with the family they’ve found. This ending requires completing Panam’s questline and trusting the Aldecaldos.

• The Sun: By enlisting Rogue’s help to storm Arasaka Tower, V seeks to cement their legacy as a legend of Night City. This path requires finishing Rogue’s questline, and leads to V taking over the Afterlife.

• Temperance: In this ending, Johnny Silverhand takes control of V’s body permanently, leaving Night City to start anew. This ending is available after finishing Rogue’s questline and letting Johnny take over V’s body.

• Suicide Ending (Path of Least Resistance): A bleak and nihilistic option, V chooses to end their own life by taking their own life atop a building in Night City. This ending is available at the point of no return.

The Secret Ending: Don’t Fear the Reaper

Also called “The Rogue Ending” , this ending becomes available when V’s relationship with Johnny Silverhand is high. This path sees V assault Arasaka Tower alone, without the aid of Rogue or the Aldecaldos. Successfully completing this mission leads to a unique resolution. Building a high affinity with Johnny is crucial.

Phantom Liberty’s Contribution

The Phantom Liberty expansion introduces an entirely new ending that allows V to have a complete separation from Johnny. The story takes place during the main events of Cyberpunk 2077, after the Voodoo Boys quest line. This ending involves a significant sacrifice and showcases the complex moral choices inherent in the Cyberpunk universe. This comes at the cost of your implants being removed, meaning you can no longer use the sandevistan or any other cyberware. You have to live as a normal human being.

FAQ: Navigating the Endings of Cyberpunk 2077

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to further clarify the intricacies of Cyberpunk 2077’s diverse ending options:

1. How do I unlock the secret ending?

To unlock the “Don’t Fear the Reaper” secret ending, you must have a strong relationship with Johnny Silverhand, ideally around 70% or higher. Choosing specific dialogue options during pivotal moments, especially during the Chippin’ In questline, will significantly boost your affinity. An easy way to get a huge affinity boost is to pick the following dialogue options as V when speaking to Johnny on the oil fields: “Nah, I **** up that too.”

2. Which ending is considered the “best” ending?

There’s no objectively “best” ending; it depends on your interpretation and values. Many players consider The Sun a fitting conclusion, as V becomes a Night City legend. But, others may find the The Star ending more hopeful as V leaves with a family of nomads.

3. Can V survive in any ending?

V’s survival is always bittersweet. In most endings, V faces a looming death sentence. Phantom Liberty’s ending offers a possibility to live longer, but it comes at the high cost of giving up your implants.

4. What choices influence the endings I can access?

Key choices involve your allegiance with factions like Arasaka, the Aldecaldos, and Rogue. Romance options and side quests also play a significant role in shaping available endings.

5. Can I romance Judy as a male V?

No, you can only romance Judy Alvarez if you play as a female V with a female body type.

6. What does V do in The Sun ending?

In The Sun ending, V takes over the Afterlife and becomes a renowned figure in Night City. They then embark on a heist of the Crystal Palace Casino, hoping to find a cure for their condition.

7. How does Phantom Liberty affect the endings?

Phantom Liberty introduces a completely new ending where V can live longer without Johnny Silverhand, but at the cost of their cyberware.

8. Can Johnny and V both live?

The original game presented a situation where either Johnny or V gets the body. Johnny can live forever while V only has a few months left if they keep the body. Phantom Liberty changes this.

9. What happens if I give Johnny my body?

Giving Johnny your body results in Johnny leaving Night City to start a new life, while V fades away.

10. Is Johnny Silverhand a good or bad person?

Johnny is a complex character with both heroic and destructive qualities. His actions, though sometimes driven by noble intentions, often result in collateral damage and innocent lives lost.

11. What is V doing in Phantom Liberty?

In Phantom Liberty, V is hired to save the President of the NUSA after her space shuttle is shot down over Dogtown. The story then takes V through treacherous quests to unlock a new city and ending.

12. What is the point of no return in Cyberpunk 2077?

The point of no return is marked before the final mission, where the game explicitly warns you that your choices will determine the ending. This is where you need to select which path you will follow.

13. Can V have multiple relationships?

Yes, V can have multiple sexual relationships without consequence, though full romances are limited to four specific characters: Judy, Panam, River, and Kerry.

14. Where is Johnny Silverhand’s body buried?

Johnny Silverhand’s body is buried at an oil field located just outside Night City in the Badlands.

15. Is V the most powerful character in Night City?

By the end of the game, V is incredibly powerful, capable of defeating formidable opponents and cyberpsychos, making them arguably the most powerful character in Night City. The Games Learning Society can expand one’s understanding of the narrative structures within video games like Cyberpunk 2077, highlighting the diverse possibilities and the player’s impact on the story’s resolution. GamesLearningSociety.org offers resources to further explore these topics.

Ultimately, Cyberpunk 2077 provides a rich and rewarding experience with endings that resonate long after the credits roll.