You’ve spent dozens of hours surviving Night City. You’ve made enemies, built friendships, trusted people who betrayed you, and fought battles that seemed impossible to win.
Now you’re approaching the final decision, and suddenly one question matters more than anything else: Which ending should you choose?
In Cyberpunk 2077, there isn’t a perfect conclusion where every character gets everything they want. Your final choices determine V’s future, Johnny Silverhand’s fate, and the people who survive your last mission.
Some endings offer freedom. Others promise fame, sacrifice, or survival at an enormous cost.
This Cyberpunk 2077 best endings guide compares every major ending, explains the decisions required to unlock them, and helps you discover which conclusion matches the story you’ve created.
We’ll also cover the secret Don’t Fear the Reaper route and the additional ending introduced in the Phantom Liberty expansion.
Major spoiler warning: The sections below reveal important story events, character deaths, and final outcomes from Cyberpunk 2077 and Phantom Liberty.
Table of Contents
Best Cyberpunk 2077 Endings Ranked: Quick Comparison
The best ending depends on what matters most to you. Is it saving V, protecting friends, becoming a legend, or giving Johnny another opportunity at life?
| Ending | Best for | Key requirement |
|---|---|---|
| The Star | Hope, freedom, and relationships | Complete Panam’s questline |
| The Sun | Fame and becoming a Night City legend | Unlock Rogue’s route or finish the secret raid |
| Don’t Fear the Reaper | Challenging solo finale | Specific Johnny dialogue choices |
| Temperance | Johnny’s second chance | Give Johnny V’s body |
| The Tower | V’s survival | Phantom Liberty cure route |
| The Devil | Corporate storyline | Accept Hanako’s plan |
| Path of Least Resistance | Alternative tragic conclusion | Rooftop decision |
This is our editorial ranking based on emotional payoff and player choice, not an official ranking from CD Projekt Red.
For most players seeking a hopeful resolution, The Star is our recommended ending. If you want the most challenging final mission, Don’t Fear the Reaper is the route to investigate.
How Do Cyberpunk 2077 Endings Work?
Before choosing your ending, you need to understand the game’s point of no return.
The Nocturne OP55N1 Mission
Near the conclusion of Cyberpunk 2077, you’ll receive the main job Nocturne OP55N1, directing you to meet Hanako Arasaka at Embers.
Entering this mission begins the endgame sequence.
Later, you’ll speak with Johnny Silverhand on the rooftop of Misty’s Esoterica, where you choose how to approach Arasaka.
The available options depend on which side quests you’ve completed.
Save Your Game Before Meeting Hanako
Create a separate manual save before entering Embers.
This lets you revisit your decision without replaying the entire campaign.
After most base-game endings, the game offers a way to return to the point before the finale.
The Phantom Liberty Tower ending is different: it does not provide the same post-ending return option, so preserving a manual save is particularly important.
1. The Star Ending — Best for Hope and Freedom
If you want V to escape Night City’s destructive cycle, The Star provides one of the most emotionally satisfying conclusions.
Instead of trusting a powerful corporation, V turns to Panam Palmer and the Aldecaldos.
How to Unlock The Star Ending
Complete Panam’s important side jobs:
- Riders on the Storm.
- With a Little Help from My Friends.
- Queen of the Highway.
During Nocturne OP55N1, choose the option to ask Panam for help.
The Aldecaldos will assist V in attacking Arasaka and reaching Mikoshi.
When the final decision arrives, choose to let V return to their body.
What Happens in The Star Ending?
V leaves Night City with the Aldecaldos, looking toward a future beyond the city’s violence and corporate influence.
However, V’s medical situation isn’t completely resolved. Their remaining lifespan is still uncertain and limited.
What makes this ending meaningful is the possibility of finding help elsewhere while surrounded by people who genuinely care.
Why choose The Star?
- V escapes Night City.
- Friendship and community become central to the conclusion.
- The ending offers hope despite an uncertain future.
- It can provide satisfying closure for compatible romance storylines.
Our verdict: The Star is the strongest choice if you value loyalty, personal freedom, and the possibility of a better life.
2. The Sun Ending — Best for Becoming a Night City Legend
Maybe leaving Night City isn’t what you want.
Perhaps you’ve spent your playthrough building V’s reputation and want to see them become one of the Afterlife’s most respected mercenaries.
That’s what The Sun offers.
How to Unlock The Sun Ending
Complete Johnny and Rogue’s important side jobs:
- Chippin’ In.
- Blistering Love.
During the final rooftop conversation, choose to let Johnny and Rogue handle the assault on Arasaka.
After reaching Mikoshi, choose the outcome where V keeps their body.
The secret solo-assault route can also lead to The Sun.
What Happens in The Sun Ending?
V becomes a legendary mercenary associated with the Afterlife.
However, success comes with personal sacrifices, and the threat to V’s life remains unresolved.
The ending points toward another ambitious job involving the Crystal Palace.
