Decoding Dogtown: What Is the Best Ending in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty?
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The quest for the “best” ending in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is a rabbit hole lined with difficult choices, moral ambiguities, and the ever-present sting of the dystopian future. There’s no simple answer, but in my estimation, the “King of Wands” ending, where you side with Reed and hand Songbird over to the FIA, ultimately delivers the most compelling narrative and thematically resonant conclusion. I will break down why this ending resonates the most with the Cyberpunk 2077 experience.
This isn’t necessarily about a happy ending; Cyberpunk rarely offers those. It’s about an ending that provides the most profound exploration of V’s situation and the core themes of the game: the cost of ambition, the illusion of control, and the yearning for a life beyond Night City.
Understanding the Landscape of Choice
Phantom Liberty throws you into a web of espionage where allegiances are fluid and motivations are murky. You’re forced to choose between saving Songbird, a netrunner with immense power and a shared desire for freedom, or siding with Reed, a hardened FIA agent representing a system that offers a potential, albeit conditional, cure for V’s Relic predicament. Each choice leads to dramatically different outcomes, each with its own set of consequences.
The Case for the King of Wands: A Bitter Pill with a Profound Taste
Why the King of Wands? Because it’s the ending that strips away the romanticism of the cyberpunk ideal and forces V to confront the harsh reality of their situation. By siding with Reed, you’re essentially choosing pragmatism over idealism. Here’s why it’s compelling:
- A Mirror to V’s Own Desperation: V, throughout the entire game, has been desperately searching for a way to survive the Relic. Siding with Reed reflects that desperation. You hand over Songbird for the chance of salvation, just as Songbird sought salvation through her connection with the Blackwall. It’s a tragic echo that highlights the lengths people will go to when faced with mortality.
- The Illusion of Control: Every other ending, to some extent, gives V a sense of agency and control over their destiny. Even if it’s a fleeting moment of glory or a bittersweet farewell, there’s a feeling of having shaped their own narrative. The King of Wands ending takes that away. V becomes a pawn, a tool used by forces beyond their comprehension. This emphasizes the recurring theme of the Cyberpunk universe: that individuals are often powerless against powerful corporations and governments.
- Moral Ambiguity: The best stories are never black and white. There’s no easy “good” or “bad” choice here. Songbird is sympathetic, but her actions are driven by self-preservation, often at the expense of others. Reed is a loyal agent, but his loyalty is to a system that is inherently corrupt. Choosing either side requires you to compromise your own moral code, and the King of Wands highlights that moral grey area with brutal clarity.
- Loss of Cyberware: As the article states, “The camera pans back to reveal a V that’s a ghost of (herself/himself), shaved head, removed makeup and cyberware. Nothing like the character you’ve had all this time. She does in fact disappear into the Nighty City crowd, now just another NPC. So, V does survive, but absolutely alone, losing everyone she once knew.”
Beyond King of Wands: A Look at the Alternatives
While I believe the King of Wands provides the most compelling narrative, the other endings have their merits:
- The Queen of Swords (Songbird escapes to the moon): This ending offers a glimmer of hope, but it’s a hope tinged with uncertainty. You help Songbird achieve her dream of escaping the Blackwall, but you sacrifice your own chance at a potential cure. It’s a more selfless choice, but ultimately leaves V in a precarious situation.
- The King of Swords (Handing Songbird over to Reed at the spaceport): A variation of the King of Wands, but with a more direct confrontation with Songbird’s desperation and Reed’s unwavering loyalty. It’s equally bleak but offers a slightly different perspective on the events that transpire.
- The “New” Base Game Ending: By choosing the King of Wands ending, you unlock a new ending in the base game, that allows V to undergo an operation that removes the relic and saves their life, but leaves them without the ability to use Cyberware and thus, takes away their edge.
The Cyberpunk Ethos: Suffering and Struggle
Ultimately, the “best” ending is subjective and depends on what you’re looking for in a Cyberpunk 2077 experience. But for me, the King of Wands resonates because it stays true to the genre’s core themes. It’s an ending that embraces the suffering, the struggle, and the inherent unfairness of the world. It’s a grim reminder that in Night City, there are no easy answers, only hard choices and lasting consequences. It emphasizes how Games Learning Society explores and examines the impact of games on society. This particular ending is very well-suited to be analyzed in the GamesLearningSociety.org.
Phantom Liberty FAQs: Your Burning Questions Answered
What is the most popular ending for Phantom Liberty?
While hard data is difficult to come by, anecdotal evidence and online discussions suggest that siding with Songbird initially is more popular, leading to either the Queen of Swords or the alternate King of Wands ending (at the spaceport). However, the choice to deliver Songbird to Reed for the “cure” unlocks the new base game ending.
Can you get all Phantom Liberty endings in a single playthrough?
No. You can experience all the endings by reloading saves at key decision points, but a single playthrough will only yield one Phantom Liberty ending and potentially unlock the new base game ending.
Does Phantom Liberty add a truly “happy” ending?
No. Even the “best” outcomes are bittersweet. The Cyberpunk universe is inherently bleak, and Phantom Liberty stays true to that ethos.
Which choice determines the Phantom Liberty ending?
The most crucial choice is who you side with: Songbird or Reed, specifically during the “Firestarter” mission. The subsequent actions you take depending on who you align with further shape the ending.
Is there a secret ending in Phantom Liberty?
Yes. By siding with Songbird at first and then turning her over to Reed later, you get a special ending.
Does Phantom Liberty affect the original Cyberpunk 2077 endings?
Yes. One of the Phantom Liberty endings unlocks a new ending for the base game, offering a different path for V’s main story.
How does the new base game ending differ from the original ones?
The new ending is more ambiguous. V gives up the chance of becoming a legend and loses their cyberware, but gains a chance at a normal life, albeit a significantly diminished one.
Should I trust Reed in Phantom Liberty?
Trust is a loaded word in Cyberpunk. Reed is loyal to the NUSA, but his motivations are complex. He is the only character that offers an apparent end to V’s suffering. His honesty is debatable, but his actions are driven by a clear objective.
Can Alex survive Phantom Liberty?
Yes. Siding with Songbird during the “Firestarter” mission is crucial for keeping Alex alive.
Is there romance in Phantom Liberty?
No new romance options were added. Your existing relationships with Judy, Panam, Kerry, and River can be further developed with new dialogue and cutscenes.
What happens to Johnny Silverhand in the Phantom Liberty endings?
Johnny’s role varies depending on the ending. He generally offers commentary and advice, but his influence on the final outcome is less pronounced than in the base game endings.
Is V always the protagonist in Phantom Liberty?
Yes. You always play as V, with Johnny Silverhand as a constant presence and occasional advisor.
Does the difficulty setting affect the endings?
No. The difficulty setting does not impact the endings you can achieve.
What is the significance of the “Killing Moon” quest?
“The Killing Moon” is a pivotal questline that follows your initial choice and leads to the final confrontation and the ultimate fate of Songbird and V.
Are there any Easter eggs related to the endings?
Yes. Keep an eye out for subtle references to previous choices and consequences in the dialogue and environmental details, adding layers of meaning to the final outcomes.
In conclusion, while the path to the “best” ending in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is filled with difficult decisions and moral compromises, the King of Wands ending provides the most compelling exploration of V’s plight and the core themes of the game. It’s a grim reminder that in Night City, there are no easy answers, only hard choices and lasting consequences.