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Cyberpunk 2077 Best Ending | How to get all endings and secret ending

Get the ending you want — including the one newly added with Phantom Liberty.

Alex Donaldson avatar
Guide by Alex Donaldson Assistant Editor
Additional contributions by Rebecca Jones
Updated on

All good things must eventually come to an end, and such is the case with Cyberpunk 2077's adventures in Night City.

You might be surprised how quickly you reach the ending: compared to The Witcher 3, Cyberpunk 2077’s point of no return for the main story comes quite soon. It’s easily possible to finish the main story in a little over 20 hours; maybe closer to 30 if you've installed the Phantom Liberty DLC. But it’s not designed to be binged that way. Cyberpunk has more side content, and it’s more in-depth - so you’re meant to meander off and explore those story-lines before reaching the end game.

If anime is your thing, be certain to check out Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.

This page will naturally contain HUGE STORY SPOILERS for Cyberpunk 2077, including the Phantom Liberty DLC. Don’t scroll any further unless you want to see them.

Cyberpunk 2077 Ending Explained: how many endings & how to get them

The endings in Cyberpunk 2077 have a few different paths. Broadly speaking there are five possible epilogues to the game — six with Phantom Liberty installed — though details such as choices made in the epilogue and who V's romantic partner is can cause these to vary slightly. There's also a seventh variant, which is a secret ending.

We detail all in-depth below, but we’ll describe them briefly and as spoiler-free as we can here:

  • The Devil: Trust Arasaka and take Hanako up on her offer.
  • The Sun: Let Johnny take over your body and go to Rogue for help. (Further choices are required to unlock this ending; see below.)
  • The Star: Get the help of the Aldecados Nomads. (Further choices are required to unlock this ending; see below.)
  • Temperance: This ending can be obtained on either the Johnny & Rogue or Aldecados Nomads paths described above, depending on your choices (see below).
  • The Tower: Trust Reed in the Phantom Liberty DLC storyline.
  • Path of Least Resistance: Give in and end things on your own terms.
  • Secret Ending: Take Johnny up on his hidden offer.

Does Cyberpunk 2077 have New Game Plus?

Once you finish the final mission of Cyberpunk 2077, you’ll be given the opportunity to load up your save from the moment right before you pass the point of no return and kick off the final series of missions.

You will, however, get to keep some goodies and bonuses based on the ending you see. These will be available to you immediately after reloading that point of no return save game. Sometimes these are weapons or gear attained during the final mission. Any Cyberware obtained this way will have to be installed by a Ripperdoc, remember.

You can then take this save and go off to complete more side quests, gigs and other jobs out in the open world, or you can simply replay the final missions while making different choices to get a different ending. Your completed side quests directly impact your ending, however (more on that later), so you might want to complete more side content.

The developers at CD Projekt RED have promised that there will be a traditional New Game+ mode for Cyberpunk 2077, but as it stands right now, we haven’t seen a traditional New Game+ option that lets you start the story over while keeping your gear; all you seem to be able to do right now is start a new character. Quite often a ‘true’ New Game+ only comes after launch, so it’ll probably come in time.

Cyberpunk 2077 Endings: How to get every ending in Cyberpunk 2077

You’ll know that you’re reaching the end of Cyberpunk 2077 when the mission Nocturne OP55N1 triggers. This will happen after you’ve exhausted all of the other main quest missions - the multiple strands you have earlier in the game will converge with this one mission. The objective is simple: Meet Hanako at Embers.

This is the point of no return. The game will automatically save right before you enter Embers (though we’d say creating an additional manual save won’t hurt), and there’s no going back once you enter: from there, though there are choices that’ll send the game branching, it’s a rollercoaster until the credits roll.

Note: If you're going for The Tower ending added with Phantom Liberty, you instead need to head to the roof of Misty's Esoterica and call Reed. This can be done at any point after finishing the DLC with the ending's unlock requirements met, and triggers its own point of no return warning.

Inside Embers, you’ll have a meeting with Hanako Arasaka. She’ll lay out her plan for helping you and unseating her brother. But Johnny won’t like the idea of trusting any corpo.

You’ll leave Embers and have time to consider your position, as V’s condition worsens. In the ensuing scenes, you’ll have some choices to make. While other choices from throughout your play through will have an impact on your endings, the overall ending you get will be determined by your choices on the rooftop after meeting with Hanako in Embers.

Cyberpunk 2077 Endings: how to get every ending

Cyberpunk 2077: The Devil Ending

How to initiate: When talking to Johnny on the balcony, choose the dialogue option: "Think trusting Arasaka’s risky but worth it." Then proceed to take Omega Blockers.

Prior requirements: None — you do not need to have completed any specific side missions to access this ending.

It seems you will need to have saved Takemura during the mission "Search and Destroy" if you want the achievement/trophy for this ending, though you'll still see the epilogue regardless.

Outcome: You'll play through the epilogue "Where Is My Mind?" and receive "The Devil" achievement/trophy upon completing the game.

