Major spoilers for the late game follow.
Nothing in the game tells you there is more than one ending. The requirements below come from players who reached them and posted about it: mainly thoughtlostme and bb in a Steam discussion thread, and Digitol's 100% guide on Steam. Where they agree, we say so; where only one source says something, we name it.
How many endings are there?
Four. Reddit user Nebula-Defender, Steam user thoughtlostme and Digitol's guide all describe Endings 1 to 4.
You do not need a new game for each one. Steam user bb answered that exact question: you keep playing the same save file through all four. Digitol's guide recommends making a manual save right before Queen Siraatsu's final choice and reloading it after each ending.
How do you get Ending 1?
Ending 1 is the end of the main path: work through the island, Obmuer Temple, the Tower of Knowledge, the Deimpo Mausoleum and the Ancient World, then reach Queen Siraatsu in Siraatsu Castle. See the walkthrough for the order.
It takes roughly 20 hours. Reddit user Optimal_Gate_8721 reached it after 20 hours, and RPG Site's review says reaching the first ending is a 20-or-so-hour adventure. According to Digitol's guide, the first ending returns you to the island with the rest of the world still open.
How do you get Ending 2?
Thoughtlostme's summary: Ending 2 requires at least three of the gods' lenses, which let you reach a place where the Holy Sword is evolved a second time. Digitol's guide calls this the Akunra route: the Holy Sword Endu first evolves into Soul Bound Endu, and the second evolution leads to the true holy sword Akunra.
Reddit user Nebula-Defender thinks Ending 2 is worth doing and says it "really doesn't take that long". Where the four lenses are is covered in Keys.
How do you get Ending 3?
According to thoughtlostme, Ending 3 needs:
- all four god lenses,
- every NPC collection quest finished (such as the Orbewa Eggs for Erma and the Data Modules for Ossi),
- the bestiary filled to about 99.9%.
Thoughtlostme says the bestiary was "by far" the most effort. Nebula-Defender calls Ending 3 "the clear and obvious true end" but also "a slog". Digitol's guide labels this the Okbujo / Soul of Sipeha route. For the bestiary, see our Bestiary guide.
How do you get Ending 4?
Ending 4's achievement description is just one word, "Eat", which is why players struggled to find it. Two sources agree on the requirements:
- bb (Steam): find all 69 Silver Skulls and bring them to the place that accepts them, then do Ending 3 again. That place is in the Petrified Garden, and you need all four lenses and the five Trident keys to open it.
- Digitol (Steam guide): finish the Petrified Garden ritual, hand in all 69 Silver Skulls, repeat the Ending 3 route and choose "Eat" at the final decision.
Bb adds that you strike the fish statues three or four times and activate the symbols. Digitol lists a colored-statue order for the garden (Beetle purple, Slime blue, Bat green, Stag black, Fishman red). This order comes from one guide only and is to be confirmed.
The game has no counter for skulls, so keep your own tally. Our Silver Skulls page lists the locations players have found. Nebula-Defender's verdict on Ending 4: the rewards were cool, but the ending itself "wasn't worth getting".
Which endings are worth it?
If you only have time for one more after Ending 1, players point to Ending 2: short, and it gives you the stronger sword. Ending 3 is the true ending but needs a lot of collecting. Ending 4 is for completionists.