So, you’ve battled your way through Harran and perhaps even the zombie-infested streets of Villedor. But now you’re asking the big question: How many endings does Dying Light actually have? The answer, like the undead themselves, is a bit more complex than it initially appears. Let’s break it down.
Dying Light, the first game, features one core ending with variations based on your choice. Dying Light 2: Stay Human boasts a more intricate web, offering at least five distinct endings, further complicated by permutations stemming from crucial decisions you make throughout the game. These endings hinge on your relationships, allegiances, and moral compass.
Dying Light 1: The Choice at the End
While some might consider the original Dying Light as having a single ending, the final choice made by Kyle Crane drastically alters the narrative’s implications. You’re presented with two options:
The Sacrifice (Good-ish): Crane uses the cure he risked everything to obtain to destroy the research, preventing it from falling into the hands of the GRE. This could lead to a cure, but destroys a potential biological weapon as well.
The Broadcast (Bad-ish): Crane trusts the GRE and attempts to broadcast their message.
It’s more like variations on a theme. Techland intentionally kept the “true” ending unresolved, allowing players to speculate on the long-term consequences of their actions.
Dying Light 2: Stay Human: A Web of Consequences
Dying Light 2 significantly expands the concept of multiple endings, making your choices truly matter. Here’s a breakdown of the five main endings, along with the key decisions influencing them:
- Lawan Survives, Aiden Leaves: This is often considered the best ending. To achieve this, you must spare Hakon in Old Villedor and give the Radio Tower to Frank. If you’ve made the right choices, Lawan will decide to live and help rebuild Villedor. You, however, leave the city, seeking new adventures.
- Lawan Survives, Aiden Stays: This is the “best” version of the above ending. Spare Hakon, give the tower to Frank, and Lawan lives and decides to stay in Villedor, becoming a Nightrunner and helping the city. Aiden, having forged a strong connection with her, stays to assist.
- Lawan Dies, Aiden Leaves: A more bittersweet ending. If you make choices that lead to Lawan’s death (often involving siding with the Peacekeepers or making questionable decisions regarding the bombs), Aiden leaves Villedor, burdened by the loss.
- Lawan Dies, Aiden Stays: Here, Aiden decides to stay in Villedor, despite the failure to save Lawan. The city will likely fall into a bad state, and the future will be bleak.
- The “Bad” Ending: This outcome is triggered by specific choices, such as allowing Hakon to die, handing the VNC Tower over to the Peacekeepers (either via Juan or Jack Matt), and then choosing to save Lawan at the end.
Dying Light 2: Hidden Depths and Permutations
Beyond these core endings, smaller choices ripple through the narrative, creating variations within each outcome. For example, the fate of specific characters (like Frank or Hakon) will influence the tone and consequences of the ending you receive. Your relationship with factions like the Peacekeepers and Survivors also plays a pivotal role.
Furthermore, a “secret ending” exists, requiring players to discover a series of hidden codes and keycards scattered throughout the game. Using these unlocks a nondescript military truck, revealing a hidden message, adding another layer to the game’s lore.
FAQs About Dying Light Endings
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the complex world of Dying Light endings:
1. Which Dying Light ending is canon?
Dying Light 2 strongly implies that the Infected Option from Dying Light: The Following is canon. If Crane had detonated the nuke at the end of The Following, the global pandemic likely wouldn’t have occurred.
2. Should I give the Water Tower to the Peacekeepers or the Survivors?
The choice is crucial and impacts the game’s direction significantly. Giving the Water Tower to the Survivors allies you with them in Old Villedor. Giving it to the Peacekeepers strengthens their control and unlocks their specific storyline.
3. What happens if I leave Frank or stay with him?
Helping Frank is essential for achieving what’s considered the “best” ending in Dying Light 2. Without his leadership, the city suffers, and Lawan’s trajectory changes, making the optimal outcome impossible.
4. Did Kyle Crane become infected?
Yes. According to Dying Light 2 lead level designer Piotr Pawlaczyk, Kyle Crane became infected at the end of the first game and, tragically, spread the Harran Virus.
5. Is Kyle Crane the Night Hunter?
While the Night Hunter is a unique mutation of Crane at the end of Dying Light, which is an apex predator, sentient during the day and a monster at night, he is not a volatile. Crane mutated into the Night Hunter which is a unique mutation exclusive to only Kyle Crane.
6. Should I play Dying Light 1 before Dying Light 2?
While not strictly necessary, playing Dying Light 1 enhances your understanding of the world and lore. However, Dying Light 2 introduces new characters and locations, making it accessible even to newcomers.
7. Is Crane mentioned in Dying Light 2?
Yes, Kyle Crane is mentioned by several NPCs in Dying Light 2. While his ultimate fate remains ambiguous, it’s implied that he met a tragic end.
8. Who killed Lucas in Dying Light 2?
Hakon confesses to killing Lucas, creating a significant conflict within the narrative and influencing your choices regarding Hakon’s fate.
9. Can you save Birdie in Dying Light 2?
Unfortunately, no. Birdie’s fate is sealed. He will die regardless of your actions.
10. Should I help Jack and Joe?
Helping Jack and Joe is a matter of personal preference. While they’re sympathetic characters, their methods are questionable. Helping them can grant you control of the water tower, but there are consequences.
11. What canonically happened to Kyle Crane at the end of Dying Light: The Following?
Canonically, Kyle Crane became infected at the end of Dying Light: The Following and spread the Harran Virus, according to Dying Light 2 lead level designer Piotr Pawlaczyk.
12. Can you romance Lawan in Dying Light 2?
There is no romance system implemented in Dying Light 2, so it is not possible to romance Lawan.
In conclusion, both Dying Light and Dying Light 2 offer endings with different consequences and tones, shaped by your actions, alliances, and moral choices.
Understanding these nuances allows you to craft a personalized narrative and experience the Dying Light universe in a way that resonates with your play style and moral compass. From saving survivors to choosing sides, every step you take along the way matters. The Dying Light series challenges players to not only survive a zombie apocalypse but also to face the consequences of their decisions, making for a truly immersive and thought-provoking gaming experience. For more information on the gaming world, check out gbtimes.com, your source for gaming news and updates!