You'll also be given one last choice which will decide V's final fate:

  • "Return to Earth" sub-ending: Have V return home to live out their final months in the hopes that a cure can be found.
  • "Engram" sub-ending: Have V surrender their physical body in return for digital immortality as an engram.

If you choose to side with Hanako Arasaka, you’ll be involved in a covert operation to take down her brother. Johnny will hate that you’re trusting an Arasaka and peace-out on you.

The first thread of this mission involves breaking Hanako out of house arrest, while the second part involves entering Arasaka Tower to try to persuade the board of the truth.

After completing the mission, you’ll find yourself in a unique new location - up in orbit, in an Arasaka Space Hospital. After a repetitive series of mundane tasks, you’ll be faced with a choice: return to Night City with only six months to live, or agree to be put into Arasaka’s ‘Secure Your Soul’ program - otherwise called Soulkiller - killing V’s mortal body but preserving their mind for the hopes of an extended lifespan.

Cyberpunk 2077: The Sun Ending

How to initiate: When talking to Johnny on the balcony, choose the dialogue option: "Think you and Rogue should go." Then proceed to take Pseudoendotrizine.

Later, you need to pick the dialogue option "Goin’ with Alt, you live on." Then have Johnny cross the bridge.

Prior requirements: You need to have completed the "Tapeworm" main story mission, and the "Chippin' In" and "Blistering Love" side jobs. Completing these will give you sufficiently high relationships with Johnny and Rogue to access this ending.

Outcome: You'll play through the "Path of Glory" epilogue and receive "The Sun" achievement/trophy upon completing the game.

Johnny’s idea is to repeat his old attack from years ago - sort of. This time, instead of nukes, he plans to use Rogue to force himself into Mikoshi, where he can then get V and his mind’s separated. He asks V to hand over their body for this, so he can get Rogue and Alt Cunningham on board.

After the mission is complete, the player faces the choice between letting Johnny or V keep the body. To get this ending, choose V.

You'll then play through the epilogue, where V has taken Rogue’s place as the Queen (or King) of Afterlife, as well as a very high-end merc job and swanky apartment to match. However, all will not be well: V's condition will still be deteriorating, and if they have a love interest their relationship will be on the verge of ending. It's not a bad ending, per se, but it's definitely one of the most bittersweet.

Cyberpunk 2077: The Star Ending

How to initiate: When talking to Johnny on the balcony, choose the dialogue option: "Gonna ask Panam for help." Then proceed to take Omega Blockers.

Later, you need to pick the dialogue option "Wanna live out whatever life I got left." Then have V enter the well.

Prior requirements: You need to have completed all four side jobs related to the Aldecados Nomads: "Life During Wartime", "Riders on the Storm", "With a Little Help From My Friends", and "Queen of the Highway". Completing these will give you a sufficiently high relationship with Panam to call on her help and access this ending.

Outcome: You'll play through the "All Along the Watchtower" epilogue and receive "The Star" achievement/trophy upon completing the game.

This option is only available to you if you’ve completed the Panam series of side quests. Rogue introduces you to Panam for some main quest missions, but you can meet up with her again and help her more, meeting and getting close to a whole different cast of characters.

If you’ve completed this quest and helped Panam’s tribe to get their hands on a tank, you can then call them for help when you’re on the rooftop with Johnny. They'll devise a plan to use the tank to obtain a giant drill - which you can then use to drill beneath Arasaka Tower for access.

After this mission is complete, you’ll have a choice: have V return to their body, or let Johnny take full (and permanent) control.

To get this ending, choose V. They return to their body, but only with six months to live; while Johnny goes beyond the Blackwall to possibly survive in cyberspace.

If you do this, it’s arguably the best and most happy normal ending: this is what Johnny wants, and if V has a love interest they will be reunited with them. This epilogue ends with V leaving Night City for good with Panam and the other Aldecados, along with their partner (if that's someone other than Panam).

Cyberpunk 2077: Temperance Ending

How to initiate: There are two completely different paths you can take to get this ending. It's triggered by choices you can make on a couple of the other ending paths — specifically, those that will get you to "The Sun" ending (with Johnny and Rogue) or "The Star" ending (with Panam and the Aldecados Nomads).

  • Either: When talking to Johnny on the balcony, choose the dialogue option: "Think you and Rogue should go." Then proceed to take Pseudoendotrizine. Later, pick the dialogue option "Not ready to die yet." Finally, have Johnny enter the well.
  • Or: When talking to Johnny on the balcony, choose the dialogue option: "Gonna ask Panam for help." Then proceed to take Omega Blockers. Later, pick the dialogue option "Body’s Johnny’s. I’ll go." Finally, have V cross the bridge.

Prior requirements: The same as the requirements for "The Sun" and "The Star" endings, respectively. (See above.)

Outcome: Whichever way you get there, you'll play through the "New Dawn Fades" epilogue and receive the "Temperance" achievement/trophy upon completing the game.

