Papers, Please ending guide: requirements, exclusions, and restart days
Check preparation, final triggers, blocking conditions, and replay points for numbered endings. Character and choice answers start closed, so open only the number you want.
Edition: Papers, Please PC Steam (app 239030), Story mode, normal settings (Easy Mode OFF). Based on the Japanese-supported UI, with English document names for identification.
Verification scope: Uses version 1.4.11, the last PC entry in the official changelog. Version 1.4.12 is for iOS/Android. Public sources checked October 4, 2026; the currently distributed binary and Japanese UI inputs were not tested in-game.
Sources checked: 2026-10-04
39 / 39 rows
Searching does not open answer tables. Choose the answer you want to reveal.
Choose an ending number to open
The main game has 20 numbered endings. Character names, actions, and final-day conditions are all inside closed answers. Numbers follow the game's results screen.
Wide tables scroll horizontally.
| Range | How to read |
|---|---|
| Endings 01–04 | Check preparation and trigger timing in each answer |
| Endings 05–10 | For similar conditions, distinguish targets and actions |
| Endings 11–12 | Check whether earlier choices remain in history |
| Endings 13–20 | Check both preparation history and the final decision |
No matching entries in this table. Shorten the query or clear it to restore all entries.
Immediate deaths during incidents are not added to the list of 20 numbered endings.
Changing only the final day may not be enough
A restart day assumes that save already contains the required history. Distinguish choosing another final branch from changing its preparation.
- Record the number on the result screen.
- Read the restart day in the answer for your chosen ending.
- Even on the same calendar date, check that you selected the correct earlier history.
Deleting saves is not the standard replay method here.
Answer 3 (spoilers)
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Answer 01: ending 01 requirements
Nights of Days 1–31
Wide tables scroll horizontally.
| When preparation starts | Trigger condition | Exclusions or failure conditions | Restart day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before the day funds run short | Let the balance fall below zero after nightly settlement | Exactly 0 is not negative. Avoid triggering another ending first | Start of the shortfall day; return earlier if savings are too large |
No matching entries in this table. Shorten the query or clear it to restore all entries.
Keep the required preparation while avoiding another ending or immediate death first. Check the trigger time at the start of this answer.
Answer 4 (spoilers)
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Answer 02: ending 02 requirements
Earliest from Day 4
Wide tables scroll horizontally.
| When preparation starts | Trigger condition | Exclusions or failure conditions | Restart day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Several days earlier | Lose every surviving family member | Keep enough for rent so debt does not cause ending 1 first. The inspector is not counted in the family's health list | Return several days to alter family health. For a separate reliable branch, stop food, heat, and medicine from Day 1 |
No matching entries in this table. Shorten the query or clear it to restore all entries.
Keep the required preparation while avoiding another ending or immediate death first. Check the trigger time at the start of this answer.
Answer 5 (spoilers)
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Answer 03: ending 03 requirements
During the Day 12 visit
Wide tables scroll horizontally.
| When preparation starts | Trigger condition | Exclusions or failure conditions | Restart day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Receive documents on Days 8–10 | Give Vonel the EZIC cipher or decoder | This ends the run immediately; for continued play return only his own documents | Day 12, with required documents received on Day 8/9 and Day 10 |
No matching entries in this table. Shorten the query or clear it to restore all entries.
Keep the required preparation while avoiding another ending or immediate death first. Check the trigger time at the start of this answer.
Answer 6 (spoilers)
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Answer 04: ending 04 requirements
Morning of Day 15
Wide tables scroll horizontally.
| When preparation starts | Trigger condition | Exclusions or failure conditions | Restart day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 11 or 12 | Keep Day 11's 1000 or Day 12's 2000 and do not admit Stepheni on Day 14 | Admitting Stepheni avoids arrest but adds one EZIC success. Savings are not returned | Day 14 if the gift was accepted; Day 11 or 12 if both were burned |
No matching entries in this table. Shorten the query or clear it to restore all entries.
