The Definitive Road to Empress 2 All CG and Gallery Guide

Unlocking all 48 CGs in Road to Empress 2 for 100% gallery completion is a game of precision, requiring multiple playthroughs and a sharp eye for hidden triggers. This guide provides the complete roadmap. The core challenge lies in navigating the three main character routes, securing every missable miscellaneous scene, and finally meeting the strict requirements for the True Ending path. Forgetting a single step can lock you out of a crucial image until the next New Game+ cycle.

This is the only Road to Empress 2 all CG and gallery guide you will need. We'll break down the gallery structure, pinpoint the most commonly missed scenes, and provide a clear checklist for the ultimate True Ending.

01

The Big Picture: How the 48 CGs Are Structuredtag

The in-game gallery is your progress tracker, divided into six key sections. Understanding this structure is the first step to a completionist run. Most CGs are locked behind specific character routes, meaning a minimum of four complete playthroughs is non-negotiable. One run for each of the three main companions, and a fourth, carefully balanced run for the True Ending.

Here is the full breakdown of all 48 collectible scenes:

The key takeaway is that over 75% of the gallery is missable on any single playthrough. Your primary goal is to dedicate each run to a specific route or ending, methodically checking off the associated CGs.

02

Unlocking All Character-Specific CGstag

Your choices in the first three chapters determine which of the three main companion routes—Kael, Elara, or Marcus—you are locked into for the remainder of the game. Each route contains 8 unique CGs, plus two ending variations. To collect them all, you must dedicate a full playthrough to each character.

Kael's Route (The Royal Guard)tag

To lock in Kael's route, you must consistently make choices that favor honor, duty, and the established power of the Royal Guard. The critical decision point is defending the Guard Captain during the public trial in Chapter 2.

• Missable CG 1: "Sparring Defeat" — In Chapter 3, you are forced into a duel with Kael. To get this CG, your Affection with him must be above 70, and you must lose the duel. Most players try to win, making this one of the most commonly missed images.
• Missable CG 2: "An Oath of Fealty" — During the knighting ceremony in Chapter 5, you must choose the dialogue option "Kneel and accept the honor." The more defiant option will forfeit this scene.

Elara's Route (The Mages' Guild)tag

This route requires you to prioritize knowledge, magical reform, and the ambitions of the Mages' Guild. The point of no return is in Chapter 3, when you must choose to reveal the ancient artifact to the Archmage instead of turning it over to the Royal Guard.

• Missable CG 1: "Forbidden Ritual" — This scene is triggered in Chapter 4, but only if your Prestige stat is below 30 while your Influence is above 80. This counter-intuitive requirement means you need to be seen as magically powerful but publicly unpopular.
• Missable CG 2: "A Glimpse of the Void" — During Elara's final loyalty quest, you must choose to let her complete the scrying ritual, even when given the option to intervene. Stopping her will prevent this CG from unlocking.

Marcus's Route (The Merchant's Collective)tag

To walk the path of commerce and intrigue, you must align with Marcus and his goals. The earliest and most important choice is to invest your starting funds in the Silver Serpent Company back in Chapter 1. Following up with pro-commerce decisions will solidify the route.

• Missable CG 1: "Contraband" — On the night of Day 10, ignore the main quest marker and instead visit the city docks. This triggers a unique scene with Marcus where he reveals the Collective's smuggling operations.
• Missable CG 2: "A Golden Handshake" — When negotiating the grain tariff in Chapter 6, you must choose the option that gives the Merchant's Collective the most favorable terms, even if it lowers your Prestige.

03

A Guide to the Most Commonly Missed CGstag

Beyond the main character routes, a handful of miscellaneous CGs are hidden behind obscure requirements. These five are the reason most players get stuck at 98% completion. Here’s how to find them.

• Misc. CG #2: "The Midnight Bloom" This is arguably the most frustrating CG in the game due to its incredibly narrow time window. On Day 15, you must first speak to the Head Gardener in the castle's outer courtyard. After that conversation, but before attending the mandatory evening banquet, you must immediately travel to the Royal Gardens location on the city map. This triggers a short, unique scene and unlocks the CG. If you attend the banquet first, the opportunity is lost forever.