Depending on which path you took to get here, there will be a few slight variations at first. Unsurprisingly, V will be a lot less happy if Johnny leads the talk on deciding to keep their body (which happens on the Johnny & Rogue path) than if they choose to let him take over of their own free will (which is how you get here from the Panam & Aldecados path).

Either way, though, V will end up crossing the Blackwall in Johnny's place.

Johnny will then take up a new, quieter life in V’s body. After a brief epilogue, where he gets to know a young neighbour and pays tribute to friends lost — culminating in him laying a memorial for V — Johnny leaves Night City for good.

Cyberpunk 2077: Path of Least Resistance Ending

How to initiate: When talking to Johnny on the balcony, choose the dialogue option: "Could also just put all this to rest." Follow up with "I know exactly what we're gonna do".

Prior requirements: None — this option will always be available.

Outcome: You'll see the epilogue "Path of Least Resistance" (also called "The Easy Way Out"). There are no achievements/trophies associated with this one, as it's considered the Bad Ending.

On the rooftop with Johnny, you’re faced with two to four clear options, depending on which you’ve unlocked. However, there is an extra one. When given the chance, say, “Could also just put all this to rest.” You can say this after choosing one of the other options when given a choice, for instance, before re-confirming your commitment to a plan.

In this ending, Johnny and V will have one final heart-to-heart on the rooftop, and instead of executing a crazy plan, they will go out together, ending their lives on their own terms. This, obviously, is the shortest ending, cutting out the entire final mission.

Cyberpunk 2077: Secret Ending

How to initiate: When talking to Johnny on the balcony, do not pick any dialogue options. Instead, alternate between looking at your gun and looking at Johnny roughly once a minute for five full minutes.

Johnny will then offer you a different option: a "wild suicide run" where none of your friends have to risk their lives. Pick the dialogue options "Let’s hear this plan" followed by "Means goin’ out with a bang – I like it" to initiate the secret ending path.

Prior requirements: The same as "The Sun" ending (see above) — you need to have completed all Johnny and Rogue side missions for this to become available.

Outcome: You'll play through an alternative path, before seeing either the hidden "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" ending, or variants on either the "Path of Glory" or "Temperance" epilogues, depending on how things turn out for you.

No special achievements/trophies for this one — but a few unique outcomes you won't see in any other ending of the game.

If you manage to trigger this secret ending, the final showdown will play out quite differently. V and Johnny will proceed directly to Arasaka Tower without any backup from Hanako, Rogue, or Panam and the Aldecados Nomads — they'll be completely on their own.

This is a very tough combat challenge, made even more difficult by the fact that you aren't allowed to save and reload after accepting Johnny's offer and triggering this route. If V dies, it's quite literally game over — and you'll see the totally unique "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" ending to this secret route.

If you decide to reload an older save and try again until you succeed — or just defy the odds and make it through Arasaka Tower first time — you'll be given the same choice between Johnny and V that you're given on the Johnny and Rogue route.

Choose Johnny and you'll receive the "Temperance" ending as above.

Choose V and you'll receive "The Sun" ending, with a slight but important variant. In this version of the ending, Rogue never accompanied you to Arasaka Tower and so is still alive. As a result, you'll see a variation on the "Path of Glory" epilogue where she's still running the show at Afterlife. She and V will have one last drink together before V heads off on their final mission.

Cyberpunk 2077: The Tower Ending (Phantom Liberty)

Johnny explains the new point of no return to V at the conclusion of the Phantom Liberty storyline.
Image credit: VG247 / CD Projekt Red

How to initiate: Play through the Phantom Liberty DLC storyline and choose to side with Reed by the end, then call him for help when you reach the roof of Misty's Esoterica.

Prior requirements: Complete the missions "Through Pain to Heaven" and "Who Wants to Live Forever" after rolling credits on the DLC. Note that you actually skip the entirety of Act 3 and the Arasaka Tower siege by choosing this ending (though you can play through as much of the rest of Act 2 as you like before locking in your choice).

Outcome: Reed and the FIA will send a helicopter to take V to Washington D.C., where the country's best surgeons will remove the Relic, as a mark of gratitude from the NUSA President. You'll skip the Arasaka Tower siege entirely, and Johnny will not be happy with you for siding with the government and erasing him before he got the chance to see things through — but you'll have the chance to reconcile before V goes under anaesthetic and Johnny disappears for good.

In one of the game's most bittersweet endings, V wakes up in hospital to learn that the surgery was largely a success: they have been completely cured and can now live out a normal lifespan. But complications from the op left them in a coma for two years, meaning that many of their friends and loved ones have moved on believing them dead. What's more, damage to their cortex from the removal of the Relic means that they'll never be able to use cyberware again, leaving them vulnerable as just an ordinary human in a cybernetically enhanced society.

You'll have the option to determine whether V is devastated, hopeful, or unsure how to feel as you play through their return to Night City.

That marks the end of Cyberpunk 2077 for you. For more on the game, be sure to check what Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is all about, and if you're playing on PC, why not mess around with some mods?

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