The bleak outcomes of every ending in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, and how to get them.
In S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, there will be plenty of choices you’ll have to make during your journey in the Zone. Choosing who to help and who to kill is only one of the decisions you make, and you’ll be free to play the game any way you want.
Moreover, the decisions you make will greatly impact how the game plays as well as the ending.
There are 4 endings in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl. And unlike most other games, it is very hard to pick a good or “best” ending out of them, as each outcome seems bleak and has dire consequences for the world.
Nevertheless, in this article, we’ve listed each ending in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, the choices you’ll need to make to get them, and their outcomes.
All Endings
Before we delve into the choices that determine your ending, keep in mind that starting the ‘Down Below’ mission is the point of no return in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. You’ll get this mission after completing The Road to the Foundation.
If you want to explore the Zone more or have any side quests you want to complete, you’ll want to do so before starting this mission.
Moreover, the first choice you need to make that determines your ending is Mission #27 Subtle Matter. Thus, you should make a save just before this mission if you want to see all the endings without having to play through the game all over again (though that shouldn’t be much of a chore when it comes to a game as good as this).
Strelok Ending: “She Will Never Be Free”
| Mission | Choice |
|---|---|
| Subtle Matter | When Scar gets a hold of you using the visiograph in Orbita Station, choose “Life is for the Living”. |
| Dangerous Liaisons | When Korshunov catches you, choose “Escape”. |
| The Last Wish | Confront the Doctor in the Red Forest and choose “[Fire]”. |
In this ending, Strelok enters the pod, and with his newfound powers, takes control of the Zone, preventing anyone else from entering, or leaving, it ever again.
Thus, Skif and all other Stalkers are forever trapped in the zone.
Ward Ending: “Brave New World”
| Mission | Choice |
|---|---|
| Subtle Matter | When Scar gets a hold of you using the visiograph in Orbita Station, choose “Life is for the Living”. |
| Dangerous Liaisons | When Korshunov catches you, choose “I am not your enemy”. |
In this ending, Colonel Korshunov enters the pod, and the military takes full control of the Zone.
While this is a good outcome for Skif himself, as he gets to go back home safe and also has the government’s favor, this is overall a bad outcome for the rest of the world.
The government no doubt will use the Zone to consolidate power and take over the rest of the world, as implied by the ending scene.
Spark Ending
| Mission | Choice |
|---|---|
| Subtle Matter | When Scar gets a hold of you using the visiograph in Orbita Station, choose “Eternal Spring”. |
| Dangerous Liaisons | When Korshunov catches you, choose “Escape”. |
In this ending, Scar steps into the pod, and afterwards, Skif finds himself in a Zone that is entirely different than the one we’re familiar with.
It seems that Scar has dropped him into an eternal dream, where the Zone is beautiful and depicted with warm lights and colors full of flowers and sunshine.
Kaimanov Ending: “Project Y”
| Mission | Choice |
|---|---|
| Subtle Matter | When Scar gets a hold of you using the visiograph in Orbita Station, choose “Life is for the Living”. |
| Dangerous Liaisons | When Korshunov catches you, choose “Escape”. |
| The Last Wish | Confront the Doctor in the Red Forest and choose “[Lower the Gun]”. |
Here, Skif is the one to step into the pod. During this, many more Zones start appearing around the world.
The developers have stated that there is a canon ending, and it will lead to the DLCs planned for the future. This seems to fit the bill as the expansion of the Zone opens up many story opportunities.
