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Persona 4 Golden is an incredibly long game, but not all players will have their journey end the same way. The classic JRPG has seven different endings, and players will need to plan out their game to some degree to see the best possible outcome. While the original Persona 4 was jam-packed with content, Persona 4 Golden has even more. There’s a brand new character in Marie, a new Social Link to explore, and more. What was already a long, fun journey was made even longer.
Included in this is an extra ending exclusive to Persona 4 Golden that couldn’t be seen on the PlayStation 2 original. This makes Persona 4 Golden the definitive way to enjoy this masterful title, with the suite of improvements proving to be quite useful in its own right!
Updated July 31, 2023 by Ritwik Mitra: Persona 4 Golden is one of the greatest JRPGs of all time, with many people still considering it to be the best title in the series despite all the improvements its sequel brought to the table. The small town of Inaba is a great setting, allowing players to form a deeper connection with the townsfolk as they try to solve the mystery of the murders plaguing this small settlement.
The game is pretty long, with the story jam-packed with its fair share of twists and turns that will keep fans guessing until the very end. There are multiple endings in Persona 4 Golden, and players would obviously want the best ending possible that covers all bases and leaves nothing to the imagination. Achieving this is easier said than done due to the manner in which this game handles its endings, so fans can't be faulted for wanting to know some things beforehand if they don't want to witness a sad and dejecting conclusion.
All Persona 4 Golden Endings
There are a total of four different bad endings in Persona 4 Golden, two good endings, and the best “Golden Ending.” Two of these bad endings are interconnected to one critical moment in the story, and another comes if the player cannot figure out the identity of the killer.
There’s another bad ending known as the “Accomplice Ending” that can be chosen at a different moment. If the player avoids those pitfalls, there are three possible good endings.
The following are all of the endings, how to get them, and what happens in each one.
Kill Namatame Ending
If the player chooses to listen to Yosuke and throw Namatame into the television on December 3. Nanako remains dead, and Teddie returns to the TV world, never to return. It is later confirmed that Namatame was found dead. The fog continues to linger over Inaba, and the protagonist leaves.
Hand Namatame Over to the Police
On December 3, the player can refuse to throw Namatame into the television but still be met with a bad ending in Persona 4 Golden. Namatame is handed over to the police and confesses to the kidnappings of the party members and Nanako, but the deaths of Mayumi Yamano and Saki Konishi remain a mystery. Nanako survives, but Teddie returns to his world and isn’t seen again.
The Player Can’t Figure Out the Real Killer
To avoid the first two bad endings, players need to select these dialog options on December 3:
- Wait a second here…
- We’re missing something.
- Namatame’s true feelings
- Something’s bothering me.
- We’re missing something…
- Calm the hell down!
From there, the story advances to December 5, where the team needs to identify the person who killed Mayumi Yamano and Saki. If they cannot figure out the true culprit, it results in the same ending as handing Namatame over to police with the fog lingering, Teddie leaving, and the murders going unsolved.
The Accomplice Ending of Persona 4 Golden
The fourth and final bad ending in Persona 4 Golden, commonly called the Accomplice Ending, sees the main character accurately identify the real killer but cover things up for them. On December 5, the player needs to peg Tohru Adachi as the killer but then select “Don’t tell friends, protect Adachi.”
From there, the game advances to March 20. Select these options during the day:
- Go see Adachi.
- Did you do it?
- No.
- No.
- I’m on your side.
- Yes.
- Set fire to the letter
This sees the player max out their Social Link with Adachi, which is followed by a new cutscene showing the main character leaving Inaba where Adachi sees him off as well. The hero is seemingly excited over the idea of helping Adachi in the future.
The Normal Ending
If the player identifies Adachi as the real killer and tells the party about it, they go after Adachi. Once he’s defeated, time advances to March 20. The player will be asked if they want to go home to prepare for their departure from Inaba. If they choose “yes” they leave with the murders stopped but the mysteries of the Midnight Channel and the Persona phenomenon unsolved.
The True Ending
If the player defeats Adachi and says “no” to leaving Inaba, they’re free to roam around the city one last time. From there, talk with all the Social Links that were maxed, visit Junes, and go through a cutscene where the party gathers. Another investigation kicks off, and the player then needs to talk with Dojima and Nanako at the Samegawa Floodplains. Then, visit the Velvet Room and get the Orb of Sight from Igor. From there, talk with the gas station attendant and exhaust his dialog options to reveal the secret boss of the game and unlock the true ending in Persona 4.
The Golden Ending, Persona 4 Golden’s Best Ending
If the player fulfills all the conditions of the True Ending and previously maxed out Marie’s Social Link before December 24, it unlocks an extra portion of the Persona 4 Golden true ending, dubbed the Golden Ending. This isn’t the end of the extra content in Persona 4 Golden, with another secret boss lurking in the shadows.
Persona 4 Golden is available now on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.
