Fans of many JRPGs are familiar with the idea of multiple endings, but few have as many variant endings as Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne. This game is known for its depth in the genre, being one of the classic favorites of the Shin Megami Tensei series among other popular favorites like the Persona series.

Getting each ending involves creating a new world with a specific Reason, which is to say the player must choose a mantra or intention to frame the universe when it’s remade. To get one, you’ll need to do certain odd tasks and interact with specific characters throughout your journey.

Updated June 11th, 2021 by Gene Cole: Many classic fans have recently begun revisiting this game through SMT 3: Nocturne HD, and many first-time players may not know where to begin if they want to find all the game’s secrets. This new version doesn’t include any new endings, but we felt it would be good to help new and returning players know just how many endings they can go for in this spectacular classic JRPG.

6 Isamu’s Ending

  • Play through the main game without responding too positively to Chiaka and Hikawa’s dialogue options
  • Complete the Tower of Kagutsuchi without doing the Labyrinth of Amala first
  • Answer “I can relate” to Isamu’s dialogue option in the Amala Network after finishing the Tower
  • Answer “All Right” to Isamu’s dialogue option after completing the Temple of Amala

The endings of Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne have two general styles. Half of the endings involve accepting Reasons to create a world, which are the worldviews of each antagonist, while the latter half of the game’s endings involve rejecting them to make a massively different new world. Accepting Reasons are relatively simple to get, as they mainly involve talking to NPCs throughout the game.

The first of these endings relates to Isamu, a side character who encourages you to create a world that’s a personal paradise based on a love of isolation and blissful solitude. This makes for an early ending that’s fascinating to see play out, but it’s definitely the least interesting way to end your playthrough.

5 Chiaki’s Ending

  • Play through the main game without responding too positively to Isamu and Hikawa’s Yosuga’s dialogue options
  • Complete the Tower of Kagutsuchi without doing the Labyrinth of Amala first
  • Answer “Yeah, I get it” to Chiaka’s dialogue option at Mantra HQ after finishing the Tower
  • Answer “I see your point” to Chiaka’s dialogue option after completing the Temple of Amala

For a more competitive world, the Yosuga ending is another acceptance ending based around a separate NPC. This involves Chiaki, a snobby rich teenager whose worldview centers on a harsh system of survival of the fittest to prove who deserves to be on top of the world. Creating her world means you’ll create a more savage and competitive place for humanity.

Much like the Musubi ending with Isamu, getting this ending simply requires you to respond positively to Chiaki’s questions by the end of the game. This is definitely the most positive ending you can get from following one of the NPC’s reasons to create a new world, and while it’s still not as exciting as the later endings, it’s still worth seeing for yourself and fairly easy to obtain.

4 Hikawa’s Ending

  • Play through the main game without responding too positively to Isamu and Chiaka’s dialogue options
  • Complete the Tower of Kagutsuchi without doing the Labyrinth of Amala first
  • Answer “Actually, I do” to Hikawa’s dialogue option in front of Mantra HQ after finishing the Tower
  • Answer “All Right” to Isamu’s dialogue option at the Temple of Amala

The last ending based around accepting a reason is the Shijima ending, which involves the game’s intimidating antagonist Hikawa. This villain wishes to make a calmer world, one that’s more silent and calculated than the chaotic world that already exists. He aims to do this through cruel control of demonic forces, but you can create his vision yourself if you choose.

He will accept you as being the chosen creator of the world and consider himself a baptist and follower of yours and achieve his goals with the player by his side. This is one of the simplest endings alongside the Chiaka and Isamu endings, but is perhaps more interesting thanks to your alliance with one of the game’s main antagonists.

3 Freedom Ending

  • Complete the Tower of Kagutsuchi before finishing the Labyrinth of Amala
  • Respond negatively to any dialogue options from Chiaka, Isamu, and Hikawa after the Tower of Kagutsuchi
  • Once you obtain Yahori no Himorogi, answer “I can take it” twice when talking with Aradia and Yuko in Yoyogi Park
  • Go speak with Hikawa at the Diet Building and answer “Can’t do that”

The other endings of the game are based around rejecting the Reasons of others, allowing you to refuse the creation of a world by one of the game’s antagonists. Even though your powers don’t allow you to create a world for your own Reason, you still defy your demonic restrictions to create either a world that’s either better or identical.

Disregarding the three endings above will allow you to then meet with Aradia in Yoyogi Park, where you’ll get some dialogue options that allow you to either be courageous or cowardly. Responding courageously will allow you to get the Freedom Ending, where the player creates a world that’s identical to Earth before the apocalyptic Conception event. This leads to some interesting final character interactions, but is also an anticlimactic conclusion.

2 Demon Ending

  • Complete the Tower of Kagutsuchi before finishing the Labyrinth of Amala
  • Respond negatively to any dialogue options from Chiaka, Isamu, and Hikawa after the Tower of Kagutsuchi
  • When speaking with Aradia and Yuko in Yoyogi Park, answer “I’m terrified” twice

The Demon ending is nearly identical to the Freedom Ending, but has a rather different variation of the same tasks. Much like before, you’ll have to ignore the Reasons of the game’s antagonists at the end of the game, and instead of immediately making a new world you can visit Aradia in Yoyogi Park.

However, instead of responding with confidence about making a new world, try to be more cautious and resistant to creating a new world. This will result in you being unable to create a new world, leaving the planet in its post-Conception state and remaining home for demons for all eternity, and leaving you with some chilling cutscenes of your new apocalyptic home.

1 True Demon Ending

  • Complete the Labyrinth of Amala
  • before
  • the Tower of Kagutsuchi, and defeat all the Fiends inside
  • Return to the main story and finish the Tower of Kagutsuchi, which should now lead to a new boss fight
  • Defeat Lucifer and enjoy the final cinematic

The final ending is essentially what most JRPG fans would consider a “True Ending”, featuring an additional final boss and a remaining bit of gameplay before a singular ending that ties up all loose ends. This is only available with the HD and PS2 rereleases of the game, but it’s fairly simple to achieve so long as you’re willing to put in the time for an extra bunch of battles.

This is because you have to complete the optional Labyrinth of Amala dungeon early, making it the only ending that requires you to complete it and eliminating the risk of encountering any other ending. This battle is plenty fun and skill-testing, but the conclusion of the story afterwards is significantly more satisfying than any of your alternatives.