If you follow Rogue’s assault route, Rogue dies during the confrontation with Adam Smasher. Completing the secret solo route provides another way to reach The Sun without involving her in that assault.
Our verdict: Choose The Sun if recognition, ambition, and leaving a legacy matter more than escaping Night City.
3. Don’t Fear the Reaper — Best Secret Ending
Looking for the toughest possible finale?
Don’t Fear the Reaper is Cyberpunk 2077’s hidden solo-assault mission.
Instead of asking Panam, Rogue, or another ally to attack Arasaka, V and Johnny decide to take on the tower alone.
It’s one of the game’s most demanding combat challenges.
How to Unlock Cyberpunk 2077’s Secret Ending
First, complete the Chippin’ In side job.
During Johnny’s conversation at the oilfields, specific responses are essential.
The critical dialogue sequence includes:
- “Nah, fucked that up too.”
- “What do you want from me?”
- “OK. But as second chances go, this is your last.”
Make sure you choose these responses when the corresponding prompts appear.
Continue through Johnny’s questline and prepare for the final mission.
At the rooftop conversation during Nocturne OP55N1, consider the Rogue option, then remain on the dialogue screen without confirming the final choice.
After several minutes, Johnny can suggest attacking Arasaka without outside assistance.
Accept his proposal to begin the secret mission.
Do You Need 70% Friendship With Johnny?
No. This is a widespread misconception.
The important requirement is the conversation at the oilfields, rather than simply reaching a particular friendship percentage displayed in the menu.
What Happens If You Die During the Secret Mission?
Dying during the solo assault ends the attempt and brings you to the credits.
You can reload an earlier save, but you shouldn’t expect ordinary mission checkpoints.
Complete your character build, obtain useful equipment, and prepare before starting.
Successfully finishing the raid can lead to The Sun or Temperance, depending on the final body decision.
Our verdict: This is our favorite gameplay route for experienced players who want a difficult, memorable finale without involving allies in the tower assault.
4. Temperance Ending — Best for Johnny’s Story
Throughout Cyberpunk 2077, V and Johnny develop a complicated relationship.
They begin as unwilling companions sharing one body, but their relationship can change significantly.
Temperance explores what happens when V decides that Johnny should continue living.
How to Unlock Temperance
Reach Mikoshi through a compatible ending route, such as Panam’s assault, Rogue’s assault, or the secret solo mission.
During the final conversation with Alt and Johnny, choose the outcome where Johnny permanently receives V’s body.
What Happens in Temperance?
Johnny returns to the physical world while V’s consciousness leaves with Alt.
Johnny then tries to move forward with his life rather than continuing the destructive behavior that defined much of his past.
The ending provides a different kind of closure: V makes the ultimate personal sacrifice, while Johnny receives a second opportunity.
Our verdict: Temperance is a powerful conclusion if your favorite part of the story is V and Johnny’s developing relationship.
5. The Devil Ending — Best for Exploring Arasaka’s Power
The Devil takes V down a darker, more corporate-focused path.
Instead of relying on personal allies, V places their trust in Hanako Arasaka.
How to Unlock The Devil Ending
During Nocturne OP55N1, choose to cooperate with Hanako.
This route is available without completing Panam’s or Rogue’s side quests.
You then assist Hanako in confronting Yorinobu and resolving the Arasaka family conflict.
Do You Need to Save Takemura?
You don’t need Takemura alive to access The Devil storyline.
However, saving him during Search and Destroy is important for obtaining The Devil achievement or trophy.
This is an easily missed opportunity, so consider keeping a manual save during that mission.
What Happens in The Devil Ending?
V undergoes treatment aboard an orbital medical facility.
However, the outcome is far from a straightforward cure.
You eventually face another decision: return to Earth despite an uncertain future, or agree to have your consciousness stored by Arasaka.
Both options emphasize the power imbalance between V and the corporation.
Our verdict: The Devil is worth experiencing for its story and commentary on corporate control, but it is difficult to recommend as the most hopeful outcome for V.
6. The Tower Ending — Best for V’s Survival
The Phantom Liberty expansion adds a different possibility: a path where V can survive the Relic.
However, it comes with devastating consequences.
How to Unlock The Tower Ending
You need to finish Phantom Liberty through one of two specific outcomes:
- King of Swords: Help Songbird during Firestarter, then surrender her to Reed and pursue the promised cure.
- King of Pentacles: Help Reed during Firestarter, then spare Songbird during Somewhat Damaged and pursue the cure.
These routes allow Reed and Songbird to survive and provide access to the NUSA treatment.
After completing the expansion, follow Reed’s subsequent missions and accept the treatment when the opportunity arises.
This leads to Who Wants to Live Forever and ultimately Things Done Changed.
What Happens in The Tower?
V survives the operation and wakes up after a two-year coma.
However, the surgery permanently removes V’s ability to tolerate most combat cyberware, effectively ending their previous mercenary career.
Night City has changed, and many relationships have moved on without them.
Johnny is also gone.
It’s an extraordinarily bittersweet ending: V survives but loses much of the identity and life they fought to preserve.
