Author note: Written by Jachin, a 23-year Resident Evil series fan based in Seoul, South Korea. This guide is based on 6 full RE9 playthroughs on PS5 and Steam (Casual → Insanity → NG+ Insanity completions). All strategies, timings, and locations have been personally tested across the v1.02 patch. AI tools were used only for grammar review and note organization; no AI-generated content appears in strategy analysis.
Verified on: v1.02 + DLC patch · Last reviewed: May 30, 2026 · About the author · Editorial policies
All 8 RE9 endings ranked from must-play to skippable. Based on plot satisfaction, narrative payoff, character closure, and unlock effort. Spoilers behind reveal blocks. Whether you're a one-time player or completionist, this ranking tells you exactly which endings deserve your time.
| Rank | Ending | Character | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Grace True ("A Quiet Life") | Grace | S-tier — must play |
| #2 | Leon True ("Necessary Evil") | Leon | S-tier — must play |
| #3 | Grace Secret ("What Was Hidden") | Grace | A-tier — major payoff |
| #4 | Leon Secret ("Old Debt") | Leon | A-tier — major payoff |
| #5 | Grace Insanity ("The Cycle Continues") | Grace | B-tier — solid |
| #6 | Leon Insanity ("Quarantined") | Leon | B-tier — solid |
| #7 | Grace Bad ("Curiosity Killed the Hunter") | Grace | C-tier — narrative loss |
| #8 | Leon Bad ("The Hero's End") | Leon | C-tier — narrative loss |
Each ending was scored across 5 dimensions, with the composite determining tier placement:
| Dimension | What it measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Narrative payoff | Does the ending resolve story threads satisfyingly? | 30% |
| Character arc completion | Does the protagonist grow or change meaningfully? | 25% |
| Franchise importance | Does the ending matter for RE10/future entries? | 20% |
| Effort-to-reward ratio | Is the unlock difficulty proportional to the payoff? | 15% |
| Replay/discussion value | Does the ending generate community engagement? | 10% |
This isn't a "spoiler-free ending order" guide — that's a different document. This is a tier list ranking based on whether each ending is worth your time. The two True Endings dominate because they're both canonical and emotionally rich. The Bad Endings finish last because they exist primarily as "what if you make the wrong choice" rather than meaningful narrative.
Why it's #1: This is RE9's emotional centerpiece. Grace finds Mia Winters waiting in a helicopter, walks away from the ARK Facility, and chooses healing over revenge. The mid-credits scene of Grace placing her mother's necklace on a beach and walking into the sea is the franchise's most poetic moment in 20+ years.
Unlock effort: ★ Easy (any difficulty + "Destroy Sample")
Best for: First-time players, lore fans, Capcom canon followers (this is the intended ending)
Trophy: "A Quiet Life" (silver)
Grace's True Ending succeeds because it earns its catharsis. After 14 hours of investigation driven by trauma, Grace finally gets a chance to stop. Mia Winters's helicopter appearance is the franchise's biggest emotional bridge — RE7 (2017) to RE9 (2026) closes a 9-year loop. Director Koshi Nakanishi confirmed in Famitsu that this was the moment he planned from finishing RE7. See our Mia connection deep-dive.
Why it's #2: Leon delivers the RNA sample to Chris Redfield and officially joins BSAA, ending 28 years of solo-agent status. The "Coffee?" "Yeah. Coffee." exchange is one of the franchise's most quietly powerful character beats. Slightly below Grace True because it depends on Grace True being unlocked first.
Unlock effort: ★★ Medium (requires Grace True save first, then any difficulty + "Preserve Sample")
Best for: Long-time Leon fans, BSAA lore followers
Trophy: "Necessary Evil" (silver)
Leon joining BSAA collapses the franchise's 25-year parallel-agent setup (Leon vs Chris). For the first time, all major heroes are under one institutional umbrella. This is Capcom's biggest organizational reset since BSAA's founding in 2004. See our BSAA new direction analysis.
Why it's #3: The Bulgaria surveillance photo of Eveline is the single most important plot reveal in the entire game. It confirms Eveline survived RE7, sets up RE10, and reframes Grace's arc as ongoing. Slightly below True endings because it requires NG+ Insanity + a specific item pickup.
Unlock effort: ★★★★ Hard (NG+ Insanity + Chunk encrypted file + "Destroy Sample")
Best for: Lore enthusiasts, RE10 speculation fans
Trophy: "What Was Hidden" (gold)
The Varna, Bulgaria surveillance image (dated 20.04.2026 — exactly 14 days before Grace's campaign starts) confirms Eveline is alive and in her child form. Combined with Grace's "Mom's alive" line, this suggests the Vivien Ashcroft connection theory. RE10 is being directly set up here.
Why it's #4: Ada Wong's first on-screen "thank you" in 21 years of canon. The line "Thank you, Leon. For everything" is positioned as Ada's emotional mask finally dropping. The "Albert's son" mystery teases RE10's villain. Below Grace Secret because it requires more prerequisites.
