How to Get the Secret Ending
Unlock the DERELIKT secret ending with the Old One's knowledge imprint and the correct final dialogue choices.
What the DERELIKT Secret Ending Actually Is
The DERELIKT secret ending is a final-dialogue branch that rewards players who have been carrying the Old One's knowledge, not a hidden level behind a false wall. It is easy to miss because the DERELIKT secret ending is saved for the last conversation, after a timed reactor escape and a multi-phase encounter. The payoff is an achievement for beating the game on any difficulty; it is not a separate final movie with a new dungeon or boss.
| Question | Short answer | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Is it a new area? | No | Finish the reactor route and reach the final conversation |
| Is it a different cinematic? | No, it uses the same final cutscene | Treat the "secret" as a dialogue and achievement branch |
| What is the key requirement? | Old One's knowledge imprint | Keep the alien artifact in your primary slot long enough |
| Does difficulty block it? | No | The achievement can be earned on any difficulty |
The scene itself is deliberately strange: both figures ascend into the asteroid that started the mission, tying the ending back to the rock the crew was excavating. That visual is the strongest clue that the "secret" is about the Old One's influence, not about a conventional escape.
Before You Commit: Setup Checklist
The last stretch combines a reactor countdown, cramped hazards, and enemy spawns. Prepare before you start the meltdown so you are not swapping gear while the timer runs.
| Priority | Action | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Save before the reactor sequence | Gives you a clean retry if a prompt or door code stalls you |
| 2 | Keep the Old One artifact in the primary slot long enough to imprint | The knowledge is tied to understanding the final dialogue |
| 3 | Free at least two or three inventory slots | Late weapons, key cards, and quest items compete for space |
| 4 | Carry healing and ammunition | The final route includes combat and a drowning-risk section |
| 5 | Remove the hazmat suit after the flooded area | Leaving it on obscures vision during the reactor run |
The Old One artifact is not a free upgrade. While equipped, it reduces damage, vitality, and dexterity by three, so the tradeoff is real. Do not wait until the final room to equip it; the knowledge needs time in the primary slot to imprint. Build around the penalty with stored healing, ammo, and the mind-control ability you pick up late.
Step-by-Step: How to Trigger the DERELIKT Secret Ending
- Finish the reactor sequence and reach the final confrontation. The escape timer is the pressure point, but once the final conversation begins, the countdown stops being the main threat.
- Follow the join line. The route to use is "Let me join you" rather than treating the final offer as a simple refusal. The antagonist responds as if you have accepted a witness role.
- Ask about your own ascension. When the conversation turns to his ascension, take the prompt about your own rise. This is the beat that sets the secret-ending flag.
- Watch the ascension scene. The final ascension sequence is a short scene, not a new area. Both figures become part of the asteroid.
- Check the achievement. The unlock is tied to beating the game on any difficulty. If you expected a separate cinematic, you have not missed a second cutscene.
| Step | Choice or action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reach the last conversation | The reactor countdown stops dominating the screen |
| 2 | Choose "Let me join you" | The antagonist accepts you as a witness |
| 3 | Ask about your ascension | The secret-ending resolution begins |
| 4 | Watch the scene | Both characters ascend into the asteroid |
| 5 | Finish the game | Achievement unlocks on any difficulty |
Dialogue Choices and Ending Outcomes
The DERELIKT secret ending changes the final dialogue resolution and the achievement flag; it does not add a new area, a new final boss, or a completely different movie. That distinction matters because the final sequence is already long, and hunting for a nonexistent bonus level can waste the reactor timer.
| Element | DERELIKT secret ending | Common assumption |
|---|---|---|
| Trigger | Join and ascension dialogue after the final fight | Hidden door or collectible room |
| New areas | None | A bonus dungeon |
| Reward | Achievement for beating the game on any difficulty | Unique cinematic |
| Story beat | Both figures become part of the asteroid | A standard escape |
| Difficulty | Any difficulty | A higher-difficulty lock |
If you are the kind of player who explores every optional room, the late game can punish you with inventory pressure. The secret-ending route is not a completionist check; the decisive work is the Old One imprint and the last conversation. Extra weapons and side quests help you survive, but they do not replace the dialogue choice.
Common Missable Mistakes and Fixes
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| You equipped the Old One artifact too late | Load a save before the reactor and keep it in the primary slot through the final stretch |
| Your inventory is full at the final pickup | Store or drop duplicate ammo and heavy weapons before starting the meltdown |
| The hazmat suit is still on | Remove it after the flooded hazard section so the screen is not obscured |
| A late door asks for a code you skipped | Check the logs for the cargo-bay number instead of wandering while the timer runs |
| The final prompt seems unclear | Reload the autosave and repeat the conversation; the join and ascension line is the one to take |
Do not treat the reactor timer as the only fail state. The bigger risk is reaching the final conversation without the Old One's knowledge or without enough healing to survive the route. Save first, clear inventory space, and keep the artifact equipped long enough to matter.
FAQ
How do you unlock the DERELIKT secret ending? Keep the Old One artifact in your primary slot long enough to imprint its knowledge, reach the final confrontation, choose "Let me join you," and then ask about your own ascension. The unlock is tied to an achievement for beating the game on any difficulty.
Is the DERELIKT secret ending a different cutscene? No. It uses the same final cutscene as the standard resolution. The "secret" is the dialogue branch and achievement flag, not a separate movie or bonus level.
Can you miss the DERELIKT secret ending? Yes. If you rush the reactor without the Old One's knowledge or take the wrong final prompt, you can finish the game without the secret-ending achievement. Save before the meltdown so you can retry the conversation.
Does difficulty affect the DERELIKT secret ending? The achievement can be earned on any difficulty. No difficulty requirement blocks the secret-ending branch.
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