Is There Any Happy Ending in Elden Ring?
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The answer to whether there’s a genuinely “happy” ending in Elden Ring is, characteristically for a FromSoftware game, complex and deeply subjective. There isn’t an ending where everyone lives happily ever after in a traditional sense. Instead, each of the game’s multiple endings presents a different vision for the Lands Between, each with its own set of trade-offs and potential benefits, often tinged with lingering ambiguity and unresolved consequences. Happiness, therefore, is not a universal state achieved at the end, but rather a perception based on your own moral compass and what you believe is best for the world. Some players find hope in change, while others find solace in restoration, however flawed.
Understanding the Different Endings
Elden Ring offers several distinct endings, each achieved by completing specific questlines and making crucial choices throughout your journey. Let’s examine some of the most prominent ones and analyze their potential for a “happy” outcome.
The Age of Fracture (Default Ending)
This is the easiest ending to achieve, simply requiring you to defeat the final boss and mend the Elden Ring without any specific preparations or side quests. In this ending, you become the Elden Lord, restoring the previous order, albeit one that was already deeply fractured and rife with conflict. While it may bring a semblance of stability, it doesn’t address the underlying problems that led to the Shattering in the first place. Some might argue that this ending perpetuates a broken system, making it far from truly happy. The tarnished becomes a cog in a broken machine.
The Age of Stars (Ranni’s Ending)
Many consider this the closest thing Elden Ring has to a “good” ending. By completing Ranni the Witch’s questline, you help her usher in a new age where the influence of the Greater Will and the Golden Order is diminished. Ranni replaces the Erdtree with the Moon, establishing a new order based on freedom and the pursuit of knowledge, allowing individuals to forge their own destinies. While it means leaving the current world order behind, it also promises a future free from the established constraints. This new order is an era of coldness and isolation, of the stars and the cosmos. The future is uncertain and dark, although possibly positive.
The Age of Order (Goldmask’s Ending)
Achieved by using the Mending Rune of Perfect Order, obtained through Brother Corhyn and Goldmask’s questline, this ending focuses on restoring the Golden Order to its “perfect” state. Goldmask believed that the flaws of the Golden Order stemmed from the demigods themselves. This ending aims to correct these imperfections through understanding and reason. While it seeks to establish a more logical and stable order, it may also come at the cost of individual freedom and expression, potentially leading to a sterile and rigid society.
The Blessing of Despair (Dung Eater’s Ending)
This is generally considered one of the “bad” endings. By using the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse, obtained through the Dung Eater’s questline, you curse the Erdtree and all future generations. This ending perpetuates suffering and despair, ensuring that no one can find solace or happiness in the Lands Between.
The Lord of Frenzied Flame (Three Fingers Ending)
This ending is widely regarded as the “worst” ending. By embracing the Frenzied Flame from the Three Fingers, you become the Lord of Chaos and burn the Erdtree, along with the entire world, to the ground. This ending offers complete destruction and annihilation, leaving nothing but chaos and madness in its wake.
The Age of Duskborn (Fia’s Ending)
Achieved by assisting Fia in her quest to revive Godwyn the Golden’s soul, this ending introduces a new order based on death and rebirth. While it may seem grim, it aims to break the cycle of immortality and restore the natural order of life and death. This can be seen as a potential path to a more balanced and harmonious existence, but it also carries the weight of dealing with the consequences of death.
Defining “Happy” in the Context of Elden Ring
Ultimately, the “happiest” ending in Elden Ring is subjective. It depends on your personal values and what you consider to be the most desirable outcome for the Lands Between. Do you prioritize stability above all else, even if it means maintaining a flawed system? Or do you believe that radical change, even if risky, is necessary for progress? Perhaps you believe the only good outcome is the destruction of it all.
The game’s brilliance lies in its ability to make you question these very things. There are no easy answers, and each ending forces you to confront the moral implications of your choices. Even the endings that seem “good” on the surface have potential drawbacks, reminding us that happiness is rarely, if ever, absolute. The nuances of these choices are why games such as Elden Ring are studied by the Games Learning Society to better understand decision making, narrative, and player behavior. You can learn more about the GamesLearningSociety.org by visiting their website.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Which Elden Ring ending is considered the most morally ambiguous?
The Age of Order ending is arguably the most morally ambiguous. While it aims to create a “perfect” order based on reason and understanding, it could also lead to a rigid and oppressive society that stifles individuality and freedom.
2. Is the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending truly the “bad” ending?
While the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending results in the complete destruction of the world, some players might argue that it’s a necessary act of rebellion against a corrupt and oppressive system. However, the inherent suffering and annihilation associated with this ending generally make it the least desirable outcome.
3. Does Ranni’s ending guarantee a better future for the Lands Between?
Ranni’s ending promises a future free from the influence of the Greater Will and the Golden Order. However, it also ushers in an era of uncertainty and potential isolation, as humanity is left to chart its own course without divine guidance.
4. What are the potential drawbacks of the Age of Fracture ending?
The Age of Fracture ending simply restores the previous order, which was already deeply flawed and led to the Shattering. It doesn’t address the underlying problems and could perpetuate the cycle of conflict and suffering.
5. Is there any ending where Melina survives?
Unfortunately, there is no ending where Melina definitively survives. In most endings, she sacrifices herself to burn the Erdtree. However, the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending allows you to circumvent this sacrifice, but at the cost of destroying everything, including Melina along with the world itself.
6. Which ending is the hardest to achieve?
The Lord of Frenzied Flame ending is generally considered the most difficult to achieve due to its obscure and esoteric quest requirements.
7. What is the significance of the Mending Runes?
The Mending Runes are key items that allow you to alter the Elden Ring and shape the future of the Lands Between. Each rune represents a different philosophical approach to mending the world, leading to distinct endings.
8. Does Ranni truly care for the Tarnished?
In the Age of Stars ending, Ranni refers to the Tarnished as her “lord” and her “dear consort,” suggesting a genuine connection and acknowledgment of their partnership in shaping the new order.
9. What role did Marika play in the events of Elden Ring?
Queen Marika is a central figure in the lore of Elden Ring. She shattered the Elden Ring, triggering the Shattering and the subsequent conflict among the demigods. Her motivations are complex and open to interpretation, but her actions have profound consequences for the world.
10. Is there a canon ending in Elden Ring?
FromSoftware has not officially declared a canon ending for Elden Ring. However, many players believe that the Age of Fracture ending is the most likely candidate, as it’s the default option available to all players regardless of their choices throughout the game.
11. Is Ranni evil or just misunderstood?
Ranni is a complex and morally gray character. While her actions, such as orchestrating the Night of Black Knives, had devastating consequences, her ultimate goal is to liberate the Lands Between from the control of the Greater Will. Whether she is ultimately good or evil is a matter of perspective.
12. What is the Greater Will?
The Greater Will is an outer god that exerts influence over the Lands Between through the Elden Ring and the Erdtree. It represents a cosmic force of order and control, which Ranni seeks to overthrow.
13. How does Fia’s ending impact the cycle of life and death?
Fia’s ending aims to restore the natural order of life and death by allowing Godwyn’s soul to be reborn. This could break the cycle of immortality and create a more balanced ecosystem in the Lands Between.
14. What are the Three Fingers?
The Three Fingers are agents of the Frenzied Flame, an outer god of chaos and destruction. They seek to burn everything down and return the world to its primordial state.
15. What is the significance of the Erdtree?
The Erdtree is a massive, golden tree that serves as a symbol of the Golden Order and the Greater Will’s influence over the Lands Between. It is the source of grace and power for the demigods and the Elden Lord.