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. Conveniently, these missions occur late in the game, allowing players to save before them and experience all endings without a full replay.

Key Choices and Endings:

Three crucial missions determine the game's outcome. A manual save before these missions allows players to explore all four endings.

1. She Will Never Be Free:

• Subtle Matter: Choose "Life is for the living."
• Dangerous Liaisons: Choose "[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, escaping Korshunov, and eliminating Kaymanov.

2. Project Y:

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

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

3. Today Never Ends:

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

This ending involves aiding Scar, the leader of the Spark faction, leading him to the Shining Zone. Only choices in two missions impact this outcome.

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 results from siding with Colonel Krushunov and the Ward faction, aiming to eradicate the Zone. Like the Spark ending, only two missions influence this outcome.