When Until Dawn was released in August 2015, I wasn't sure what to expect. After playing it, however, it easily became one of the best PS4 games ever made in my books. Players can kill or save all eight of the game's protagonists, or any combination of the two. You could end up killing three characters and saving five, or killing seven and saving one. Today I'm going to explain exactly how you can kill and save each character, not that you're trying to take down Emily or whatever, right?
avertissement: It probably goes without saying, but there are some big spoilers ahead. You'll want to opt out now if you're looking to blind play. In fact, if you are looking to blindfold, why did you google it?
How to kill or save each character
You can find a full list of the characters below, and the chapters they die in. If you want, you can scroll down for how to save them, but the choice of preventing or avoiding their deaths is entirely up to you.
Samantha Giddings
Samantha Giddings, who is more commonly recognized as the actor who plays her, Hayden Panettiere, is one of only three characters who can only die in chapter 10 of Until Dawn. In fact, she is probably the one person responsible (directly or indirectly) for the greatest number of lives saved and lost.
In the game's final scene, Sam can be saved by navigating the tense situation with Mike, Hannah, and the other characters alive. If you want Sam to survive, make sure the following happens:
- Pass it Do not move segment where Mike says, "Fuck, don't move a muscle ..."
- Pass it Do not move segment after the floor streams and the Wendigo approaches Sam.
- When given the opportunity, players should Save Mike, instead of Run to Switch.
- After saving Mike, players must pass a Do not move to avoid the Wendigo.
- When given the opportunity, players should Hide instead of Run to Switch.
- After Ashley / Emily escapes, players must pass another Do not move to avoid death.
- When another Wendigo appears, choose the option Hide instead of Run.
- As Mike steps back to the cabin door, players have to pass a final Do not move.
Josh Washington
The only way to save Josh Washington, expertly played by Rami Malek (aka Mr. Robot), is to find a specific clue while playing the part of Sam in Chapter 10. When Mike and Sam are on their way to the Lair of the Wendigo, she and Mike will fall into the water near the waterwheel. Head to the left of the water wheel and climb up the ledge, finding Hannah's journal on the ground. Flip through all the pages and Josh Washington will be spared. Otherwise, if you are very pissed off at Josh for all his shenanigans, you can avoid finding the diary and he will be killed. It's the only way to kill or save Josh in Until Dawn.
Michael Munroe
Michael Munroe will not live or die based on his own actions, but will instead see his fate in Until Dawn Decided by Sam. To avoid killing Mike, players should follow Sam's save instructions detailed more high in this guide. Mike's death can be triggered by the following:
- If Sam fails first Do not move scenario, Mike will save her by sacrificing himself.
- Sam must choose to Save Mike if / when the option is presented.
- If Sam runs to the switch before Mike leaves the cabin, he will die.
Jessica Riley
The first point where Jessica Riley can die in Until Dawn is Chapter 4 after being pulled from the cabin she shares with Mike. She will live or die depending on the player's decisions while pursuing her as Mike, and how effectively (or inefficiently) players respond to QTEs (quick time events).
- If the players choose Follow the path, go around, Shimmy et Follow the path, Jessica will die.
- She lives if you choose Shortcut to risk, jump, jump et Risk of sliding down, and pass a QTE.
Jessica's second opportunity to die is during Chapter 10, although she wakes up in the mines in Chapter 9 if she survived the events of Chapter 4.
Players can save or kill Jessica if Matt is alive in Chapter 10. As always, you can achieve the desired result by choosing to follow or ignore the following instructions:
- After hearing Wendigo's scream, if players choose to Avancez, Jessica will die.
- After choosing the Hide option, players must skip the Do not move segment to save Jessica.
- After the Do Not Move segment, players must complete a single QTE to save Jessica and Matt.
- When chased by the Wendigo, players must choose Hide together to save Jessica.
- After choosing to hide together, players must spend one final Do not move segment to save Jessica.
If Matt dies in Chapter 6, Jessica will have to face the Mines on her own in Chapter 10 and will only be able to live if the players make all the right decisions. If you'd rather see Jessica die, you can simply do the opposite of the following:
- Choose the option for Hide instead of trying to run.
- Players must pass the Do not move segment after Jessica goes into hiding.
- Choose the option for Drill instead of trying to run.
- Pass a final Do not move segment all outside on the ledge.
Ashley Brown
Ashley Brown, voiced by Galadriel Stineman, may have her fate decided by the players in Chapters 9 and 10. However, the events of the previous chapters may make her survival a bit more difficult.
If Emily was bitten by a Wendigo in Chapter 8, Ashley will still notice the bite. Mike will try to shoot Emily, and Ashley will push him. Don't shoot Emily if you want her to live, obviously, but shoot her if you're determined to make sure saving Ashley is easier in Chapter 10.
Whatever happens, if Ashley sees the bite on Emily, saving Ashley in Chapter 10 will be slightly more difficult, but by no means impossible. For example, if you pass all of the QTEs and decisions Sam needs to get through the Chapter 10 final scene, Ashley will live, assuming you get her out of Chapter 9.
While playing as Ashley in Chapter 9, players can easily keep her safe by choosing the Rejoin Group option instead of investigating the voice. However, choosing to investigate the voice will lead you to a totem of loss, and you can still save Ashley by never interacting with the hatch. Just keep walking choosing the Drop Down option at the end of the path. If you interact with the hatch in any way, Ashley will be killed.
