This guide details the four distinct endings in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, determined by player choices in three key missions: Subtle Matter, Dangerous Liaisons, and The Last Wish. A manual save before Legends of the Zone allows players to experience all endings without a full replay.

Choices Impacting the Ending

Three pivotal missions shape the game's conclusion:

• Subtle Matter: Your decision here significantly influences the narrative path.
• Dangerous Liaisons: This mission presents a crucial choice affecting alliances.
• The Last Wish: A final decision with far-reaching consequences.

Ending 1: She Will Never Be Free

• Subtle Matter: Choose "Life is for the living."
• Dangerous Liaisons: Select "[Escape]".
• The Last Wish: Choose "[Fire]".

This ending aligns with Strelok's goal of protecting the Zone, requiring the player to antagonize all other factions: rejecting Scar, fleeing Korshunov, and eliminating Kaymanov.

Ending 2: Project Y

• Subtle Matter: Choose "Life is for the living."
• Dangerous Liaisons: Select "[Escape]".
• The Last Wish: Choose "[Lower the Gun]".

Similar to the previous ending, but instead of killing Kaymanov, you choose to spare him, siding with his scientific approach to observing the Zone's natural evolution.

Ending 3: Today Never Ends

• Subtle Matter: Choose "Eternal spring."
• Dangerous Liaisons: Select "[Escape]".
• The Last Wish: This mission's choice is irrelevant for this ending.

This ending involves assisting Scar, the leader of the Spark faction, leading to his entry into a pod believed to transport him to the Shining Zone. Only two missions directly influence this outcome.

Ending 4: Brave New World

• Subtle Matter: Choose "Life is for the living."
• Dangerous Liaisons: Choose "I'm not your enemy".
• The Last Wish: This mission's choice is irrelevant for this ending.

This ending involves siding with Colonel Krushunov and The Ward faction in their quest to eradicate the Zone. Similar to the Spark ending, only two missions determine this outcome.