Should you stab Gene in High on Life?

Stab Gene High on Life
(Image credit: Squanch)

Wondering whether to stab Gene in High on Life? We don’t normally attack aliens just because our talking knife says so, but High on Life’s Knifey makes a convincing case against his old master. So the question is: what happens if you stab Gene? What are the terrible consequences of this morally questionable action?

It goes without saying, but there are some spoilers ahead. However, if you wish to know what happens if you stab Gene in High on Life, here’s the answer.

Should you stab Gene in High on Life?

Short answer: stabbing Gene doesn’t kill him. In fact, it doesn’t even anger him, as he’s “lived through worse”. What it does do though, is grant you a secret achievement: Don’t Hand the Knife that Feeds.

However, it's important to keep in mind that once you hand in the 9 Torg bounty, you can’t stab Gene anymore. The moment when you get home, and Knifey starts pressuring you, really is the only chance to get the achievement.

What is the High on Life stab Gene choice?

Stab Gene High on Life

(Image credit: Squanch)

Fairly early on in the game, you meet an ex-bounty hunter vagrant named Gene. He sets you up with a mission to kill 9 Torg, a local crime boss. He also asks you to retrieve his beloved knife, which he gambled away.

So, off you go, into the slums, where you need to fight off a bunch of Torg minions. Keep following the objective until you find a room with two aliens trying to sell Gene’s knife (see picture above). The easiest way to get rid of them is to pretend to be a buyer, and stab the aliens once they hand you the knife. 

As it turns out, Gene’s knife is a blood-thirsty maniac who wishes to stab anything and everything, including his former owner. After defeating 9 Torg and dealing with the issue of whether you should kill 5 Torg in High on Life, you need to head home, where Knifey will once again ask you to stab Gene in a rather… Suggestive way. 

When you get home, Gene will be lying on the couch, utterly defenceless. While we can’t say for certain that there are no long-term consequences for stabbing Gene, it seems highly unlikely that this will come back to haunt you. Later you'll also be asked should Gene should leave or stay in High on Life as well, so check that guide out when the moment comes.

And that’s everything we know about the High on Life stab Gene player choice. Listening to a psychotic knife can be the right choice after all. Once all that's done if you want to find some secret areas in the game then check out the High on Life warp discs and crystals and what they can unlock. 

Marloes Valentina Stella

I’m a freelance journalist who (surprise!) kind of has a thing for videogames. When I’m not working on guides for GamesRadar, you can probably find me somewhere in Teyvat, Novigrad, or Whiterun. Unless I’m feeling competitive, in which case you should try Erangel. You can also find my words on PCGamesN, Fanbyte, PCGamer, Polygon, Esports Insider, and Game Rant.