- Heartfall: A Tale in Three Lives all endings requires collecting 36 numbered endings across 12 major routes.
- The story is split into three lives, and each life sequence holds its own ending checkpoints.
- Save before every route-defining choice, alliance decision, and final outcome choice.
- Change one decision group per replay to efficiently isolate alternate endings.
- Over 400,000 words of dialogue mean skipping is essential for completion runs.
How the Endings System Works
Heartfall: A Tale in Three Lives is a branching visual novel RPG set in the world of 3rd Life, and its endings are distributed across a three-life narrative structure. Rather than a single final choice, endings accumulate as consequences carry forward between lives. The current community reference count stands at 36 endings across 12 major routes, so a full collection demands disciplined save management rather than a single lucky playthrough.
The core structure looks like this:
| Ending Layer | Life Sequence | Spoiler Level | Collection Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life One Outcomes | First-life conclusion | Low | Start here |
| Life Two Outcomes | Second-life branches | Medium | Requires route alignment held through decisions |
| Life Three Outcomes | Final-life conclusions | High | Depends on accumulated choices from both earlier lives |
| Route-Specific Endings | Character and alliance routes | Medium to High | One route per focused replay |
| Hidden / Replay-Exclusive Endings | Alternate-choice scenes | High | Discovered by revisiting earlier chapters |
This guide describes ending structure and unlock conditions, not full scene content. Avoid reading Life Three route details until you have finished at least one full playthrough.
Choice Categories That Decide Endings
Not every dialogue option in Heartfall changes your outcome. Sorting choices into categories before you commit saves hours of trial and error during an all-endings run.
Cosmetic Dialogue
- Changes tone or wording only
- Does not block routes or endings
- Safe to pick freely
Relationship Choices
- Affect character bonds
- Unlock or lock later scenes
- Must stay consistent per route
Route & Alliance Choices
- Open one path, close another
- Change next-segment objectives
- Always save before committing
Final Outcome Choices
- Determine the displayed ending
- Commit the playthrough permanently
- Keep a permanent backup save
Keep a simple written log of major decisions per run. When an ending differs between two playthroughs, the log tells you exactly which choice group caused the split.
Save Strategy for Collecting All Endings
A disciplined save structure is the single biggest factor in completing a Heartfall: A Tale in Three Lives all endings run. Use dedicated save slots at every irreversible checkpoint.
Opening Save
Create a save at the end of the shared introductory scenes, before any route commitment. This is your master restart point for every route.
First Route-Defining Choice
Save in a separate slot immediately before the first major choice in Life One. Label it clearly so you can branch from here later.
Life Two Branch Entry
Keep a dedicated save at the start of the second-life sequence so you can re-enter with different route alignments without replaying Life One.
Pre-Final Backup
Before the final decisive choice in Life Three, create a permanent backup that you never overwrite. Most ending variants can be compared from this single slot.
Systematic Replays
Reload the earliest relevant save and change one decision group at a time, recording each new ending you reach.
With layered saves, collecting the alternate endings within one route usually takes minutes instead of a full re-run through all three lives.
Recommended Collection Order
| Phase | Goal | Endings Covered | Est. Sessions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | One natural blind playthrough | Main story clear, first ending set | 1-2 |
| 2 | Life One outcome variants | Early endings from branch saves | 1 |
| 3 | One route per replay | Route-specific endings | Ongoing |
| 4 | Life Two alignment swaps | Mid-game branch endings | 1-2 per route |
| 5 | Life Three final variants | Late-game conclusions | Short reloads |
| 6 | Replay-exclusive scenes | Hidden endings and achievements | Cleanup pass |
Do not optimize your first run. Choose responses that feel natural, reach one full conclusion, and let your save structure do the heavy lifting afterward.
Endings and Completion Checklist
A full clear of Heartfall involves more than endings alone. Use this checklist alongside Steam achievements to track total completion.
All Endings Run Checklist:
- Complete one full natural playthrough of all three lives
- Create layered saves at every route-defining choice
- Reach the conclusion of every character route
- Collect all 36 numbered endings via branch reloads
- View all replay-exclusive scenes
- Unlock every Steam achievement on the official listing
Mark each ending as collected in a personal list as soon as you view it. With 36 endings and 12 routes, untracked duplicates are the most common time waster.
FAQ
Q: How many endings are in Heartfall: A Tale in Three Lives?
Current community reference data lists 36 numbered endings distributed across 12 major routes, organized around the game's three-life structure. Some endings are variants reached by changing a single final choice, while others require a full route alignment.
Q: Can I get all endings in one playthrough?
No. Heartfall commits your playthrough to one outcome at final decision points. However, with layered manual saves at route-defining choices and before the final decision, you can unlock most ending variants through quick reloads instead of full replays.
Q: Do cosmetic dialogue choices affect endings?
Generally no. Cosmetic choices change immediate wording and character reactions but do not block routes or endings. Route, alliance, relationship, and final outcome choices are the ones that determine which ending you reach.
Q: Where can I download Heartfall to start an all endings run?
The game is available as a free download on the official itch.io page (kazehita.itch.io/heartfall-a-tale-in-three-lives) for Windows, macOS, and Linux, with an official Steam listing at store.steampowered.com/app/5257930 for wishlisting and release updates.