Please note that this article will contain SPOILERS for The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me.As the year draws to a close, it's fair to say Supermassive Games has had a busy 2022. Following on from the launch of The Quarry and the reveal of its PSVR 2 plans, the studio has ended proceedings with The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me. Inspired by real-world events, the game is a true crime-themed horror experience that's a fitting finale to the franchise's first season.
Unlike some of Supermassive's previous horror games, The Devil in Me branches into two distinct paths toward its conclusion. Depending on the choices players make and the characters that are alive towards the end of the game, the action will end up in one of two locations. That means players will naturally be curious to see what could have happened had they taken a different approach.
The First Ultimatum Ending
For players to reach either of The Devil in Me’s two ultimatum endings, Kate and Mark have to be the only characters alive before the game’s lighthouse scene. After that point, the latter will wake up in a cell, while the former will find herself strapped to a pipe full of acid. From this position, the game’s antagonist Du’Met, gives players a choice. They can either call the next group of victims to the island or refuse.
Taking the first option sends the action toward one of The Devil in Me's bad endings. After players discover that the man they originally believed to be Du’Met faced the same choice, a series of events that mirrors the game's opening chapter plays out. Mark will phone the next group of victims, guide them to the hotel, and then attempt to leave with a released Kate.
The Devil in Me’s first ultimatum ending is arguably the worst ones players can get, partly because Mark becomes complicit in Du’Met’s twisted fantasy. Bringing the next group of victims to the island feeds the mythos behind H. H. Holmes and his status as America’s first serial killer. To make matters even worse, following a conversation with The Curator, Du’Met kills Mark and Kate with a sniper rifle.
The Second Ultimatum Ending
Refusing to be a part of Du’Met’s schemes sends players towards The Devil in Me’s second bad ending. As soon as Mark refuses to call the serial killer’s next victims, the latter instantly kills Kate with the acid. Poisonous gas is also released into Mark’s cell, finishing off the crew for good. Although the dog players encountered earlier in the game swims to safety, it’s revealed that Du’Met has already moved on to a new house and set of victims.
The Boat Endings
To be able to reach any of The Devil in Me‘s happier endings, players need to keep the majority of the film crew alive until the lighthouse scene. Doing so will allow the survivors to escape the Murder Hotel’s island on a boat. Taking inspiration from all good slasher villains, though, Du’Met catches up to the crew and engages them in several QTE battles before they reach freedom.
How many of The Devil in Me’s protagonists survive this encounter depends on the player’s reflexes. Misplaced button presses can majorly impact how good the final result is. Everyone, including the aforementioned dog, can still die before the final chapter ends. Provided some survive, though, they’ll eventually reconcile on the beach before explaining the events of the game to the police.
In every ending, it’s implied that Du’Met doesn’t die during the boat scene no matter what happens to him on screen. Beyond cutting away to another group of apparent victims, a gloved hand is shown picking up his trademark mask. The Curator is also visibly frustrated that he doesn’t get to cross out the killer’s name - a reaction that prompts an unseen force to shake the walls and doors of The Repository.
The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X.
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