Disco Elysium Endings: Every Outcome and How to Unlock Them

Disco Elysium’s endings are as layered as the detective at the heart of the story. I remember finishing my first run and being shocked not by the identity of the killer but by how my own choices shaped the final hours. 

In this guide I’ll break down how the endings split off, what choices push you toward each outcome and why the journey matters more than any final cutscene.

Disco Elysium Endings Explained

The most important thing to know about Disco Elysium endings is that there are three primary outcomes. Each ending branches from the Mercenary Tribunal event. 

At this climactic moment Harry du Bois confronts heavily armed mercenaries outside the Whirling‑in‑Rags, and his performance determines what happens next. Let’s look at each path in order of optimism.

The good ending: Kim sticks with you

For the so‑called good ending, Harry needs to pass two Reaction Speed checks during the Tribunal and then a medium Authority check. In practical terms that means preparing ahead of time: wearing the T‑500 cuirass to soak up bullets or investing in Reaction Speed can keep you upright long enough to warn your partner. 

When Kim trusts you enough to listen, he returns fire and survives the shootout. After recovering from your wounds you both head to the Sea Fortress to arrest the deserter and uncover the truth.

My first successful attempt at this path meant spending most of the game avoiding alcohol, investing in Kindness to build Kim’s trust and talking through dozens of philosophical tangents. At the end, the debriefing scene offered the chance to recruit Kim to Precinct 41. Seeing him decide to join me felt earned because every choice leading up to that moment – from gently kicking a broken mailbox to standing up to Evrart Claire – had built our rapport. 

If you’d like to see why this partnership stands out in roleplaying games, our list of the best PC RPGs explores how Disco Elysium made dialogue‑driven role‑play exciting without a single sword swing.

Alternate good ending: Cuno steps up

If you fail the Authority check in the Tribunal, Kim is shot and sent to recuperate at Precinct 57’s infirmary. That sounds dire, but the game offers an alternate path. In the aftermath, you can choose to accept help from Cuno, the foul‑mouthed street kid who’s been heckling you since day one. 

Treat him decently throughout your playthrough – take time to talk to him, return his misplaced magazines and avoid insulting his family – and he’ll volunteer to accompany you to the Sea Fortress.

Playing with Cuno as a partner changes the tone of the investigation. He’s brash, hilarious and surprisingly insightful once he decides to take the job seriously. Upon returning to Jamrock you can lobby Jean Vicquemare to hire Cuno as a junior officer, turning the loud‑mouthed kid into a budding detective. 

It’s an outcome that feels both heart‑warming and chaotic, which is exactly what you’d expect when dragging a child through a murder investigation. If narrative‑driven games are your thing, check out our guide on the best story games on PS5, which highlights Disco Elysium for its inventive skill checks and philosophical storytelling.

Neutral and bad endings: going it alone

Refusing Cuno’s help means Harry travels to the Sea Fortress alone. What happens after depends on your choices throughout the game. If Harry stays sober and/or internalizes the Thought Cabinet idea known as “Waste Land of Reality,” he returns to Precinct 41 as a reformed detective. This neutral outcome feels melancholic; Harry remains with the RCM but without the bonds he might have forged.

The bad ending triggers when Harry travels solo and has indulged in alcohol or other substances without adopting Waste Land of Reality. In this scenario he is fired from the RCM and left to live alone in the Coastal Shack in Martinaise. It’s a bleak end that underlines the consequences of addiction and isolation, and it stayed with me long after the credits rolled. 

For players interested in the roots of unique narrative experiences, our list of the best indie games explains how indie titles like Disco Elysium use freedom from large publishers to explore personal themes.

Game Over Screens and Fail States

Disco Elysium features twelve unique “game over” screens in addition to its three core endings. These are stylized newspaper headlines describing Harry’s fate. Some can occur early, while others require deliberate self‑destruction. They illustrate how fragile Harry’s health and morale are and provide darkly humorous commentary on failure. 

