It goes without saying that SPOILERS for the ending of Ghost of Tsushima follow this break. If you don’t want to know what happens to Jin at the end of his tale, turn back now.

Should I Spare or Kill Lord Shimura?

To quickly recap the final hours of Ghost of Tsushima, the game ends with Jin essentially on the run from two opposing groups. The Mongols still want to kill Jin for his Samurai lineage and the destruction he has caused the Mongol army, while the Samurai have essentially arrested Jin for dishonorably poisoning the Mongol troops during the assault at Castle Shimura. Jin escapes captivity for one last battle against Khotun Khan and is then confronted by his uncle for a second duel. If you need a recap you can watch it below courtesy of xLetalis on YouTube.

Once you’ve emerged victorious, you’re presented with two options.

Kill [R2]: Honor Shimura’s wish for death. Spare [L2]: Let Shimura live and walk away.

What the game essentially asks the player to do is pick a side between Samurai and Ghost. You can either honor your Samurai teachings and kill your uncle, or commit to a life on the run as the Ghost by letting your uncle live.

Kill

If you Kill Lord Shimura, Jin will tell his father figure that he will always be remembered as a warrior and as a father. He also promises to find the lord in the next life. There are a few other changes worth noting.

Jin’s post-game home will be at a place called Dawn Refuge, which is directly north of Ichi’s Inn. You’ll also unlock a white color variant of your Ghost Armor called Righteous Punishment that looks a bit like a traditional Japanese Kabuki outfit. Jin tells Yuna that Clan Sakai is gone and that he’s been labeled a traitor.

Spare

If you Spare Lord Shimura, Jin tells his uncle that he has no honor but he won’t kill his family. Shimura warns Jin that the Ghost will be hunted forever, but Jin takes one final bow and walks off. There are also a few other changes.

Jin’s post-game home will be at Tradition’s End, northwest of Lucky Genzo’s Inn. You’ll unlock a red dye for your Ghost Armor called Vow of Vengeance. The conversation with Yuna is largely the same, except she expresses worry that Shimura will come for them. Jin doesn’t think he will but agrees someone else might.

Which is the true canon ending?

Sucker Punch has yet to confirm which ending for Ghost of Tsushima is the canon choice for a potential sequel, and it may be a while yet before we know the truth. That being said, the Spare path seems like it opens up many more interesting narrative possibilities than the Kill path. Jin being on the run with his uncle still alive sounds way more interesting, and, given that the series is called Ghost of Tsushima, it’d make way more sense for Jin to commit to that identity over his Samurai past.

That being said, we’ll have to wait for an official word before we know the truth.

Ghost of Tsushima is available now on PS4.

Did you opt to Spare or Kill Lord Shimura? Which ending should be canon? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section!