By Ritwik Mitra
Updated
Cyberpunk 2077's endings vary greatly, hinging on the choices V made throughout the campaign and resulting in some more positive than others.
Cyberpunk 2077 has been out for a few weeks now, which means players are nearing the end of their journeys in Night City. When coming upon one of the final decisions, how V handles the final mission, five endings can come as a result, each with other branches extending from one last choice and potential romances in Cyberpunk. But which endings are the best, and which are the worst? This article contains MAJOR SPOILERS for end-game content in Cyberpunk 2077.
What endings are available to V beyond Cyberpunk's point of no return depends solely on which side questlines the player chose to complete as well as V's relationship with Johnny. However, some other factors can change Cyberpunk 2077's endings to various degrees. For example, if V chooses to romance Judy or Panam, they can play a role in the final cutscenes and dialogue. But if the player chose River or Kerry, their shared relationship with the protagonist will matter less so.
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One other contingency factor that Cyberpunk 2077 throws out of the left field is V or Johnny Silverhand's decision to return to V's body. What the community believes to be the good and best endings can only surface if V returns to their own body rather than Johnny when Alt Cunningham tells the pair to make a decision. If the player chooses to let Johnny live in V's body no matter which mission route was chosen, they'll be given a somber scene where the Samurai guitarist leaves Night City behind. It's bittersweet, depending on how the player looks at it, so it's more middle of the road rather than fully "bad" or "good."
Updated on February 16, 2023, by Ritwik Mitra: Cyberpunk 2077 was one of the most talked-about games for the past two years, with an upcoming expansion poised to bring the game back to the mainstream once again. The game was completely littered with bugs and glitches upon launch while also missing several key and promised features. However, following a bunch of important updates, Cyberpunk 2077 is now a very stable game that also has a ton of content that wasn't present at launch.
V may not be the most interesting protagonist around, but his story is still a pretty engaging rollercoaster that is full to the brim with betrayal, revenge, love, and redemption. His bond with Johnny Silverhand is quite interesting to witness, and the ending expands upon this relationship while also letting players see V's journey to its very end. Depending on the choices players make, there are several permutations to the ending that players can experience in the game, with all these possible endings being listed below.
Ending | Conditions | Aftermath | Multiple Outcomes? | Good or Bad? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Suicide | Hesitate in making a decision before choosing to end it all | V kills himself, with his friends mourning his sudden demise | No | Bad |
Hanako's Deal | This ending is available regardless of how many side quests and the like V has completed | V is sent to an Arasaka facility to be operated on only to learn that his situation is hopeless | Yes; V can either choose to become a part of the Soulkiller program or go back to Earth and spend the rest of his days with an incomplete "soul" | Bad |
Johnny Taking The Wheel | This ending is available after completing Rogue's questline | Johnny takes over V's body and storms Arasaka successfully, but Rogue is killed by Adam Smasher | Yes; V can either remain in his body and become a legend of Night City or give his body up to Johnny, who has seemingly turned over a new leaf as he leaves Night City for good | Good |
V Takes Help From The Aldecaldos | This ending is available after completing Panam's questline | V asks the Aldecaldos to help him break into Arasaka, with Saul losing his life at the hands of Adam Smasher | Yes; V can either remain in his body and leave Night City with Panam and the Aldecaldos or give his body to Johnny (discussed above) | Good |
V Storms Arasaka Alone | This secret ending is only available if V has a great relationship with Johnny and remains on the dialogue screen for a while | V decides to not endanger anyone's life and storms Arasaka alone through the front doors in one of the game's toughest missions | Yes; outcomes are similar to the ones discussed in the ending where Johnny takes over V's body, with Rogue alive at the end since she never helped Johnny and V storm Arasaka | Good |
Worst Ending: Suicide
This ending is largely considered the worst in Cyberpunk 2077 among those unfortunate enough to have chosen it. V makes the argument that this is the "least bloody" option, meaning the outcome to have the least casualties, and Johnny reluctantly lets the protagonist go through with it. But what the player is met with in Cyberpunk's end credits is punishingly sad.
The end credits will display video messages catered to the path the player chose when on Misty's roof. If the player chooses suicide, each of these messages is unique to this ending. Characters that V befriended throughout the campaign will leave behind heart-shattering messages, none worse than Judy's, about how V never seemed to realize how many friends they had who could've helped.
Bad Ending: Take Hanako's Deal
The Arasaka ending, also sometimes called the Devil ending, sneaks up on players, being secretly more bitter and frustrating than any other option. Hanako's offer to help remove the Relic from V's brain seems to be the safest option to save the main character's life and she seems like a trustworthy character. In fact, Hanako does keep her word, despite how she chooses to handle avenging Soburo Arasaka, which could be what makes this ending so shockingly awful.
