Once you finally make it to the peak of Moon Mountain in The Midnight Walk and start setting fire to the strange circular device, the game throws a curveball: it presents you with a simple yet powerful choice—“Burn” or “Stop.” This moment catches many players off guard because, up until now, the game has been entirely linear, with no real decisions to make. So, when you’re suddenly asked to choose, it’s only natural to wonder: What’s the right call? And what happens depending on what you choose? Let’s break it down.
Burn or Stop? Your Choice at Moon Mountain in The Midnight Walk
The decision you make here will directly impact which of the game’s two endings you receive. Thankfully, the game is generous enough to place a save point just before the decision, allowing you to experience both outcomes without needing to replay large portions of the game. While the endings are open to interpretation, many fans consider the “Burn” choice to be the more hopeful or “true” ending. Read on to see why that is.
Understanding the Story Context
The world of The Midnight Walk is rich with symbolism, and much of its story is revealed through collectible Story Pages scattered across its six chapters. These pages slowly uncover the mystery of who took the sun and why the world now exists in eternal darkness.
Even without collecting every page, the central theme is clear: the loss of the sun has plunged the world into a bleak, desperate state, and fire—normally a destructive force—is viewed here as something sacred or redemptive. This idea plays a big role in how the endings are framed.
If You Choose “Burn”
Opting to burn the contraption fully triggers a dramatic scene where Potboy fans the flames until the device is completely consumed. This act seems to reignite the sun, or at least a new version of it, casting light across the world once more. You’ll unlock the Burn Out trophy for this ending.
As the sun blazes in the sky, the game flashes back to show familiar faces from your journey. Though their expressions aren’t fully visible, there’s an air of awe and cautious hope. Then come the monsters—creatures that haunted your path. They are frozen in fear, as if they instinctively understand that their time is up.
But this restoration comes at a cost. Potboy, Housy, and The Burnt One remain inside the fiery device, and the screen fades to white as the flames engulf them. It’s implied they don’t survive, but their sacrifice brings warmth and light back to the world.
If You Choose “Stop”
Deciding to stop the burn halts the flames and reveals what appears to be the moon, casting a pale glow over the scene. You’ll earn the Fade Away trophy here. This ending mirrors the other in structure, with flashbacks to the characters and creatures you encountered. However, this time the monsters aren’t afraid. The darkness persists, and the world remains unchanged—cold, quiet, and shadowed.
In the final scene, you regain control of your character, walking alongside Housy and Potboy once more. They are alive, and so is The Burnt One. Together, they continue their journey through the night; a never-ending walk in a damaged world.
This ending may seem more somber, as the world is still broken. But there’s a poetic angle too: perhaps the characters have learned to endure the darkness, to walk through it together without fear. It’s a quieter message: one of resilience rather than redemption.
Which Ending Should You Choose?
Ultimately, it’s a personal call. Burn offers a sacrificial but hopeful conclusion, restoring light at great cost. Stop keeps the cast alive but leaves them trapped in the same dark world, marching on with no end in sight. Depending on how you interpret the story, either could be seen as the more meaningful conclusion.
Thankfully, thanks to that handy save point, you don’t have to choose just one. Experience both and decide for yourself which ending resonates most.
But before you get to the endings, you may want to ensure that you have completed all collectibles in the game. Check our guides here for all collectibles in The Midnight Walk for Chapter 1 & Chapter 6.