Here are some notable examples:

• Cop suffers final heart attack: Letting your health drop to zero yields a headline describing a detective who drank himself to death. During my first playthrough I stubbornly refused to heal after jumping from the hotel balcony; the result was a sudden end and a sardonic eulogy.
• Cop gives up the detective genre for social realism: Running out of morale drives Harry to quit the force and live under a bridge. It’s one of the most biting endings, poking fun at burnout and artistic pretensions.
• More dead cops: Choosing to arrest the Hardie Boys without backing down leads to a shootout where Harry (and possibly Kim) dies. It’s a sobering reminder that bravado isn’t always rewarded.
• Disgraced cop sleeps in trash: If you fail to pay your hostel bill and opt to sleep in a dumpster, a newspaper headline mocks your misfortune. Few games turn such mundane choices into memorable endings.
• District in mourning: burned‑out cop shoots child: Aiming your gun at Cunoesse while trying to dislodge a corpse results in tragedy and a scathing headline. It’s the most gut‑wrenching failure state and reinforces the weight of your actions.

These game‑over screens reward experimentation. Failing a skill check can be as entertaining as passing it, so don’t be afraid to explore. The variety also means that Disco Elysium remains replayable, with new surprises hidden behind reckless decisions. 

For more investigative adventures that embrace experimentation, read our roundup of the best detective games, where Disco Elysium sits alongside classics like L.A. Noire and Return of the Obra Dinn.

Reflecting on the Endings and Beyond

Disco Elysium endings epitomize its unconventional storytelling. Rather than offering a single canon conclusion, the game lets you decide what closure looks like. Do you mend your relationships and build a future with a trusted partner? Do you take a troubled youth under your wing and start over? Or do you succumb to despair and retreat into isolation? Each path feels meaningful because it arises from dozens of smaller decisions.

No matter which ending you pursue, the journey remains engrossing. Investing in internal voices like Inland Empire or Shivers opens new dialogue and influences your perception of the world. Refusing to pick a political side or deliberately pursuing an ideological quest can unlock additional scenes. Even failure states add texture, turning mishaps into darkly funny headlines.

If reading about these endings has you eager to experience them firsthand, pick up Disco Elysium – The Final Cut on Eneba. Our marketplace offers digital keys at competitive prices so you can dive into Revachol’s mysteries and form your own conclusions. A digital key makes a perfect gift too.

FAQs

How many endings are there in Disco Elysium?

Disco Elysium has three main endings that branch from the Mercenary Tribunal event. Two of them keep Harry partnered with either Kim or Cuno, while a third sends him to finish the investigation alone and can lead to neutral or bad outcomes, depending on your choices.

What is the best ending in Disco Elysium?

The best ending in Disco Elysium is subjective, but many players consider the good ending where Kim survives the Tribunal and joins you at Precinct 41 to be the most uplifting. This outcome requires passing key skill checks and maintaining a good relationship with Kim.

How do I avoid the bad ending in Disco Elysium?

To avoid the bad ending in Disco Elysium, you must either remain sober throughout your playthrough or internalize the “Waste Land of Reality” thought in your Thought Cabinet. Accepting help from Cuno also prevents the worst outcome; refusing him and drinking alcohol will result in Harry being fired and living alone in the Coastal Shack.

Can you get Cuno to join the RCM?

Yes, you can get Cuno to join the RCM by choosing to work with him after Kim is injured during the Tribunal. Treat him respectfully beforehand and he will accompany you to the Sea Fortress. At the debriefing you can petition Jean Vicquemare to recruit Cuno as a junior officer, giving him a new path in life.

Is there a true ending in Disco Elysium?

The idea of a true ending in Disco Elysium is misleading because the game is designed around personal choice. However, discovering the Insulindian Phasmid adds context to the narrative and many fans treat this encounter as a “true” ending. The phasmid explains the Pale and offers insight into the killer’s motives, enriching whichever ending you achieve.