Heartfall — A Tale in Three Lives Heartfall A Tale in

In Heartfall — A Tale in Three Lives, your choices weigh heavily, shaping how the narrative unfolds and which endings you unlock. The game’s layered storytelling means a single decision can pivot your journey from camaraderie to betrayal or survival to sacrifice, making these endings vital to mastering the experience.

The 12 distinct story routes in Heartfall each carry unique achievements tied to specific moments and decisions. Navigating them requires attention to dialogue prompts and key quests that push the plot in wildly different directions, giving each playthrough its own flavor.

Spoiler warning: Expect all major twists and brutal outcomes to be laid bare, including graphic scenes of death and intense horror elements. This is essential reading only after you’re ready to face Heartfall’s darkest turns.

Route 0: Have We Been Here Before?

Achievements: So That’s How It Went, That’s Not How It Went

This introductory route closely mirrors the core narrative and is the best place to get familiar with gameplay mechanics before branching out.

How to start Route 0

Begin by responding to the introspective prompts—”Who am I?”, “Where am I?”, and “What am I doing here?”—setting the tone for your character’s mindset.

Proceed by selecting Let’s move on to dive deeper into the story.

Near some sparkling items, gather x1 Pickaxe, x1 Iron Sword, and x1 Wood Axe, equipping yourself with early essential gear.

Inspect the nearby sparkles closely; one option lets you Follow the trail. Confirm by selecting You bet?.

Keep exploring sparkles to the right where you’ll spot footprints leading to the village. Opt to Go to the village and choose Follow it.

At the village, pay attention to a particular house with a paper pinned on its door; it’s a story-critical clue.

When prompted, pick these:

• Take a look
• Time to find out if you are illiterate

Interact with Scar and choose these dialogue options carefully:

• Nope
• Your secret is safe with me
• It’s Grian
• Why’d you think you can trust me?
• Waah! Who said anything about allying? Why even?
• I’m listening
• It’s a little hard to miss
• I like where your head is

Accept the quest titled Cause mischief with Scar?

Exit the village and follow the Mountain Trail.

Venture into the caves to find Flint and Steel. Interact with the trolley found there for progression.

You’ll encounter Bigb and Martyn. Approach carefully with these responses:

• Sneak up and get the jump on them
• HI DUDE!
• The name’s Grian
• Nope, you are out. Too much caving for one day.

Claim your reward: Flint and Steel.

Return to the village and hand the flint and steel to Scar.

Distract Etho so Scar can commence burning the Mystic Tree.

At the village entrance, interact with Scar and select Seek monopoly.

• Seek monopoly

At night, lure the creeper towards Scar to advance the story.

After Scar’s demise, pledge to remain beside him until you lose your first life.

Follow Scar into the desert and stay with him overnight.

Important: Save your progress in a separate slot here. You’ll revisit this point to unlock both Route 0 achievements depending on choices.

Achievement: So That’s How It Went

Follow the storyline without diverting from the original sequence to earn this achievement.

When offered a cow heist by Jimmy and Scott during material gathering, decline.

Meeting Martyn in the village, do not voice major complaints about Scar—choose It’s enjoyable instead.

When Martyn invites you along later, decline the offer.

Post tree-magic trick, reject Martyn’s invitation to commit a crime.

During the Dogwarts battle, Martyn attacks with his axe. You’ll get an option to take the blow—do not accept it.

Taking the blow causes an early death, preventing this achievement from unlocking on this run.

Continue following the main events—Scar and allies will lead you through encounters involving BDubs, BigB, Impulse, and the No Kill Pass storyline elements.

Eventually, Scar will abandon you. Triumph in the desert showdown and jump off the cliff when prompted.

Achievement unlocks upon your character’s death.

Achievement: That’s Not How It Went

Reload a save before the Dogwarts fight but keep early choices consistent with the previous successful run.

When Martyn attacks during the fight, choose to take the blow.

This leads to an earlier loss of your first life, putting you on red alert compared to the original timeline.

Scar survives and reunites with you post-respawn. During the altered battle, both you and Scar eventually perish.

Unlock this achievement once this ending concludes.

Route 1: The Dark Forest

Achievements: Alone, Beloved, Die, Together

Here, you opt to build your own base rather than moving to Flower Valley with Jimmy and Scott.

Upon visiting the village, accept the Build a little base? quest.

Decline the invitation from Jimmy and Scott to move to Flower Valley.

Stick to the main story, continuing alongside Scar.

When passing your house with Scar, claim it as your residence.

Pick Take a close look, one last time.

When asked about keeping the base, select Accept.

These choices officially launch you into Route 1’s story.

Work in Progress

Route 2: Dog-Eat-Dog World

Achievements: All For Naught, Almost Home, Back Where It Started, I’ll Be Waiting

Advance through Route 0’s initial day. When you reach the village, locate Martyn and converse with him.

Express dissatisfaction about your situation with Scar by choosing all complaining dialogue options, steering the narrative into Route 2.

Work in Progress

Route 3: Live, Laugh, Divorce

Achievements: Happily Egger After, Hate Loses, Hate Wins, Love Loses, Love Wins

The route unlocks by agreeing to move to Flower Valley with Jimmy and Scott.

1. Visit the village for the first time.
2. Build your house.
3. When invited by Jimmy and Scott to move to Flower Valley, select Accept.

You are now actively on Route 3.

Work in Progress

Route 4: Ashes and Alliances

Achievements: A Lonely Death, A New Family, A Violent End

This path traces your complicated relationship with Joel and the group at the Crastle.

How to start Route 4

1. After searching the house, find Joel in the forest west of Jimmy and the cows.
2. Assist him in taming wolves.
3. Speak with Joel again after successfully taming the wolves.
4. Accept his invitation to build a cabin together.

This sequence sets Route 4 in motion.

Achievement: A Lonely Death

This ending requires choosing to flee the Crastle with Joel during Session 6.

Early events include Joel losing a life during Tango’s Dare to Flare, followed by your own death at the paws of a wolf. Later, the cabin catches fire while you and Joel sleep.

Joel attempts a rescue, but only one wolf gets out alive. Both Joel and remaining wolves perish in the blaze.

You discover Cleo ignited the fire to punish Joel for hoarding Mystic Wood. Feeling remorseful, she offers you refuge at the Crastle with herself and BDubs.

As Dogwarts’ threat looms, you and Joel ally with the group. Ultimately, you sacrifice yourself for Joel, sharing a poignant moment about readiness to die for one another.

Save before Session 6

To access alternate endings on this route, keep a separate save from the night of Session 5, as crucial divergence happens during the next morning.

1. On Session 6 morning, talk with Joel near the Crastle.
2. Listen to his worries about the upcoming battle.
3. Choose Run away with Joel.

Running away reduces reputation with Cleo and BDubs, driving you toward this ending.

Attempt shelter with Jimmy and Scott, only to find Jimmy dead and Scott refusing aid. You retreat to the beach.

Martyn finds you and describes the dire state of the battle. He fights you, and Joel takes a fatal blow meant for you.

With Joel dead, you surrender in the fight without resistance, unlocking A Lonely Death.

Route 5: Should’ve Aimed for the Hand

Achievement: Can we go to the desert?

This story thread begins when Martyn invites you to initiate trouble together.