To complete the full story in Sons of the Forest and unlock all endings, you will need to follow an optimal path through specific caves and bunkers to acquire necessary equipment and keycards, culminating in a choice at the final bunker that determines your ending. This guide provides the most efficient route and details on how to achieve each outcome.
Optimal Story Progression
The main story of Sons of the Forest doesn’t rush you, allowing for extensive exploration of the island of Holosprings. However, when you’re ready to progress, a specific order of locations will streamline your journey, ensuring you collect all vital items and lore about the missing Pufftons. This path is designed to incorporate features and updates from the 1.0 release, as of June 22, 2026.
The recommended sequence for visiting caves and bunkers to gather essential gear and unlock the ending is as follows:
| Location | Key Item/Purpose |
|---|---|
| Cave A - Rebreather Cave | Rebreather |
| Cave B - Zipline Rope Gun | Zipline Rope Gun |
| Cave C - Shovel | Shovel |
| Maintenance A Bunker | Carl Planter Keycard |
| Food and Dining Bunker | VIP Keycard |
| Entertainment Bunker | Guest Keycard |
| Cave D | Ancient Armor |
| Cave E | Pickaxe, Solafite Ore |
| VIP Bunker | Final Endgame Location |
Following this order ensures you acquire tools like the Rebreather, Zipline Rope Gun, and Shovel early on, which are crucial for accessing later areas. The keycards from the Maintenance A, Food and Dining, and Entertainment Bunkers are indispensable for progressing through the story and reaching the final sequence. Cave D, which previously housed the Golden Armor, now provides the Ancient Armor, a vital piece for the endgame. Cave E is necessary for obtaining the Pickaxe and Solafite Ore, which are important resources.
Preparing for the Endgame
Before making your way to the final bunker, located south of the abandoned village, it’s crucial to be well-prepared. This bunker initiates the endgame sequence, involving a helicopter, a backpack, and the choice that determines your ending. Ensuring you have the right supplies will significantly increase your chances of survival and allow you to focus on the narrative choices.
Key preparations include:
- Stocking up on medication and food: The final areas are filled with cannibals and other threats, making health and hunger management critical.
- Ammunition: High-powered weapons are recommended for the combat encounters in the nightmarish cave system leading to the Golden Cube.
- Trusty high-powered weapon: Equip your best weapon to handle the intense fights.
To trigger any ending, you must first obtain both the Maintenance Keycard (found near a 3D Printer in a bunker) and the VIP Keycard (located on a desk in a Security room). Once these are secured, head to the final bunker. This will initiate the final sequence of the game, setting the stage for your escape or continued stay on the island.
All Endings Explained
Sons of the Forest features three distinct endings, each influenced by your final decision at the VIP Bunker and your interactions with companions throughout the game. These endings provide different outcomes for your character and, potentially, your companions.
| Ending | How to Get It The Bad Ending, also known as “Fight Demons,” results from choosing to stay on the island instead of boarding the helicopter at the final sequence. This means picking up the backpack located further from the helicopter. The helicopter will then depart without you, leaving you to continue fighting the demons on the island. This ending earns the “Fight Demons” achievement. If you choose this path, you can continue playing after the credits and summon the helicopter back at any time using the radio in the VIP bunker.
The Good Ending, known as “Fought Demons,” is achieved by ignoring the backpack and climbing aboard the helicopter. You escape the island by air, and this action earns the “Fought Demons” achievement. This is considered the standard good ending for the game. If you had previously chosen to stay on the island, you can still summon the helicopter back from the VIP bunker’s radio to achieve this ending.
The Secret Ending, titled “Keep Your Friends Close,” requires specific prerequisites involving your companions. To unlock this ending, you must recruit Virginia as a companion and keep Kelvin alive for the entire playthrough. Once these conditions are met, board the helicopter at the finale. Both Virginia and Kelvin will climb aboard with you. The epilogue reveals that Virginia undergoes surgery to remove her mutation; five months later, she is shown without her third leg and pregnant, driving down a highway with you and Kelvin, resembling a family. This ending earns the “Keep Your Friends Close” achievement.
The choice between the good and bad ending is made at the final sequence in the VIP bunker. Boarding the helicopter leads to the good ending, while picking up the backpack further away results in the bad ending. The secret ending is a variation of the good ending, contingent on your companions’ survival and recruitment.
FAQ
How many endings are there in Sons of the Forest? There are three endings in Sons of the Forest: a bad ending (“Fight Demons”), a good ending (“Fought Demons”), and a secret ending (“Keep Your Friends Close”).
How do you get the secret ending in Sons of the Forest? To get the secret ending, you must recruit Virginia as a companion and keep Kelvin alive for the entire game, then board the helicopter at the finale. Both companions will leave the island with you.
What do you need to reach the ending? You need the Maintenance Keycard and the VIP Keycard. Once you have these, head to the final bunker south of the abandoned village to start the endgame sequence.
Can you keep playing after the ending? If you choose the bad ending and stay on the island, you can continue playing and summon the helicopter back later from the VIP bunker radio. If you leave on the helicopter (good or secret ending), the credits roll, and that playthrough concludes.