Keep the required preparation while avoiding another ending or immediate death first. Check the trigger time at the start of this answer.
Answer 7 (spoilers)
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Answer 05: ending 05 requirements
An attack where weapons are available; earliest Day 23
Wide tables scroll horizontally.
| When preparation starts | Trigger condition | Exclusions or failure conditions | Restart day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 23 onward, with the silver key obtained | Shoot an ordinary civilian with the lethal gun. The man in red has a separate ending | Tranquilizer gives 6; a guard gives 7; the man in red gives 9 | Day 23, or Day 26/28/31 with the silver key already held |
No matching entries in this table. Shorten the query or clear it to restore all entries.
Keep the required preparation while avoiding another ending or immediate death first. Check the trigger time at the start of this answer.
Answer 8 (spoilers)
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Answer 06: ending 06 requirements
Earliest during the Day 16 attack
Wide tables scroll horizontally.
| When preparation starts | Trigger condition | Exclusions or failure conditions | Restart day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 16 onward | Shoot an ordinary civilian with the tranquilizer. The man in red has a separate ending | Lethal gun gives 5; a guard gives 8; the man in red gives 10 | Day 16 or a later attack with a usable gun |
No matching entries in this table. Shorten the query or clear it to restore all entries.
Keep the required preparation while avoiding another ending or immediate death first. Check the trigger time at the start of this answer.
Answer 9 (spoilers)
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Answer 07: ending 07 requirements
Earliest during the Day 23 attack
Wide tables scroll horizontally.
| When preparation starts | Trigger condition | Exclusions or failure conditions | Restart day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 23 onward, with the silver key obtained | Shoot a guard with the lethal gun | Tranquilizer gives 8. Ordinary intruders are not this target | Day 23, or Day 26/28/31 with the silver key already held |
No matching entries in this table. Shorten the query or clear it to restore all entries.
Keep the required preparation while avoiding another ending or immediate death first. Check the trigger time at the start of this answer.
Answer 10 (spoilers)
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Answer 08: ending 08 requirements
Earliest during the Day 16 attack
Wide tables scroll horizontally.
| When preparation starts | Trigger condition | Exclusions or failure conditions | Restart day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 16 onward | Shoot a guard with the tranquilizer | A civilian gives 6; lethal gun gives 7 | Day 16 or a later attack day |
No matching entries in this table. Shorten the query or clear it to restore all entries.
Keep the required preparation while avoiding another ending or immediate death first. Check the trigger time at the start of this answer.
Answer 11 (spoilers)
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Answer 09: ending 09 requirements
During the Day 23 diversion
- Return the note to the second entrant, a messenger, on Day 23 for the silver key.
- During the eighth-inspection alarm, use the silver key at the lock and take the lethal gun.
- Aim at and shoot the person in red in the queue.
Wide tables scroll horizontally.
| When preparation starts | Trigger condition | Exclusions or failure conditions | Restart day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day23 | Shoot the man in red in Day 23's queue with the lethal gun | Tranquilizer gives 10. Shooting him prevents reaching later days and does not add to the five EZIC successes | Day 23; receive the silver key from the second entrant, a messenger |
No matching entries in this table. Shorten the query or clear it to restore all entries.
Keep the required preparation while avoiding another ending or immediate death first. Check the trigger time at the start of this answer.
Answer 12 (spoilers)
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Answer 10: ending 10 requirements
During the Day 23 diversion
- Reach the alarm during Day 23's eighth inspection.
- Use the gold key to take the tranquilizer and shoot the person in red in the queue.
Wide tables scroll horizontally.
| When preparation starts | Trigger condition | Exclusions or failure conditions | Restart day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day23 | Shoot the man in red on Day 23 with the tranquilizer | Lethal gun gives 9. Later days become inaccessible | Day23 |
No matching entries in this table. Shorten the query or clear it to restore all entries.