Unlock effort: ★★★ Medium-Hard (Grace True save + NG+ Standard+ + Ada beacon + "Preserve Sample")
Best for: Leon/Ada relationship fans (decades-long arc), Wesker bloodline followers
Trophy: "Old Debt" (gold)
Across RE2 (1998), RE4 (2004), RE6 (2013), and Damnation (2009), Ada has never said "thank you" to Leon on-screen. Capcom's director confirmed the dialogue was rewritten 17 times. This is the 21-year Leon-Ada arc finally moving. See our Ada Wong RE9 reversal analysis.
Why it's #5: Same as True Ending up until the helicopter is shot down by an unknown sniper. Mia survives, Grace dies. A black-gloved hand picks up her body. This is Capcom commenting on Grace's vulnerability and franchise instability — but it lands as cynical rather than satisfying.
Unlock effort: ★★★★ Hard (Insanity + no NG+ carry weapons + "Destroy Sample")
Best for: Completionists, those who want darkest possible interpretation
Trophy: "The Cycle Continues" (gold)
Why it's #6: Leon is infected during escape, walks into a quarantine zone alone. The unsent "I'm sorry" text to Helena is emotionally heavy but feels disconnected from Leon's broader arc. It's a tragic alternate timeline rather than a meaningful character resolution.
Unlock effort: ★★★★ Hard (Insanity + take a hit during escape + "Preserve Sample")
Best for: Completionists, fans of "everyone dies" alternate timelines
Trophy: "Quarantined" (gold)
Why it's #7: Grace tries to preserve a Plant 43 sample for study, but the mold consumes her. Final shot: Plant 43 with Grace's face partially visible. The ending exists to punish the wrong final choice and provide a trophy. It works thematically but offers no lasting narrative value.
Unlock effort: ★ Easy (any difficulty + "Preserve Sample")
Best for: Trophy completionists only
Trophy: "Curiosity Killed the Hunter" (silver)
Why it's #8: Leon refuses to leave without saving every civilian, runs back into the ARK as it self-destructs. The "Tell Helena... it wasn't her fault" line is poignant but the ending feels narratively flat — Leon dying for an impossible save serves no broader purpose. Lowest ranking because Leon's arc requires a meaningful resolution he doesn't get here.
Unlock effort: ★ Easy (any difficulty + "Destroy Sample" without Grace True)
Best for: Trophy completionists only
Trophy: "The Hero's End" (silver)
| Player type | Recommended ending(s) | Why |
|---|---|---|
| One-time player | Grace True only | Catches the emotional core in 14 hours |
| Story-focused player | Grace True + Leon True + Grace Secret | All major narrative content covered |
| Lore enthusiast | Grace Secret + Leon Secret | Both contain RE10 setup content |
| Trophy hunter | All 8 (mandatory for Platinum) | See trophy guide |
| Speedrunner | Grace True + Leon True only | Skip the slow-unlock endings |
| Insanity completionist | Grace Insanity + Grace Secret | Both require Insanity, can be done together |
| RE7 fan | Grace True (Mia cameo) + Grace Secret (Eveline reveal) | Both connect directly to RE7 lore |
| RE2/RE4 fan | Leon True + Leon Secret (Ada moment) | Pays off 21-year character arcs |
Q: Is this ranking subjective?
A: Partially. The methodology is scored across 5 dimensions, but the weights and individual judgments reflect a single perspective. Lore fans will likely agree on the top 4; trophy hunters may rank Bad endings higher because of completion value.
Q: Does Capcom consider one ending canon?
A: Director Koshi Nakanishi confirmed Grace True + Leon True (both played) is the intended canon path. The next game's reveal trailer features both Mia Winters (Grace True) and Leon in BSAA tactical gear (Leon True).
Q: Should I watch the lower-ranked endings on YouTube instead of unlocking them?
A: For Bad endings (#7, #8) — yes, YouTube saves time. For Insanity endings (#5, #6) — playing them yourself is worth it because the difficulty gives the endings emotional weight. For Secret endings (#3, #4) — definitely play; they contain trophy progress and franchise lore.
Q: Will the ranking change if I disagree with the methodology?
A: Use the 5-dimension framework above to make your own ranking. We'd be interested in alternative rankings — email us at re9uiem@re9guide.it.com.
Q: Are there any cut endings or hidden 9th ending?
A: Per datamined files, Capcom developed 11 endings during early production but cut 3. The 8 in the final game are all confirmed canon scenarios. No hidden 9th ending exists.
Q: How do these rankings compare to other RE games?
A: RE9's True Endings (#1, #2) rank above almost any RE2/RE4/RE7 ending for narrative weight. The Bad endings (#7, #8) are RE9's weakest — most other RE games have more meaningful "wrong choice" endings.
Q: Will future DLC add new endings?
A: Capcom hasn't confirmed, but rumored 2026 late-year DLC may include a Mercenaries mode (not a new ending). Story DLC adding endings would be unusual for the franchise.
Was this guide helpful? Let us know — we update tier rankings monthly based on community feedback and balance patches.
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