Description: Follow the developer's six-choice good route, find three bad endings, and understand what the 1.0 gallery and upcoming Steam version change.
Bonded in Darkness has four endings: one good and three bad. The first gate is whether Arnaud admits the wounded vampire hunter Julien. For the good outcome, that act of mercy must be followed by a precise conversation route ending in “Maybe...”. The official walkthrough dates to March 8, 2024; the developer confirmed that the June 19, 2025 version 1.0 update did not change the story.
All four endings (⚠ spoilers)
| Ending | Condition | Choice order | Outcome | Source / version / spoiler |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Death of a Hunter — Bad 1 | Refuse entry at the door | Choose “Close the door” | Immediate first bad ending | 2 · 2024-03-08 / itch.io 1.0 (2025-06-19) · ⚠ |
| Beasts of Blood — Bad 2 | Admit Julien, then follow the distrust sequence | “Bring him inside” → “Who did this to you?” or silence → “Leave” → either option → say the blade will cut something or be used to kill → “No, you're wrong” | Second bad ending | 2 · 2024-03-08 / itch.io 1.0 (2025-06-19) · ⚠ |
| The Folly of Trust — Bad 3 | Admit Julien and take some, but not all, Bad 2 choices | Start with “Bring him inside”; mix choices from the Bad 2 route. The developer does not specify a single guaranteed sequence | Third bad ending | 2 · 2024-03-08 / itch.io 1.0 (2025-06-19) · ⚠ |
| Two Paths Intertwined — Good | Admit Julien and follow the trust sequence | “Bring him inside” → “Why come to me?” → “Ask what he needs” → either option → “You're just examining it” → “Maybe...” | Only good ending | 2 · 2024-03-08 / itch.io 1.0 (2025-06-19) · ⚠ |
The good ending is a six-choice chain
Let Julien in, ask why he came specifically to Arnaud, then ask what he needs. The fourth decision can go either way, according to the creator. At the blade-related prompt, answer “You're just examining it”. Finish with “Maybe...”. These exact English strings matter: the game currently lists English as its language, and a paraphrase may be hard to match while playing.
Why Bad 3 is harder to document than Bad 2
The official Bad 2 instructions are explicit, including the two interchangeable answers and the final denial. Bad 3 is described only as selecting some, but not all, of the Bad 2 answers after bringing Julien inside. That is a rule of thumb, not a complete decision tree. For a controlled replay, save before the early conversation and change one answer at a time. Such testing can identify a working combination; it should not be presented as a developer-certified recipe until reproduced.
Four CGs, gallery and version 1.0
The June 2025 update added two illustrations and a gallery, bringing the advertised total to four CGs. The developer says the two original images will already be unlocked for returning players who previously reached the good ending. The precise unlock steps for each new image are not documented in the update. The story is about 9,400 words long; the creator estimates roughly an hour for all outcomes and recommends the downloadable build over browser play.
What about Steam in 2026?
A July 10 announcement said the planned Steam release would retain the same story and remain free, with achievements and potentially improved controller support. On October 20, 2026, the Steam listing still says “Coming soon” with a planned 2026 release. Do not confuse prospective achievements with additional endings. The route table here targets the available itch.io version 1.0.
Evidence and testing boundary
Sources include the official game, complete walkthrough, update logs, Steam listing and player comments reporting difficulty reaching the good ending. The embedded browser build was not controlled in this research pass. Bad 3's precise branch expression, individual new-CG requirements and any post-launch Steam behavior remain open. Player questions demonstrate concrete interest; search volume has not been measured.
Conclusion
Bottom line: Collect the exact six-choice good route first. Bad 1 takes one door choice, Bad 2 has a published distrust sequence, and Bad 3 requires experimentation within that sequence. The final “Maybe...” is the difference between merely helping an enemy and reaching Two Paths Intertwined.
References (6)
- [1] Official game, current itch.io build 1.0 (checked 2026-10-20): https://cosmicatelier.itch.io/bonded-in-darkness
- [2] Developer's ending walkthrough, 2024-03-08: https://cosmicatelier.itch.io/bonded-in-darkness/devlog/694591/ending-guidewalkthrough
- [3] Developer's 1.0 update, 2025-06-19: https://cosmicatelier.itch.io/bonded-in-darkness/devlog/918473/10-update-new-cgs-gallery
- [4] Developer's Steam announcement, 2026-07-10: https://cosmicatelier.itch.io/bonded-in-darkness/devlog/1580672/wishlist-bonded-in-darkness-on-steam
- [5] Steam store, checked 2026-10-20: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4914850/Bonded_in_Darkness/
- [6] Developer log index: https://cosmicatelier.itch.io/bonded-in-darkness/devlog
