All Endings List
This page catalogs every known ending in The Adventures of HILLS as of the Steam launch build. Conditions are summarized without excessive story spoilers, but section headers name outcomes for players organizing gallery or achievement runs.
True and Best Outcomes
| Ending Name | Type | Core Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Light in the Shadows | True | Full checklist complete; evidence presented in finale |
| Dawn Over Gadola | Good+ | Crisis averted, most companions saved, one subplot unresolved |
| The Adventures of HILLS | Good | Main quest complete; standard finale choice |
The true ending shares a branch point with Dawn Over Gadola until the final council scene. Dialogue and evidence inventory determine which plays.
Neutral and Bittersweet Endings
| Ending Name | Type | Core Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Passing Through | Neutral | Timer beaten but conspiracy only partially exposed |
| Merchant's Exit | Neutral | Hills leaves Gadola with profit but abandons companion questline |
| Quiet Departure | Neutral | Low companion loyalty average; survival without unity |
| Delayed Storm | Neutral | Crisis postponed via compromise with nobles; corruption remains |
Neutral endings still count as "beating" the game for some Steam metrics but do not satisfy 100% Completion.
Bad and Game Over Endings
| Ending Name | Type | Core Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Net Tightens | Bad | Maximum exposure |
| The Clock Runs Out | Bad | Timer expired |
| Gilded Cage | Bad | Noble betrayal route |
| Alone in the Dark | Bad | No companions at finale gate |
| Depths Take Her | Bad | Defeat at aqueduct choke point (optional) |
| Whisper Campaign | Bad | Social exposure chain failed |
| Broken Contract | Bad | Sell critical key item to black market |
See Bad Ending for avoidance and hunting tips.
Companion-Influenced Variations
Several endings swap epilogue partners based on highest-loyalty companion. These are variations, not separate gallery slots, unless noted.
- Dockside Promise — Highest loyalty: dock companion. Requires their personal quest complete.
- Scholar's Oath — Highest loyalty: market scholar. Requires Key Items research chain.
- Blade at Rest — Highest loyalty: Slums fighter. Requires arena victories.
- Micoco's Road — Requires Micoco reunion and equal-top loyalty tie-break.
True ending overrides partner variations with a group epilogue, then adds individual coda scenes.
Ending Unlock Order for Collectors
Efficient gallery order minimizes replays:
- First run: good ending via walkthrough.
- Second run: true ending with checklist.
- Third run: bad endings batch using missable saves.
- Fourth run: neutral variations by manipulating loyalty and timer.
Achievement Every Stone Turned requires registering all unique ending IDs in the gallery—variations that share an ID do not count twice.
Cross-References
- True Ending — Detailed routing.
- Bad Ending — Failure mechanics.
- Requirements Checklist — Flag tracker.
- Achievements — Ending-to-trophy mapping.
Spoiler-Free Routing Summary
If you want a decision framework without reading every condition above, use this priority stack when planning your week in Gadola.
Priority 1 — Timer: Never miss the Day 9 guild quest. Without it, every ending except immediate bad outcomes becomes unreachable. This is the single hardest fail condition for new players who over-explore the Market.
Priority 2 — Companions: Three companions are mandatory for any good ending; four plus the hidden ally are mandatory for the true ending. Loyalty is not decorative—it gates both dialogue and combat combos.
Priority 3 — Districts: Slums depth before Day 7, Noble outer by Day 10, inner villas by Day 12. The Unlock Order page is your calendar.
Priority 4 — Exposure: Stay under 30% entering gala week for true ending; under 80% for any good ending.
Priority 5 — Key items: Ledger Fragment, Seal of Houses, Subterranean Key form a chain—skip one and the council evidence option fails.
Within those priorities, optional events and bad endings are flexible. Completionists reverse the order for hunting—see Missables for event deadlines that sit beside ending requirements.
Gallery and Ending ID Reference
The in-game gallery sorts endings by type, not by narrative quality. Use these IDs when comparing your save to a friend's without spoiling plot text.
- TE-01 — Light in the Shadows (true)
- GE-01 — The Adventures of HILLS (standard good)
- GE-02 — Dawn Over Gadola (high good)
- NE-01 through NE-04 — Neutral quartet (Passing Through, Merchant's Exit, Quiet Departure, Delayed Storm)
- BE-01 through BE-07 — Bad set (Net Tightens through Broken Contract)
Companion variations attach as sub-entries under GE-01 and TE-01 only. Collecting every variation is optional for Steam but counts toward in-game gallery percentage. The achievement Every Stone Turned cares about unique IDs, not variations—confirm in the gallery footer counter after each run.
When streaming or discussing routes online, use ID codes to avoid spoiling animated sequences for viewers. Our True Ending guide uses day numbers instead of plot beats for the same reason.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many unique gallery endings are there?
The gallery tracks twelve unique ending IDs, plus companion variation epilogues that attach to three of those slots.
Do choices in H-scenes affect endings?
Most scene choices only affect CG unlocks and loyalty. A handful of mid-game scenes set exposure or betrayal flags; the How to Find guide marks them.
Which ending is the "canon" one?
PantyParrot markets Light in the Shadows as the intended true outcome. The sequel hook in its epilogue is not present in other endings.
How do I know which ending I got?
The gallery names the ending after credits. Achievement pop-ups also identify major routes: The Adventures of HILLS for standard completion, Light in the Shadows for true, The Clock Runs Out for timer failure. Neutral endings do not always trigger unique achievements—check gallery IDs GE-02 versus NE-01 through NE-04.
Can companion endings override the true ending?
No. True ending uses a fixed group epilogue. Companion variations apply only to good and neutral ending IDs, then individual codas play based on highest loyalty.
Do minor ending variations count for Steam?
Only unique gallery IDs count toward Every Stone Turned. Partner epilogue variations share parent IDs and do not add extra achievement credit beyond gallery percentage.
Do neutral endings block true ending on replay?
No. Each new run or branch save re-evaluates flags independently. Getting Merchant's Exit on Run 1 does not disable Light in the Shadows on Run 2.
Which ending is best for a single playthrough?
Light in the Shadows if you can manage the checklist; otherwise Dawn Over Gadola or The Adventures of HILLS good endings still deliver satisfying closure without every optional scene.