Quick answer
The game does not label one route as the canonical or universally best ending. The best choice depends on the player's desired political outcome, allies, and family result.
The game does not label one route as the canonical or universally best ending. The best choice depends on the player's desired political outcome, allies, and family result.
- Folk Hero: strongest independence outcome in PC Gamer's assessment; Coen defeats Brencis alone and Vale Sangora becomes independent, though lawlessness and plague return.
- Patricide: best for players invested in Lacra and her route.
- Knyazmaker: best for players who want the Crake/Manumit political route, but Catalin's later rule has severe costs.
- Turncoat: restores Coen's family through betrayal and produces major harm to the resistance.
- Early/time-out routes: deliberate alternate outcomes, not optimistic resolutions.
A practical “best” setup should save Esme, rescue the family before day 30, finish desired companion quests, protect key characters, and then select the finale that matches the preferred ruler/faction.
Core sources
Do not present a reviewer's favorite as fact. Explain the tradeoffs and let readers choose.
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Verified September 6, 2026
This guide draws on the sources listed in the article. Uncertain claims and limits are explained in the text.