Bad Endings & How to Avoid Them
Persona 5 Royal features multiple endings, and while the True Ending is the most sought-after, several bad endings can be encountered if players make the wrong choices. Avoiding these bad endings is crucial for experiencing the full narrative and achieving the game's ultimate conclusion. They often stem from critical decisions made during pivotal story moments.
The most common cause of bad endings is failing to meet the requirements for the True Ending. This includes not maxing out the Councillor (Takuto Maruki) and Faith (Kasumi Yoshizawa) Confidants before their respective deadlines. If these Confidants are not maxed out, the game will conclude prematurely, leading to a bad ending.
Another sificant point where bad endings can occur is during the final confrontation in the third semester. The game will present Joker with a critical choice that directly impacts the ending. If Joker accepts the antagonist's offer or makes a choice that prioritizes personal desires over the truth, a bad ending will result. The game will explicitly warn you when such a critical decision is imminent.
It's also possible to trigger bad endings by failing to progress through Palaces within the given time limits. If you miss the deadline for completing a Palace, Joker and the Phantom Thieves will be arrested, leading to an early, negative conclusion to the story. Always pay attention to the in-game calendar and prioritize dungeon crawling when necessary.
To avoid bad endings, focus on the following:
- Max out the Councillor and Faith Confidants by their deadlines.
- Make the correct choices during the final decision points in the third semester.
- Complete all Palaces before their respective deadlines.
By adhering to these guidelines and paying close attention to the narrative prompts, you can ensure you experience the intended, most fulfilling ending of Persona 5 Royal.