There are four distinct endings in the psychological horror game Deadly Obsession, and this guide explains how to get all of them. The outcome of your ordeal is determined by a single critical choice in the final confrontation, combined with how thoroughly you investigated the house and uncovered your captor's past. Whether you escape, succumb, or achieve a deeper resolution depends entirely on collecting key items before this point of no return.
The Point of No Return: The Basement Confrontation
After navigating the house, solving its puzzles, and evading your captor, you will inevitably end up in the basement for the final scene. Here, your captor, Elias, will make you a final, twisted offer. Your response—either to Comply or to Defy him—is the primary branching point that dictates which ending you receive. However, the options available to you after choosing to defy him are locked in based on items you've found before this moment. Once you enter this scene, you cannot go back to collect missed items.
Your inventory is key. Specifically, the number of Diary Fragments you've collected and whether you possess the Silver Locket will determine the story's conclusion. Let's break down each path.
Ending 1: "Succumbed" (The Bad Ending)
This is the most straightforward and bleakest of all the endings in Deadly Obsession. It represents a total psychological defeat, where the protagonist gives in to Elias's control.
How to Get the "Succumbed" Ending
The path to this ending is simple: you just have to give up.
- Reach the Final Confrontation: Progress through the game until you face Elias in the basement.
- Choose to "Comply": When presented with the final choice, select the dialogue option to Comply with his demands.
That's it. Your collection of items is irrelevant for this outcome. By choosing to comply, the protagonist's will is broken, and they accept their fate as a permanent resident of the house, fully under Elias's influence. The screen fades to black on a chilling note of resignation.
Ending 2: "Escaped" (The Neutral Ending)
This ending sees the protagonist physically break free from the house but remain haunted by the experience, lacking any real understanding or closure. You fight back, but without the full picture, your victory is hollow.
How to Get the "Escaped" Ending
This outcome requires defiance but a lack of crucial evidence.
- Find Fewer Than 5 Diary Fragments: Throughout the game, you can find pages of Elias's diary. To get this ending, you must have missed at least one. It doesn't matter which ones you have, as long as you don't have all five.
- Reach the Final Confrontation: Proceed to the basement showdown with Elias.
- Choose to "Defy": When given the choice, select the option to Defy Elias.
Because you lack the complete story from the diary, your defiance is purely physical. You manage to incapacitate Elias and flee the house, escaping into the night. However, the credits roll with a sense of unease, as you never learn the true motivation behind your capture, leaving the trauma unresolved.
Ending 3: "Justice" (The Good Ending)
In this ending, the protagonist not only escapes but also ensures that the captor faces legal consequences for his actions. You piece together most of the story, providing the authorities with the evidence needed to bring him to justice, offering a more satisfying sense of closure.
How to Get the "Justice" Ending
This path requires you to be a thorough investigator but to miss one final, secret piece of the puzzle.
Step 1: Find All 5 Diary Fragments
You must find every single diary page to understand Elias's history of loss and obsession. Their locations are fixed:
- Fragment 1 (Bedroom): Inside the drawer of the nightstand next to the bed.
- Fragment 2 (Kitchen): Taped to the underside of the main dining table.
- Fragment 3 (Library): Used as a bookmark in a prominent red book titled The Crimson Rose on the central bookshelf.
- Fragment 4 (Basement): Lying on the cluttered workbench near the furnace.
- Fragment 5 (Attic): Inside the music box. You must first solve the music box's cylinder puzzle to open it.
Deadly Obsession in-game screenshot
Step 2: Miss the Silver Locket
For this specific ending, it is crucial that you have all five diary fragments but do not have the Silver Locket in your inventory. The locket is a secret item that adds another layer to the story. By not finding it, you understand the what but not the full why of Elias's grief.
Step 3: Choose to "Defy" in the Finale
With all five fragments in your possession, proceed to the basement. When you face Elias, choose to Defy him. Armed with the full context from his diary, your character is able to confront him not just physically, but psychologically. You escape and provide the diary to the police, leading to his arrest. The final scene shows a news report detailing his capture, bringing a definitive end to the nightmare.
Ending 4: "Absolution" (The True Ending)
This is the secret, canonical ending of Deadly Obsession, offering a complex and emotionally resonant conclusion. It goes beyond simple escape or justice, leading to a moment of shared grief and understanding that allows both the protagonist and Elias to find a semblance of peace.
How to Get the "Absolution" Ending
Achieving this hidden ending requires completing every investigative step in the game.
Step 1: Find All 5 Diary Fragments
As with the "Justice" ending, you must first collect all five of Elias's diary fragments. Their locations are listed in the section above. The dates mentioned within these fragments are crucial for the next step.
Step 2: Open the Study Safe and Find the Silver Locket
This is the critical step that separates the Good and True endings. The diary fragments contain dates that form the combination for the safe hidden behind a painting in the study.
- Location: The Study, behind the large oil painting of a ship.
- Combination: The code is 08-15-19. This corresponds to August 15, 2019, a date of significance mentioned in the diary.
- Reward: Inside the safe, you will find the Silver Locket. This item is the key to unlocking the true ending.
Deadly Obsession in-game screenshot
Step 3: Choose to "Defy" and Present the Locket
With all five diary fragments and the Silver Locket in your inventory, go to the final confrontation in the basement.
- First, choose to Defy Elias.
- This will trigger the standard confrontation, but you will now have a new, unique dialogue option: "Present the Silver Locket."
- Selecting this option changes the entire dynamic of the scene. The locket belonged to someone Elias lost, and seeing it shows him that you understand the full depth of his tragedy.
Deadly Obsession in-game screenshot
This act of empathy doesn't excuse his actions, but it breaks through his obsession. He surrenders peacefully, and the protagonist leaves not with hatred, but with a profound and sorrowful understanding. This is the most complete and emotionally impactful conclusion to the story.
Quick Reference: Ending Requirements
| Ending Title | Final Choice | Item Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Succumbed | Comply | None |
| Escaped | Defy | 0-4 Diary Fragments |
| Justice | Defy | All 5 Diary Fragments, NO Silver Locket |
| Absolution | Defy | All 5 Diary Fragments AND the Silver Locket |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many endings are in Deadly Obsession? There are a total of four endings: "Succumbed" (Bad), "Escaped" (Neutral), "Justice" (Good), and "Absolution" (True/Secret). Your choices and collectibles determine the outcome.
Can you miss the final choice? No, the confrontation in the basement is the mandatory final scene of the game. You will always be presented with the "Comply" or "Defy" choice to trigger one of the endings.
What is the safe combination in the study? The combination for the safe behind the painting is 08-15-19. This date is pieced together from clues found in Elias's diary fragments.
Do I have to get all endings for an achievement? Yes, on most platforms, there is a specific achievement or trophy for viewing all four possible conclusions to the story. This requires at least four separate playthroughs or reloading a save before the final confrontation with different item combinations.
Final Thoughts
The multiple outcomes in Deadly Obsession reward players who dig deeper into the game's narrative. While simply escaping is a valid goal, only by uncovering every secret can you experience the full, tragic story the developers intended to tell. The "Absolution" ending, in particular, elevates the game from a simple horror experience to a memorable story about grief and human connection.