The Ultimate Guide to The Talos Principle 2's Ending

The Talos Principle 2 is not just an exceptional puzzle game, but it also boasts a captivating and intricate storyline. While exploring its immersive world, players will have numerous opportunities to engage with other characters, express their opinions, and even interact on social media. The game revolves around philosophical debates concerning the future of humanity and its role in the world. Your choices in these conversations will significantly impact certain parts of the narrative as you progress.

In The Talos Principle 2, there are three primary endings, alongside several additional scenes and variations that can be unlocked based on specific conditions. To help you experience all the endings and optional content without revealing too much, here is a comprehensive guide.

Main Endings - The Final Choice

Completing the main story requires the completion of eight puzzles in each of The Talos Principle's 12 areas, granting you access to the megastructure a total of four times. Throughout the game, you will engage in conversations with Prometheus, Pandora, and the Sphinx, each representing a distinct philosophical perspective on the envisioned future of New Jerusalem.

During your final entry into the megastructure, you will be faced with a decision concerning the fate of the machine. This choice presents three options, each aligned with one of the three aforementioned figures, and each corresponding to one of the main endings. While minor alterations may occur based on your prior actions, these three endings constitute the central components of the game's epilogue.

Leap of Faith - Choose to use the machine for the betterment of New Jerusalem (Prometheus ending)

Momentum Deferred - Choose to shut the machine down because humanity isn't ready (Sphinx ending)

Variations

When it comes to the Pandora ending, opting to destroy the machine has significant implications for the diverse array of characters, sitting alongside the main choices that shape the outcome of the story.

The Mayor

Upon concluding your fourth expedition within the megastructure, you will emerge from your slumber only to discover that an election has ensued during your period of dormancy. The potential outcomes of this election carry the capacity to influence certain facets of the concluding cutscenes as well.

Throughout The Talos Principle 2, there are numerous decisions to be made, making it challenging to determine which ones have a significant impact on the election outcome. However, a key way to shape the attitudes of New Jerusalem is through your social media responses and conversations. Similar to the main endings, there are three primary variations.

To ensure Hermanubis remains mayor, opt for generally conservative choices in your conversations and social media posts. Select options that present the Goal in a positive light and oppose the growth of New Jerusalem. Additionally, decide to share the information from the Somnodrome with the people and withhold it from the rest of New Jerusalem.

Byron, the newly elected mayor, should prioritize progressive conversations and social media posts, focusing on options that encourage growth and view the Goal as detrimental to the advancement of New Jerusalem. It is important to communicate to Hermanubis, before boarding the VTOL, that you believed the Goal was merely a myth that hindered humanity. Additionally, be sure to share the information obtained from the Somnodrome with the public.

In the case that Rand becomes the mayor, it is advised to make more cautious and balanced choices in conversations and social media posts. When speaking to Hermanubis before boarding the VTOL, express the belief that the Goal is a myth that harms humanity. Approach sharing the information acquired from the Somnodrome with caution, being mindful of any potential consequences.

The mayor will appear in the different epilogues and you'll sometimes get different dialogue depending on who is in charge and what final choice you make.

Golden Gate Puzzles

In order to unlock 12 additional, challenging puzzles in The Talos Principle 2, players must successfully complete all main puzzles in each area, including the eight required to access the tower, as well as the separate bonus puzzles within each area.

By completing all 120 normal puzzles, players will unlock a special Golden Gate puzzle in each area. These puzzles are notably more difficult than any others in the game. If players manage to solve all 12 Golden Gate puzzles, a final Golden Gate puzzle will become accessible at the megastructure location. Entering this location presents an opportunity to engage in another activity and participate in dialogue. Without revealing any spoilers, it is worth mentioning that this final puzzle has a significant impact on all three endings, introducing changes and even additional scenes.

Yaqut's Epilogue

If you successfully solve the Golden Gate puzzles, you will be rewarded with an extra epilogue scene featuring Yaqut. Unfortunately, due to a bug in our playthrough, we are uncertain about the exact requirements needed to unlock it. However, we have a strong understanding of what might be necessary.

After completing your fourth exploration of the megastructure, you will return to New Jerusalem. From there, you will embark on a final journey back to the island, marking the endgame of The Talos Principle 2. During this phase, you will engage in conversations with the other members of your expedition, gauging whether they are willing to join you on this last adventure.

It is crucial that you convince Yaqut to accompany you for this final endeavor. To achieve this, consistently reassure him about the potential hazards within the megastructure and assure him that his concerns are shared. If he agrees to join you, an additional scene connected to the Golden Gate puzzle scenes will unfold.

Additional Scenes

Star puzzles

Additional puzzles can be found in relation to the statues of Prometheus, Pandora, and the Sphinx located throughout each of the 12 areas. In completing a statue puzzle, you will be rewarded with a Star item. Gathering all 24 Stars will allow you access to another gate situated in the hidden Astronomy temple within the megastructure. When you place the Stars on the gate, it will gradually unlock.

Beyond this gate lies another puzzle. Solving it will grant you access to another cutscene, which may suggest potential story developments for The Talos Principle 3. Although this particular cutscene is not technically part of the ending and can be obtained upon completing the final Star puzzle, it serves as an additional component to the overall narrative of the game.

Check out our guides for completing the Pandora statue puzzles and Sphinx statue puzzles to help you get through.

Trevor's audio logs

Throughout the terminals in each area, you can discover scattered audio logs from Trevor, a colleague of Alexandra Drennan, the scientist responsible for envisioning the simulation that gave birth to these innovative robotic individuals. Locating all 12 of Trevor's logs not only concludes his narrative but also unlocks an additional scene during the closing credits.

Finding these items is not difficult if you diligently search every area. Utilize the compass located at the top of the screen. It will display question mark icons to signify undiscovered items in close proximity. After experiencing Trevor's entire narrative, ensure you stay until the end of the credits for its ultimate conclusion.

Editor's P/S

The Talos Principle 2 is a thought-provoking game that explores the future of humanity and our role in it. The game's multiple endings and variations offer players a chance to shape the story and its characters.

I found the game's philosophical debates to be particularly engaging, and I enjoyed exploring the different perspectives on the future of New Jerusalem. The characters are well-developed and memorable, and I felt invested in their stories. The game's puzzles are challenging but fair, and I found them to be a lot of fun to solve. Overall, I highly recommend The Talos Principle 2 for fans of puzzle games and thought-provoking narratives.