Our verdict: Choose The Tower if physical survival is your highest priority, even at the cost of personal relationships, cyberware, and V’s old way of life.
All Four Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty Endings Explained
Phantom Liberty has four major outcomes involving Songbird and Solomon Reed.
These are separate from The Tower, which is an additional conclusion to V’s main story.
| Phantom Liberty outcome | Required choice | Unlocks Tower route? |
|---|---|---|
| King of Wands | Help Songbird escape to the Moon | No |
| King of Swords | Help Songbird, then surrender her to Reed | Yes, with cure agreement |
| King of Cups | Help Reed, then fulfill Songbird’s final request | No |
| King of Pentacles | Help Reed, then spare Songbird | Yes, with cure agreement |
Which Phantom Liberty Ending Is Best?
If Songbird’s freedom matters most, King of Wands provides a powerful conclusion.
If you want to give V access to the NUSA cure, King of Swords or King of Pentacles is necessary.
King of Cups offers another tragic outcome centered on Songbird’s request.
There is no solution that preserves every character’s future while delivering everything V wants.
Do You Need to Buy Phantom Liberty?
You need access to Phantom Liberty to play its storyline and unlock The Tower.
If you own only the base game, you can still experience the original endings, including the secret solo raid.
Before purchasing, check whether your edition already includes the expansion. Phantom Liberty is available on PC through major digital stores and is included in relevant Ultimate Edition packages.
How to Unlock Every Cyberpunk 2077 Ending in One Playthrough
You can prepare access to most endings during one playthrough by completing the relevant side quests and keeping manual saves.
Use this checklist:
- Complete Panam’s storyline through Queen of the Highway.
- Complete Chippin’ In and Blistering Love.
- Select the important Johnny dialogue during the oilfields conversation.
- Save Takemura in Search and Destroy if you want The Devil achievement.
- Create a manual save before meeting Hanako at Embers.
- If you own Phantom Liberty, save before the major decision in Firestarter.
- Keep a separate save before committing to The Tower treatment.
Some branches are mutually exclusive, so seeing every Phantom Liberty outcome requires reloading earlier saves.
Which Cyberpunk 2077 Ending Should You Choose?
If you’re still undecided, consider the kind of V you’ve created.
Choose The Star if V values freedom, friendship, and escaping the city.
Choose The Sun if your V wants to become a legend and complete one last extraordinary job.
Choose Don’t Fear the Reaper if you want the toughest final challenge.
Choose Temperance if Johnny’s redemption matters most.
Choose The Tower if survival outweighs everything else.
Choose The Devil if you’re interested in the consequences of trusting Arasaka.
No ending is completely without sacrifice. That’s what makes choosing one so memorable.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cyberpunk 2077 Endings
What Is the Best Ending in Cyberpunk 2077?
The Star is our recommendation for players seeking hope, freedom, and a meaningful relationship with the Aldecaldos. Other endings may suit your character’s priorities better.
Does This Cyberpunk 2077 Best Endings Guide Include Phantom Liberty?
Yes. It covers The Tower and all four major Phantom Liberty outcomes, alongside the base game’s standard and secret endings.
Can V Survive in Cyberpunk 2077?
Yes, The Tower offers a confirmed path to survival through Phantom Liberty’s treatment. However, V suffers major permanent consequences.
Is There a Secret Happy Ending in Cyberpunk 2077?
There isn’t a completely happy ending where every problem disappears. The Star offers hope, while Don’t Fear the Reaper provides a different, more independent route to existing epilogues.
Can You Unlock Every Ending Without Restarting the Game?
You can experience multiple routes through carefully placed saves and the standard post-ending return option. Mutually exclusive Phantom Liberty decisions require loading earlier saves.
Does Johnny Silverhand’s Friendship Percentage Unlock the Secret Ending?
Not by itself. The crucial factor is selecting the appropriate dialogue during Chippin’ In at the oilfields.
Is The Tower Ending Better Than The Star?
That depends on your priorities. The Tower gives V a confirmed survival outcome but major personal losses. The Star offers freedom and relationships, without a guaranteed cure.
Conclusion: Which Cyberpunk 2077 Ending Is Truly the Best?
Cyberpunk 2077 isn’t a story about winning every battle and receiving a perfect reward.
It’s about deciding what matters when you can’t save everything.
If you want an emotionally hopeful conclusion, The Star is our overall recommendation. Escaping Night City with the Aldecaldos provides a sense of freedom and belonging that few other endings match.
For the most intense final mission, Don’t Fear the Reaper offers an unforgettable challenge. The Sun rewards ambition, Temperance gives Johnny another chance, and The Tower explores the price of survival.
Whatever ending you choose, make sure it reflects the decisions you’ve made throughout your journey.
Ready to discover another ending? Load your save before Nocturne OP55N1, finish the required side quests, and explore a different path through Night City.
Which Cyberpunk 2077 ending did you choose, and would you change it? Share your favorite in the GameTechScout comments and tell other players why it mattered to you.
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