Ashley can die in Chapter 10 as well, but that depends entirely on how you play your cards while you control Sam. Complete the following steps to save Ashley.
- If the option is already presented, you must choose to Save Ashley.
- Sam doesn't have to run to tip over until Ashley is safely out of the cabin.
- If you run to Switch and Ashley is still in the cabin, she will die.
- Successfully following all the steps to save Sam will also save Ashley.
Christopher Hartley
Although Chris can only die in Chapters 8 and 9, the events of Chapter 6 are critical to keeping him alive.
During Chapter 6, Chris and Ashley will be tied to chairs and seated at a table, with Chris having access to a gun. He will be asked to choose between him and Ashley before two hanging saws kill them both. If Chris makes a choice, the saw blades will supposedly stop. If he doesn't make a choice, he and Ashley will both appear to die, although they both live.
To save Chris's life in Chapter 8, it's best for the player to shoot themselves, or just do nothing and let the time expire. Whatever you do, however, don't choose the option Shoot while pointing the gun at Ashley, otherwise Chris is dead in Chapter 8. This is a decision that cannot be overturned.
Even if you make the right choice in Chapter 6, however, Chris can still die in Chapter 8. After finding out that Josh is missing from the hangar, Chris and The Stranger will be pursued by Wendigo. The stranger will die no matter what, but Chris can only survive if players correctly perform all QTEs from the chase scene to the cabin. When Chris arrives at the cabin, Ashley will open the door for him, saving his life, only if he hasn't shot her in Chapter 6.
In Chapter 9, as the group heads for the tunnels, there's a chance Chris will stay behind. If he doesn't stay behind but stays with the group, Chris will be fine. To keep Chris safe in Chapter 9, make sure Ashley chooses To reassure, no information.
If players choose the option to inquire, Chris can live or die based on the following choices:
- If Ashley is dead by the wayside, Chris must join the group live, not investigate the voice.
- If Ashley did not touch the hatch but Chris did, he will be killed by beheading.
- If Ashley ignored the hatch, Chris can do the same and both can live.
- If Ashley ignored the hatch, Chris can completely ignore the voice and regroup with the others.
Emily Davis
Around the time of Until Dawn's first release, many players were actively trying to kill Emily, which is a compliment to Nichole Bloom, the voice actor. In fact, this article is titled as such because I'm pretty sure some people will want to see Emily perish in the most spectacular way, but I'll also tell you how to save her.
In Chapter 4, it is important that Emily chooses to Keep the Flare Gun instead of handing it to Matt. This allows players to defend Emily from the Wendigo in Chapter 8, preventing her from getting bitten. If Emily isn't bitten by the Wendigo, Ashley will never discover the bite, and the two will not quarrel. Additionally, by making the right choices with Matt in Chapter 6, players can save him as well.
During Chapter 8, after The Stranger gives Emily the flares and she falls into the mine, the player can kill or save Emily by passing or failing a series of QTEs. If you want her to live, hit them all. If you want her to die, miss them all.
- Spend the first QTEs at the start of Wendigo's chase.
- Turn right instead of choosing to go left. I don't know if it matters, but I did, and she lived.
- Pass it Do not move segment after climbing the elevator.
- Pass several more QTEs until Emily steps onto the treadmill.
- Choose the option for Jump out the treadmill if you want Emily alive.
- If Emily has the Flare Gun, shoot the Wendigo to avoid being bitten.
- Take a few more QTEs and Emily will be free and clear for Chapter 8.
Later in Chapter 8, if Emily was bitten by the Wendigo, Ashley will discover the bite and Emily's life will be in danger. Players can easily prevent Emily from being killed by not shooting her. Just let time expire when Mike points the gun at Emily.
In Chapter 10, Emily can be saved if players make all of the correct moves with Sam, passing all of the Do not move segments and choosing the right options. However, there are ways for Emily to die if players slip up.
- If the option of Save Emily ever appears, players must choose it to keep her alive.
- Once Emily exits the cabin, she is safe for the rest of the game.
- If the players Run to change before Emily leaves the cabin, she will die.
Matthew Taylor
Besides Jessica, Matt is the second player who can die in Until Dawn, with the first opportunity of his disappearance in Chapter 6. It's also worth noting that taking the easy way to save Matt puts Emily in heightened danger, the So the steps below are meant to save Matt and prevent Emily from being bitten by the Wendigo in Chapter 8. Of course, you can just fail these steps if you want him to die.
- When Emily has a choice, Keep the Flare Gun instead of Give.
- When Matt has a choice, Go to security instead of Save Emily.
- If players choose Save Emily twice, Matt will die unless he has the flare gun.
- Emily will survive the fall anyway, so it's best to get to safety immediately.
If he passes Chapter 6 alive, Matt is not seen again until Chapter 10. During Chapter 10, if Jessica is still alive, he will be reunited with her in the mines, and both characters must pass several QTE, and make several of them the right choices for survival.
- Players should choose to Hide, rather than Run Ahead, to save Jessica.
- A Do not move The segment should be transmitted as soon as you hide.
- After the Do Not Move segment, a QTE must be passed or both characters will die.
- Next, players must choose to Hide together instead of Abandon Jessica.
- A final Do not move the segment must be passed for both players to survive.
If Matt is alone in the mines because Jessica died in Chapter 4, players should choose pretty much the same things, although they will be worded slightly differently. The general idea will be to Hide, don't move, keep running, as well as hit a final QTE. Do it all, and Matt survives until dawn.
