The Longing - All Endings (400 Days, Good, Bad, Secret) -

This serves as a "Game Over" that emphasizes the psychological weight of the isolation. 5. The Nightmare/Hidden Ending: The King's Disappointment

The Shade climbs into the bucket and is pulled to the surface. You see the Shade finally standing in the sun, entering a vibrant world of color and life, effectively finding freedom. 3. The Bad Ending: The Leap of Faith THE LONGING - ALL ENDINGS (400 Days, Good, Bad, Secret)

There is a variation where if you try to leave the caves and then return to wake the King after the timer has already hit zero, or if you perform certain "disloyal" acts before the end. This serves as a "Game Over" that emphasizes

You simply wait until the 400-day countdown ends. You can speed this up by making the Shade’s home cozy (reading books, drawing, playing instruments, or keeping a fire going). You see the Shade finally standing in the

This is the "standard" conclusion achieved by letting the timer reach zero while staying within the caves.

I spent months decorating my cave just to realize that waking the King felt like a mistake. The surface ending is the only one where the Shade actually seems happy.