This Until Dawn walkthrough will help you make the choices you need to keep everyone alive. This guide covers the key decisions tied to the game's Butterfly Effect, which is what determines the characters' fates. There plenty of minor dialogue and exploration choices that do not affect your cast in any major way, so what's here is only what you must do for the best overall outcome.
There are also obviously the quick time events as well, where you need to always press the buttons successfully (unless otherwise noted). But there's not much we can do to help you there except to say try and get it right. You may also find variations of the events written here that will get you through safely, but this guide is a guaranteed formula for surviving the night.
Until Dawn Chapter 1
Any of Your Business choices
When you first reach the cable car station, you'll spot a phone sticking out of a backpack. It's ringing, but go ahead and ignore it, zipping up the bag instead. This is really a tutorial on the Butterfly Effect, but not being nosy is just common courtesy.
Until Dawn Rats with Bushy Tails choices
When you assume control of Chris, you'll be able to blast a couple targets at the shooting range - including an innocent squirrel. Do not shoot the little guy.
Until Dawn The Soul of Discretion, Part 1 choices
When you're first introduced to Ashley, she'll be spying on Emily and Mike through a telescope. Matt will enter after a moment, and you can choose whether to let him look through the telescope or not. Let him, and he'll see Emily flirting.
Until Dawn Snowball Fight choices
This isn't part of the Butterfly Effect menu, but it's important nonetheless. During Mike and Jessica's snowball fight, a bird will land on nearby table. Do not pelt him; let the timer run down instead.
Until Dawn Chapter 2
Until Dawn The Soul of Discretion, Part 2 choices
When Mike and Matt run into each other in the lodge, you'll have a choice to confront him about what you saw him doing with Emily. Don't get too aggressive.
Until Dawn Whose Side Are You On choices
Shortly after, an argument will break out between Emily and Jessica. Side with your girlfriend Emily, of course.
Until Dawn Be Her Hero, Part 1 choices
On the way to the guest cabin, Jessica will fall into a mine. Hop down to give her a hand - it's just decent of you.
Until Dawn Something for Later, Part 1 choices
When Sam and Josh go into the basement to start the boiler, you can find a baseball bat near the boiler itself. Make sure you examine this before giving Josh a hand.
Until Dawn Chapter 3
Until Dawn Be Her Hero, Part 2 choices
There are several chances to flirt with Jessica along the path, so take the opportunity to do so. Eventually, you'll come across a dying deer. Comfort it, and be chased back to the cabin. When Jessica trips on the porch, be sure to help her up. 'Prove your manliness' enough, and you'll get a little action once you've lit a fire inside. Yeah, it's corny.
Until Dawn Chapter 4
Until Dawn To the Rescue choices
In order to save Jessica, you'll need to guide Mike along all the risky paths and be pretty accurate with the quick time events. Choose to Risk Shortcut, Jump Down, Jump, then Risk Slide Down to complete this section as fast as possible, and as long as you weren't too slack with the button matching then you should reach Jessica before it's too late.
Until Dawn …And Which One Will Die, Part 1 choices
When you have to make a choice with the spinning saw, make sure you save Ashley by moving the lever towards Josh.
Until Dawn Chapter 5
Until Dawn At What Price choices
In the sanatorium morgue, you'll spot this strange contraption. If you interact with it, Mike will get his hand caught in the bear trap hidden inside. Just ignore it and continue on, fingers and machete intact.
Until Dawn Man's Best Friend, Part 1 choices
As soon as Mike enters the sanatorium chapel, a wolf will bark at him. Kick him to defend yourself. Don't let a bit of animal cruelty get to you - in the same room is a large chest containing bones. Pick one up and give it to the wolf to make amends.
Until Dawn On the Same Page choices
When Matt and Emily check out the cable car station, they'll learn of a nearby fire tower that could be of help. When Emily suggests this, you can agree with her or suggest going back to the lodge. Say yes to her plan.
Until Dawn Something for Later, Part 2 choices
When Sam finds herself in the cinema room, the psycho will attack. Chuck a vase, then leap over the bed to keep running. When you reach the basement, choose to hide. Stay put until the psycho grabs you - yes, grabs you. When he does, you'll be able to grab the baseball bat from earlier, slug him, and escape. Force your way through the final door to make it out alive.
Until Dawn Run or Hide choices
So you escaped from the psycho for now, great. Whatever you do, do not backtrack and try the door you just came through: you'll be immediately caught. Instead, head down the hallway and hide when given the chance. Stay hidden, and you'll make it out alive... again.
Until Dawn Chapter 6
Until Dawn In Self Defense choices
At the chapter start, Matt and Emily will be backed against a cliff by a herd of elk. Keep her calm and inch forward. You may get a chance to swing your axe into some of the more riled up animals, but not do this - let the moment pass. You'll be able to calmly wade your way through the herd to safety.
Until Dawn Who Gets the Gun choices
When you reach the fire tower, head outside to find a flare gun in a case on the opposite side of the top floor. You can them choose to keep the gun with Emily or give it to Matt. Let Matt have it, and he'll fire it off.