Keep the required preparation while avoiding another ending or immediate death first. Check the trigger time at the start of this answer.
Answer 13 (spoilers)
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Answer 11: ending 11 requirements
Day 30 inspection visit
Wide tables scroll horizontally.
| When preparation starts | Trigger condition | Exclusions or failure conditions | Restart day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day20 | Receive a warning for an unauthorized wall decoration on Day 20, then display an unauthorized item on Day 30 | A first display violation alone costs 20. Remove personal items before inspection to avoid it. Official plaques are authorized | Day 30 if already warned; otherwise return to Day 20 |
No matching entries in this table. Shorten the query or clear it to restore all entries.
Keep the required preparation while avoiding another ending or immediate death first. Check the trigger time at the start of this answer.
Answer 14 (spoilers)
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Answer 12: ending 12 requirements
Choose on Day 25; arrest next morning on Day 26
- Check ninth entrant Shae's Diplomatic Authorization on Day 25.
- Compare its omission of Arstotzka with the rule and interrogate.
- Choose the detention button instead of returning a denied passport.
- Continue to the morning of Day 26 to see the result.
Wide tables scroll horizontally.
| When preparation starts | Trigger condition | Exclusions or failure conditions | Restart day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day25 | Detain Shae Piersovska | Denial alone does not cause this ending. Approval earns a paperwork citation | Day 25; restarting Day 26 cannot prevent it |
No matching entries in this table. Shorten the query or clear it to restore all entries.
Keep the required preparation while avoiding another ending or immediate death first. Check the trigger time at the start of this answer.
Answer 15 (spoilers)
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Answer 13: ending 13 requirements
Late Day 31 through the next morning
Wide tables scroll horizontally.
| When preparation starts | Trigger condition | Exclusions or failure conditions | Restart day |
|---|---|---|---|
| A history with the task count already established | 0–3 EZIC successes. Stop the lower attacker to protect yourself, let the upper one destroy the wall, and do not escape | With 4+ successes, similar behavior gives 15. Leaving the lower attacker causes immediate death | Day 31 with 0–3 successes |
No matching entries in this table. Shorten the query or clear it to restore all entries.
Keep the required preparation while avoiding another ending or immediate death first. Check the trigger time at the start of this answer.
Answer 16 (spoilers)
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Answer 14: ending 14 requirements
Audit after the night of Day 31
Wide tables scroll horizontally.
| When preparation starts | Trigger condition | Exclusions or failure conditions | Restart day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Task days from Day 11 onward | 4–5 EZIC successes. Stop both Day 31 intruders before wall destruction and do not escape | 1–3 successes give 17; 0 gives 20. Escape can branch to 16/18 | Day 31 with 4–5 successes |
No matching entries in this table. Shorten the query or clear it to restore all entries.
Keep the required preparation while avoiding another ending or immediate death first. Check the trigger time at the start of this answer.
Answer 17 (spoilers)
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Answer 15: ending 15 requirements
Late Day 31
Wide tables scroll horizontally.
| When preparation starts | Trigger condition | Exclusions or failure conditions | Restart day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Task days from Day 11 onward | 4–5 EZIC successes. Shoot and stop the lower attacker, allowing the upper one to destroy the wall | Shooting neither gives 19; protecting the wall gives 14. Firing at civilians may trigger 5/6 first | Day 31 with 4–5 successes |
No matching entries in this table. Shorten the query or clear it to restore all entries.
Keep the required preparation while avoiding another ending or immediate death first. Check the trigger time at the start of this answer.
Answer 18 (spoilers)
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Answer 16: ending 16 requirements
Nights of Days 29–31
Wide tables scroll horizontally.
| When preparation starts | Trigger condition | Exclusions or failure conditions | Restart day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day29 | Escape to Obristan while leaving at least one living relative behind | One passport +25 per escaping person, including the inspector. Taking every living relative gives 18 | Day 29/30/31 when sufficient funds and passports can be available that night; otherwise collect from Day 29 |
No matching entries in this table. Shorten the query or clear it to restore all entries.
