Silent Hill 2 Remake Endings Explained: How to Get All 8 Outcomes

So you just finished your first run of the Silent Hill 2 remake and you’re probably staring at the screen wondering why James Sunderland did what he did. Or maybe you're just annoyed because you wanted the "good" ending and got the depressing one instead. Honestly, that’s the Silent Hill experience in a nutshell.

The 2024 remake keeps the original’s cryptic "point system" for the classic endings but adds a few new ones that are actually pretty wild. Getting all of them isn't just about what you do in the final boss fight; it’s about how you treat James’s mental state throughout the entire game. Basically, the game is constantly judging you.

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How to Get the Classic Three: Leave, In Water, and Maria

These three are the heavy hitters. You can get any of them on your first playthrough. The game tracks a hidden score based on how you treat Mary’s memory versus how much you obsess over Maria.

The "Leave" Ending (The Standard Good Ending)

This is usually what people aim for first. It’s the ending where James finds some semblance of peace. To get it, you’ve gotta show the game that James wants to live and still cares about Mary.

• Heal constantly. Don’t let James stay in the "red" (flashing cross icon) for more than a few seconds.
• Look at Mary’s Photo and Letter. Do this a few times in your inventory throughout the game.
• Ignore Angela’s Knife. Whatever you do, don't keep inspecting that thing.
• Be a "meh" friend to Maria. Don't check on her in the hospital. Don't go back to her cell in the Labyrinth.
• Listen to the hallway speech. At the very end, in the long corridor, stay and listen to the entire conversation until the voice stops.

The "In Water" Ending (The Depressing One)

This ending is for those who play James like he’s given up. It’s surprisingly easy to trigger if you’re a reckless player.

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• Stay injured. Let James limp around with a red screen for long periods.
• Obsess over the Knife. Inspect Angela’s Knife in your inventory frequently.
• The Neely’s Bar message. After the hospital, go back to Neely’s Bar and read the message on the wall.
• Choose the "Man" coin. In the Wood Side Apartments coin puzzle, the "Man" coin is the one you want.
• The Rotten Apple. In the Lakeview Hotel mirror puzzle, use the Rotten Apple.

The "Maria" Ending

This one is tricky because you have to be "simping" for Maria without accidentally triggering the other endings.

• Be the ultimate bodyguard. Don't let Maria take any damage. If a monster so much as touches her, reload your save.
• Check on her. Visit her in the hospital room multiple times. Go back to her cell in the Labyrinth after she "dies."
• Don't look at Mary's stuff. Completely ignore the photo and letter in your inventory.
• Follow her lead. When she suggests a direction in South Vale, go that way. Don't go exploring far away from her.
• The Scarlet Egg. After the Twin Pyramid Head fight, go through the door with the Scarlet Egg.

The New Remake Endings: Bliss and Stillness

Bloober Team added two brand new endings for the remake, and they’re both locked behind New Game Plus (NG+). They are weird, meta, and definitely worth the extra effort.

How to Get the "Bliss" Ending

This is a bit of a "trip." You’ll need a specific item called White Claudia.

1. In NG+, find the Small Chest in the garden of Brookhaven Hospital.
2. Go to the Pete's Bowl-O-Rama and find the safe. The code is usually found on a note near the Historical Society (it's 1887).
3. Inside the safe is the Rusted Key. Use it to open the chest and get the White Claudia.
4. When you reach Room 312 in the Lakeview Hotel, drink the White Claudia before you watch the videotape.

How to Get the "Stillness" Ending

This one is essentially an "In Water" 2.0. You actually have to have cleared the "In Water" ending on a previous save for this to work.

1. Find the Key of Sorrow in a green car at the very start of the game (near the chainsaw location).
2. In the Otherworld Lakeview Hotel, use the key on the safe in the Manager’s Office. The code is 314.
3. You’ll get the Toluca Postcard.
4. Keep this in your inventory and finish the game. It overrides the standard endings.

The Joke Endings: Dog and UFO

It wouldn't be Silent Hill without the Shiba Inu. Both of these require New Game Plus and certain items found only in the second run.

The Dog Ending (The Goodest Boi)

You need to find two halves of a broken key.

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• Part 1: In the Pet Center (North of Big Jay’s) in East South Vale.
• Part 2: In a small gate near the Baldwin Mansion (West South Vale).
• The Room: Combine them to make the Dog Key. Use it on the Observation Room door on the 3rd floor of the Lakeview Hotel before entering Room 312.

The UFO Ending

You need the Blue Gem.

1. Find it in a jewelry box in the storefront north of Big Jay’s.
2. Use it (interact with it in your inventory) in four specific spots:
   • The roof of Saul Street Apartments.
   • Rosewood Park (near the waterfront).
   • The Lakeview Hotel pier (after the boat ride).
   • Room 312 in the hotel (before watching the tape).

The "Rebirth" Ending (The Ritual)

This is the classic NG+ ending where James tries to bring Mary back using occult items. You just need to find four specific items scattered across the map. If you have all four in your inventory when you beat the final boss, you get this ending automatically.

• Crimson Ceremony: On a grave in the cemetery where you first meet Angela.
• White Chrism: On the steps of the Baldwin Mansion.
• Obsidian Goblet: Inside a wall niche in the Historical Society.
• Lost Memories: In the Lost & Found at the Lakeview Hotel.

Actionable Tips for your Platinum Run

If you’re trying to see everything without playing the game eight times, manual saves are your best friend. The biggest "branch" happens at the Lakeview Hotel. If you make a save right before entering Room 312, you can reload that save to trigger the Dog, UFO, and Bliss endings back-to-back. For the Maria/Leave/In Water split, the game usually decides based on your behavior much earlier, so you might need separate runs for those unless you're very careful with how many times you inspect the knife or photo right before the final boss.

Most people find that "In Water" is the most common first ending because the game is hard and you're usually at low health a lot. If you want "Leave," just be a "good" James—heal often and keep your eyes on the photo of your wife. Simple as that.