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This ending is made worse if V was able to save Takemura during Search and Destroy. While it's comforting to have a familiar face throughout the final mission instead of flying essentially solo, after V gets trapped by Arasaka, Takemura will regrettably be the one handing the mercenary a contract to either literally sell their soul to Arasaka or die in 6 months.
Though V can turn this opportunity down and return to Earth to live out their remaining days however they'd like, the video messages during the credits imply a lack of closure with the NPCs, including ones that were romanced, as they'll all say they haven't heard from V in some time before the screen fades to black.
Good Ending: Let Johnny and Rogue Take the Wheel
Allowing Johnny to take over V's body in the final mission and contact Rogue for help can only come about if the player finished Rogue's storyline in Cyberpunk 2077, meaning finishing Blistering Love. Their plan for Arasaka Tower is the same as it was back in the day: burn it to the ground. It's reckless, but thanks to Rogue's mountain of resources, Johnny gets to Mikoshi as planned, with a heart-wrenching casualty towards the end.
This ending is unique because when V and Johnny's consciouses are split in Mikoshi, the player will continue to control Johnny rather than V. In terms of V's relationship with the ghost of Johnny Silverhand, this ending will leave it on the most cathartic note, should Johnny relinquish bodily rights back to its original owner. The cutscenes that follow, however, are not quite as positive.
Despite V becoming the new owner of the Afterlife and living it large, if the player chose to romance an NPC, they'll leave V for various reasons. Piling on, the tone is even more doubtful that V can find a cure before their 6 months is up because, instead of searching for a solution, V destroys Arasaka's headquarters in space. During the credits, messages will be along the lines of "I hope you have a good life."
Best Ending: Ask the Aldecaldos For Help
Some players believe siding with the Aldecaldos and Panam for the final mission, should V have finished this questline, is meant to be the canon ending to Cyberpunk 2077. On top of having the most hopeful tone for a cure and outlook for V's future, this is the only opportunity to have a truly happy ending if V romances either Judy or Panam.
Because Judy's eventual goal is to leave Night City, she'll go with V if they're dating. Whether or not Panam was romanced, the two will have a strong relationship regardless. Many players believe this could mean the Aldecaldos will find a cure for V in the future, possibly in Cyberpunk DLC.
The Secret Ending: Johnny Silverhand Solo Run
The secret ending to Cyberpunk 2077 involves Johnny Silverhand going on a solo mission in V's body to tear Arasaka Tower to the ground. It's a difficult ending to earn and has specific prerequisites. Likewise, this mission is the most difficult version because Johnny will be completely alone, so it exists simply as a fun challenge for players. Additionally, if Johnny dies during this mission, the game will end immediately rather than let the player have another go.
Unfortunately, the ending players get after successfully finishing the mission is identical to the Rogue ending. The credits of Cyberpunk 2077 won't be unique either, meaning that putting hours of effort into a high affinity with Johnny and successfully completing this mission might be disappointing in the end.
Cyberpunk 2077 is available now on PC, PS4, Stadia, Xbox One, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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Cyberpunk 2077 is a complex game with multiple endings, each determined by the choices made throughout the campaign. The available endings hinge on decisions made during the final mission and various side questlines completed. The relationships formed with characters like Johnny, Judy, Panam, River, or Kerry also significantly impact the narrative outcomes.
The endings include Suicide, Hanako's Deal, Johnny Taking The Wheel, V Takes Help From The Aldecaldos, and V Storms Arasaka Alone. Each has its aftermath and repercussions, leading to multiple outcomes categorized as good or bad. For instance, Suicide results in V's death, causing grief among friends, while Hanako's Deal involves a choice between becoming part of the Soulkiller program or living with an incomplete "soul," both perceived as negative.
The ending where Johnny takes over V's body, or V aligns with the Aldecaldos, are regarded as better outcomes. Johnny's control can lead to Rogue's death but grants V legendary status or allows V to leave Night City with Panam and the Aldecaldos for a hopeful future. Meanwhile, siding with the Aldecaldos offers a potentially canon ending with a more optimistic outlook, especially if V has a romance with Judy or Panam.
Additionally, there's a secret ending involving Johnny going on a solo mission, challenging but with no unique narrative rewards beyond the Rogue ending. Choices made throughout the game, relationships with characters, and completion of specific questlines influence these conclusions, providing players with a range of experiences in Night City.
Ritwik Mitra's updated article from February 16, 2023, highlights the evolution of Cyberpunk 2077 post-launch. Despite the initial bugs and missing features, subsequent updates enhanced stability and introduced additional content, making the game more fulfilling for players. The narrative revolves around V and Johnny Silverhand's dynamic, exploring themes of betrayal, revenge, love, and redemption within Night City's tumultuous setting.