Keep the required preparation while avoiding another ending or immediate death first. Check the trigger time at the start of this answer.
Answer 19 (spoilers)
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Answer 17: ending 17 requirements
Audit after the night of Day 31
Wide tables scroll horizontally.
| When preparation starts | Trigger condition | Exclusions or failure conditions | Restart day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Task days from Day 11 onward | 1–3 EZIC successes. Stop both Day 31 intruders before wall destruction and do not escape | 0 successes give 20; 4+ give 14. Wall condition differs from ending 13 | Day 31 with 1–3 successes. To reduce four successes, return to the relevant task day |
No matching entries in this table. Shorten the query or clear it to restore all entries.
Keep the required preparation while avoiding another ending or immediate death first. Check the trigger time at the start of this answer.
Answer 20 (spoilers)
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Answer 18: ending 18 requirements
Nights of Days 29–31
Wide tables scroll horizontally.
| When preparation starts | Trigger condition | Exclusions or failure conditions | Restart day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prepare funds by Day 29 | Escape to Obristan with all surviving family members | With all four initial relatives alive: five passports and 125 including the inspector. With the niece also alive: six and 150. Earlier family deaths do not by themselves prevent this ending | Normally collect passports from Day 29. Day 30/31 also works if that save already has everything needed |
No matching entries in this table. Shorten the query or clear it to restore all entries.
Keep the required preparation while avoiding another ending or immediate death first. Check the trigger time at the start of this answer.
Answer 21 (spoilers)
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Answer 19: ending 19 requirements
Day31
Wide tables scroll horizontally.
| When preparation starts | Trigger condition | Exclusions or failure conditions | Restart day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preparation from Day 11 is reliable | 4–5 EZIC successes. Do not fire at Day 31's intruders; allow wall destruction and finish without escaping | If the second entrant on Day 31 is not the messenger, preparation is insufficient. Shooting the man in red is unnecessary | Day 31 if prepared; otherwise the start of a required incomplete task day. A safe preparation branch starts Day 11 |
No matching entries in this table. Shorten the query or clear it to restore all entries.
Keep the required preparation while avoiding another ending or immediate death first. Check the trigger time at the start of this answer.
Answer 22 (spoilers)
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Answer 20: ending 20 requirements
December 24 audit after the night of Day 31
Wide tables scroll horizontally.
| When preparation starts | Trigger condition | Exclusions or failure conditions | Restart day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maintain noncooperation from before Day 11 | Complete none of the five EZIC tasks, stop both Day 31 attackers before wall destruction, and do not escape | Ordinary bribes, tokens, and passing Corman's note alone do not prevent it. Any successful task does. Gives the Endless unlock code | Day 31 with 0 successes. If you cooperated, return to the first successful task. If a large gift was kept, also return to its acceptance on Day 11/12 |
No matching entries in this table. Shorten the query or clear it to restore all entries.
Keep the required preparation while avoiding another ending or immediate death first. Check the trigger time at the start of this answer.
Answer 23 (spoilers)
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Answer 21: counting accumulated choices
Only the following five tasks count as EZIC successes, not conversations or the number of papers received.
- Of five tasks: 0 is required for ending 20, 1–3 for the ending-17 branch, and 4–5 for the ending-19 branch. Messenger conversations and returning papers alone do not count
- Accepting a large gift is not itself one of the five tasks, but avoiding arrest then requires Stepheni's success, making it effectively incompatible with ending 20
- Shooting the man in red on Day 23 ends the run early; avoid it to reach Day 31
- Use the second entrant, the messenger, on Day 31 as the final check for at least four successes
Wide tables scroll horizontally.
