In Bloodborne, players encounter a rich tapestry of lore and choices culminating in three distinct endings, each reflective of the player’s decisions throughout the game. These endings hinge on pivotal moments and player engagement with the game’s intricate world and its hidden narratives.

Endings Overview

1. Submit Your Life (Ending 1)
– How to Achieve: When Gehrman, the first hunter, offers to end your life at the Hunter’s Dream after defeating Mergo’s Wet Nurse, simply accept his offer.
– Outcome: The Hunter is executed by Gehrman, leading to a new dawn outside Yharnam where the Hunter appears to be cured of the plague afflicting the city, symbolizing freedom from the perpetual Hunt. However, this ending raises existential questions regarding the nature of reality within the game; it leaves players pondering what was real and what may have been mere illusion or a dream.

2. Refuse Gehrman’s Offer (Ending 2)
– How to Achieve: Instead of accepting Gehrman’s offer, refuse and prepare to confront him in a final battle.
– Outcome: After defeating Gehrman, the Moon Presence arrives, binding the Hunter and entrenching them within the cycle of the Hunter’s Dream. This ending emphasizes the theme of eternal recurrence, highlighting the cyclical nature of the Hunt and the Hunter’s inescapable role within it. In becoming the new guardian of the dream, the Hunter steps into a fate closely mirroring Gehrman’s.

3. The Secret/True Ending (Ending 3)
– How to Achieve: To unlock this ending, the player must find and consume at least three out of four of the “One Third of an Umbilical Cord” items scattered throughout the game world, culminating from exploring secret areas and completing specific quests. After acquiring the cords, refuse Gehrman’s initial offer before facing him.
– Outcome: Upon defeating Gehrman, the Moon Presence attempts to bind the Hunter, but the Hunter’s consumption of the Umbilical Cords prevents this. Instead, the Hunter must fight the Moon Presence itself. Defeating this celestial being leads to the Hunter’s transformation into an infant Great One, suggesting transcendence and a departure from the human condition and the cycle of the Hunt. This ending is often considered the true or canonical ending due to its deep narrative implications about evolution and the cycle of life and death.

Summary Table

| Ending | How to Achieve | Outcome |
|————————|————————————————————————–|———————————————————————————————|
| Submit Your Life | Accept Gehrman’s offer to die at the Hunter’s Dream | The Hunter dies and awakens in Yharnam at sunrise, seemingly free from the Hunt. |
| Refuse Gehrman’s Offer | Refuse Gehrman’s offer, battle and defeat him | Gehrman is overcome; the Moon Presence binds the Hunter, ensuring the continuation of the Dream. |
| Secret/True Ending | Collect and consume 3 Umbilical Cords, then refuse Gehrman’s offer | Confront the Moon Presence directly; the Hunter defeats it, transforming into an infant Great One. |

Conclusion
Each ending provides distinct narrative closure, showcasing varying themes of sacrifice, cyclical fate, and transcendence. The player’s choice in pursuing the hidden lore directly influences the depth of their experience, making the third ending—a culmination of exploration and discovery—richly rewarding for those who delve into the mysteries of the game. The structure of Bloodborne’s endings ultimately allows for a profound exploration of fate, existence, and human ambition in a hauntingly beautiful yet tragic universe.