The Stanley Parable: A Comprehensive Guide to Endings

Introduction

The Stanley Parable is an innovative narrative-driven game that features a multitude of endings, each uniquely crafted through player choices and actions. Originally launched with 19 endings, The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe expands the experience to a staggering 42 endings, each varying in tone and message, from humorous to profound. Below, we present a structured overview of some core endings from both the original game and its expanded version, along with instructions on how to achieve them.

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Core Endings from the Original Game

1. Freedom Ending
– How to Achieve: Follow the Narrator’s instructions completely through the two doors section.
– Notes: Considered the “default” ending of the game.

2. Heaven Ending
– How to Achieve: Activate a specific series of computers in the office area in the correct order, ensuring to restart the game in between each activation.
– Notes: Involves a complex sequence before reaching the doors.

3. Mariella Ending
– How to Achieve: When reaching the staircase before the two doors, choose to go down instead of up.
– Notes: Leads Stanley to a new area, providing unique dialogue and cutscene.

4. Confusion Ending
– How to Achieve: Take the elevator down in the maintenance room within the warehouse.
– Notes: Offers an unconventional narrative twist.

5. Powerful Ending
– How to Achieve: Drop directly to the bottom of the warehouse.
– Notes: A simple yet effective way to reach a different narrative conclusion.

6. Cold Feet Ending
– How to Achieve: Step onto the cargo lift within the warehouse but jump off before it begins to ascend.
– Notes: Another unique ending encountered in the warehouse environment.

7. Tape Recorder (Vent) Ending
– How to Achieve: Enter the vent located in the warehouse.
– Notes: This ending takes the player through a different narrative path.

8. Escape Pod Ending
– How to Achieve: Take the left door, ascend the stairs to the boss’s office, briefly enter and back out, then backtrack to a newly opened door.
– Notes: Removes the Narrator from the experience, resulting in a significant shift.

9. Press Conference Ending
– How to Achieve: From the two doors, take the left door, utilize the keypad in the boss’s office, and cycle the elevator multiple times.
– Notes: Leads to an intriguing scene with a press conference.

10. Insane Ending
– How to Achieve: Choose the left door and descend the stairs into a looping maze of offices.
– Notes: Features unique narration and introduces the Mariella character.

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Additional Notable Endings in Ultra Deluxe and Original

– The Zending (Suicide Ending): Stanley ends his life, resulting in special narrational delivery.
– Countdown Ending: Attempt to stop an explosion in a mind control facility under a two-minute timer, ultimately rendering it impossible to save yourself.

Many other endings are available through various interactions with objects, obeying or disobeying the Narrator, or exploiting game glitches to reveal hidden narratives and outcomes.

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Summary Table of Selected Endings

| Ending Name | How to Achieve | Notes |
|——————–|—————————————————————-|——————————————–|
| Freedom | Follow Narrator instructions completely | The “default” ending |
| Heaven | Activate specific computers in order with restarts | Complex sequence before doors |
| Mariella | Go down stairs instead of up at staircase | Leads to unique area and cutscene |
| Confusion | Go down elevator in maintenance room | A warehouse-based narrative |
| Powerful | Drop to bottom of warehouse | Unique ending in the warehouse |
| Cold Feet | Step on cargo lift but jump off quickly | Warehouse ending |
| Tape Recorder (Vent)| Enter warehouse vent | Diverges into a different story |
| Escape Pod | Left door, up stairs, backtrack from boss office | Removes narrator effect |
| Press Conference | Left door, up stairs, correct keypad code, elevator cycling | New location with press conference scene |
| Insane | Left door, down stairs into a maze | Unique looping maze ending |

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Conclusion

The Stanley Parable encourages players to engage in exploration and experimentation, allowing for a rich tapestry of storytelling experiences. The mechanics of choice and consequence serve to engage players deeply, urging them to navigate through the whims of a meta-narrative. For those seeking to unearth the manifold endings available, it is suggested to explore key decision points thoroughly, including the pivotal two-door scenario and various interactive elements within the game.

Embark on this journey of discovery to savor each fragment of unique storytelling offered in this compelling experience.