| Day | Entrant | Action counted as a success | For ordinary regulation-compliant inspection |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Mikhail Saratov | Approve entry despite invalid documents | Follow discrepancies and bulletins without making the requested exception |
| 14 | Stepheni Graire | Approve entry despite invalid documents | Follow discrepancies and bulletins without making the requested exception |
| 17 | Marie Escalli | Approve entry despite missing ID | Follow discrepancies and bulletins without making the requested exception |
| 20 | Khaled Istom | Poison his own passport or documents and send him away. Poisoning someone else does not succeed | Follow discrepancies and bulletins without making the requested exception |
| 27 | Kordon Kallo / EZIC impersonator | Confiscate the genuine passport and approve its holder on a replacement slip. Give the retained passport to the impostor and admit that impostor | Follow discrepancies and bulletins without making the requested exception |
No matching entries in this table. Shorten the query or clear it to restore all entries.
Separate histories with 0, 1–3, and 4–5 successes to understand final-day branches. The Day 23 choice that ends the run is not one of these five tasks.
Answer 24 (spoilers)
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Answer 22: compare final-day decisions
Wide tables scroll horizontally.
| Prior successes | Response to wall and intruders | Result without escaping | Caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Stop both before wall destruction | 20 | Any earlier successful task changes the result |
| 1〜3 | Stop both before wall destruction | 17 | Final-day defense does not erase history |
| 4〜5 | Stop both before wall destruction | 14 | Result of stopping the attack after cooperation |
| 0〜3 | Stop the lower attacker and let the upper destroy the wall | 13 | Leaving the lower attacker causes immediate death from the booth attack |
| 4〜5 | Stop the lower attacker and let the upper destroy the wall | 15 | Different from the condition requiring no shots at anyone |
| 4〜5 | Do not fire at intruders; allow wall destruction | 19 | Use the second entrant's messenger visit to check preparation |
No matching entries in this table. Shorten the query or clear it to restore all entries.
For escape, stop both intruders, reach the normal nightly screen, and check your supplies there. Sources conflict on the night screen and escape after wall destruction, so this guide does not assert precedence for every combination.
Answer 25 (spoilers)
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Answer 23: preparing another destination
Obristan escape passports can be collected from Day 29. Count the inspector as one escaping person.
- Read Day 29's explanation and check the passport received.
- Collect enough Obristan passports from then onward. Illegal confiscation earns citations.
- Check the nightly balance after living costs and fines, and choose escape when you can afford it.
- On Day 31, stop both intruders first to reach the night screen.
Wide tables scroll horizontally.
| People accompanying you | Passports required | Cost required | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inspector plus all living relatives | One per person | 25 per person | Taking every living relative gives 18 |
| Inspector alone, or with some family left behind | One per escaping person | 25 per escaping person | Leaving living relatives gives 16 |
| All four initial relatives alive | Five including the inspector | 125 | Do not count relatives who have already died |
| Initial four and adopted niece alive | Six including the inspector | 150 | Include the niece among all living relatives |
No matching entries in this table. Shorten the query or clear it to restore all entries.
This guide does not count confiscations before Day 28 as escape stock. Keeping every family member alive throughout and taking everyone currently alive are different requirements.
Answer 26 (spoilers)
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Answer 24: unlocks and completion checks
Endless can be unlocked with the code from ending 20. Story outcomes are separate from Endless scoring and rules.
- Check the numbered result in the in-game history.
- Read a newly unlocked mode's instructions before starting.
- Do not apply Story costs and workday counts directly to Endless.
Record the code from the result screen, select the unlocked mode, and verify access.
Frequently asked questions
Why does replaying the final day give the same ending?
Earlier actions can be cumulative requirements. Check preparation and restart-day fields for your chosen ending, returning to an earlier choice if needed.
Does dying during an incident count as an ending?
A numbered result and immediate incident death are separate. Check whether the in-game ending number was added.
Should I try to satisfy all conditions at once?
Some decisions are incompatible. Use separate histories, and do not confuse saves on the same date with different preparation.
Can I check ending numbers without opening explanations?
Yes. Open only the answer number you want; there is no need to read the specific choices for unopened items.