• Misc. CG #4: "The Scholar's Secret" In the Empress's study, there is a locked safe behind a painting. The combination is not a random puzzle; it is a piece of lore. To find it, you must first go to the Royal Library and interact with the bookshelf on the far left. Choose to read the book titled "Dynastic Histories, Vol. II." The text mentions the founding year of the empire: 1688. Return to the study and enter 1688 into the safe to unlock it, revealing a set of documents and this CG.

• Misc. CG #5: "A Noble Failure" This CG is tied to a specific "bad end." It is earned by failing the final, climactic stat check of the game. During the coronation ceremony at the very end of a character route, you will be judged on your fitness to rule. To get this scene, you must arrive at the ceremony with your Prestige stat below 50. This results in your public denouncement and exile, unlocking this unique failure CG.

04

How to Get the True Ending (And Its 5 CGs)tag

The True Ending is the ultimate prize for a completionist. It requires a dedicated playthrough where you skillfully balance all three factions without fully committing to any of them. This path unlocks a unique conclusion and the final set of CGs in the gallery.

Step 1: Maintain Faction Neutralitytag

Throughout the first three chapters, you must carefully alternate your support between the Royal Guard, Mages' Guild, and Merchant's Collective. If the game warns you that you are getting too close to one faction, immediately complete a quest or make a dialogue choice that benefits another. The goal is to arrive at Chapter 4 without being locked into any of the three main routes.

Step 2: Maximize Your Core Statstag

This is a hard requirement with no wiggle room. You must reach the final day of the game, Day 30, with both of your primary stats maxed out. The final check requires you to have 100 Prestige and 100 Influence. Prioritize choices that grant points in both stats whenever possible. Attending all optional social events and choosing diplomatic, widely-praised solutions is the most effective strategy.

Step 3: Complete All Companion Queststag

You must successfully complete the final personal side quests for Kael, Elara, AND Marcus within the same playthrough. This proves you have earned the loyalty of all three faction leaders. These quests are:

• Kael: "The Honor of a Knight"
• Elara: "The Sunken Archives"
• Marcus: "The Last Shipment"

Step 4: Make the Final Choicetag

If you arrive at the coronation ceremony with 100 Prestige, 100 Influence, and all three companion quests completed, a new, fourth dialogue option will appear. Instead of siding with a single faction or claiming the throne for yourself, you can choose to "Forge a new path." This choice triggers the True Ending, its unique cinematic, and unlocks the final batch of CGs for your gallery.

05

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)tag

Do I need to play the game multiple times for 100% CGs? Yes, absolutely. A minimum of four complete playthroughs is required: one for each of the three character routes (Kael, Elara, Marcus) and a fourth, separate run to meet the specific conditions for the True Ending.

Can I miss a miscellaneous CG and still get the True Ending? Yes. The True Ending is tied only to your core stats (Prestige and Influence) and the completion of the three main companion quests. You can fail to find missable CGs like "The Midnight Bloom" and still achieve the True Ending, but you will not have 100% gallery completion.

What's the fastest way to unlock all the bad ending CGs? The most efficient method is to maintain a master save file just before major stat checks or Quick Time Events (QTEs). From this save, you can intentionally fail the event to see the bad end and unlock its CG, then simply reload to continue on your main path without losing progress.

Does the game's difficulty setting affect CG unlocks? No. The difficulty setting in Road to Empress 2 only affects the challenge of its optional puzzle and combat sequences. All CGs are tied to narrative choices, stat values, and exploration triggers, which are unaffected by difficulty.

06

The Final Wordtag

With this guide, the path to 100% gallery completion in Road to Empress 2 is no longer a mystery. It's a matter of methodical playthroughs and targeting these specific, often-hidden triggers. By dedicating each run to a clear goal—be it Kael's route, a hunt for miscellaneous scenes, or the demanding True Ending—that final, gleaming achievement is well within your grasp.