Until Dawn Save Yourself, Part 1 choices
One of the game's craziest moments involves your lovely fire tower sliding down a hill into the mines. When it does, Matt will have the option to try to save Emily or jump to safety. It may seem selfish, but you'll have to jump if you want to keep both characters alive.
Until Dawn Forewarned is Forearmed, Part 1 choices
After examining the doll house and entering a new part of the basement, check the workbench immediately beyond the door. After reading the catalogue there, you'll spot a pair of scissors - take them.
Until Dawn Stick Together choices
Deep in the old hotel, Chris will open a heavy door for the two of you, but another figure appears back in the workshop. You can either stay with Chris or go after that other person. Do the smart thing and stick together.
Until Dawn Forewarned is Forearmed, Part 2 choices
Shortly after, the psycho will attack the two of you. Give him a nice stab wound with those scissors you grabbed earlier.
Until Dawn Point Blank, Part 1 choices
This is a tough one. In the depths of the old hotel, Chris and Ashley will find themselves strapped to chairs, with saws above their heads and a gun on the table. You'll have a choice of who to shoot. However, you can also wait out the clock and not shoot anybody at all - do that instead.
Until Dawn Chapter 7
Until Dawn Flamethrower Man choices
While Emily runs from this guy, you'll have a chance to light a can of spilled oil ablaze. Don't do it; just let the timer run down, and move on.
Until Dawn …And Which One Will Die, Part 2 choices
When Chris and Mike drag Josh out to the shed, they'll both be brandishing weapons. Take the high road and disarm Mike.
Until Dawn Chapter 8
Until Dawn Once Bitten, Part 1 choices
During her escape from the mines, Emily may end up being bitten by the Wendigo. However, this isn't as serious as you might think. You'll learn more shortly.
Until Dawn Point Blank, Part 2 choices
Chris will have to fight his way back to the cabin after the Wendigo kills the Flamethrower Man. Shoot the thing at every chance you get, and when you get back to the house, Ashley will be there to open the door for you.
Until Dawn Once Bitten, Part 2 choices
If Emily got bitten by the Wendigo, then at some point in the safe room everyone will find out and Mike will point a gun at her - make sure you don't pull the trigger, so you spare her life and the truth about her bite can be discovered.
Until Dawn Chapter 9
Until Dawn Man's Best Friend, Part 2 choices
When you return to the sanatorium, the now-friendly wolf will guide you through the psych ward. This will make your trip a lot easier in general. If you get overwhelmed by a Wendigo, he'll come to your rescue - but only once. Better to make sure you complete the quick time events.
Until Dawn Explosive Barrel choices
When you reach the gated bridge, be sure to roll the oil drum over and kick it forward. When the pair of Wendigo attack, blast the barrel to kill them both.
Until Dawn Man's Best Friend, Part 3 choices
In the final moments of the Wendigo chase, you have some split-second decisions to make. If you're looking to get your wolf friend out alive, make sure to barricade the door when you have the chance. Then in the final room, you'll have the option to shoot the remaining Wendigo or blast the explosive barrels all around you. Do not shoot the barrels - you'll die in the explosion.
Until Dawn Left Behind choices
When you take control of Ashley in the tunnels, you'll immediately have a choice to leave Chris behind. You've stuck together up to this point, so keep it up - don't let him stay back.
Until Dawn Trap Door choices
Shortly after, you'll have a choice to investigate a voice or stick with the group. You can follow the voice to find a totem, but you'll see a trap door too. Whatever you do, do not open it - Ashley will be instantly killed by a Wendigo on the other side.
Until Dawn Chapter 10
Until Dawn Important Discovery choices
When you reach the water with Sam and Mike, hop in and follow the left wall to find another ledge you can climb onto. This is actually where you'll find the final Twins clue, the Scrawled Journal. Read it to learn the true identity of the Wendigo - it's imperative that Josh learns this.
Until Dawn Save Yourself, Part 2 choices
When Matt finds Jessica in the mines, you'll be pursued by yet another Wendigo. Hide when you have the option, then continue forward. You'll then have a choice to hide together or abandon her. Stick together, and you'll both survive the encounter. Matt and Jessica are now safe for the last leg of the game.
Until Dawn The Result of Chaos choices
This is it, the final hurdle in getting everyone else through this insanity alive. A pack of Wendigo will invade the lodge with Sam, Mike, Chris, Ashley, and Emily stuck inside. Don't bother to lock the door on the beasts - run with the others to the living room. These final moments are key. The Hannah Wendigo will actually kill off a few of the other monsters, but you need to stay completely still when the game calls for it.
When asked to save Mike or run, save Mike; when asked to run or hide, hide. This will let your friends slip out the door. You'll then have one last choice to run or hide - hide. In between all these choices, you'll need to stay still (during the game's most intense moments, I might add). And Josh? You'll see a credits stinger revealing him to be alive and well. Well, he's become a Wendigo, but at least he 'survived.'
At this point you should unlock the Four Daughters Of Darkness, The Quicker Man, and They All Live trophies - congratulations!
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