Ending 1
The hero saves the princess, only to realize he is the cause of the fire.
Ending 1 is one of three distinct conclusions available to the player in the puzzle-platformer Braid, developed by Jonathan Blow and released in 2008. It serves as the initial resolution to the game's narrative, occurring after the player completes all seven chapters without utilizing the specific time-manipulation mechanics required for the other endings. In this sequence, Tim successfully rescues the Princess from a burning castle, only to discover that his actions have inadvertently caused the destruction he sought to prevent.
- Game
- Braid
- Developer
- Number None (Jonathan Blow)
- Platform
- Xbox 360 (Original), Windows, iOS, etc.
- Unlock Condition
- Complete Chapters 1-7 without using the 'Time Rewind' mechanic on the final door in Chapter 5 or specific mechanics in later chapters to alter the timeline
- Narrative Role
- False Resolution / Irony Reveal
- Key Character
- Tim
Lore & Background
The ending implies a cyclical tragedy where Tim's obsession with saving the Princess drives him to destroy the very world he inhabits. Unlike the other endings, which explore complex temporal paradoxes or the nature of memory, Ending 1 offers a stark, linear cause-and-effect conclusion: the 'hero' is revealed to be the antagonist. This interpretation suggests that the game's puzzles were not just about time manipulation, but about understanding the consequences of one's actions within a fixed timeline.
In Their Own Story
The heat radiates through the stone floor as Tim sprints across the crumbling bridge. Behind him, the castle he spent days navigating burns with an unnatural intensity, orange light flickering against the night sky. The Princess runs ahead, her white dress stained with soot, glancing back in terror not at the fire, but at him. He reaches out, his hand brushing her shoulder as she stumbles onto the precipice. "I saved you," he whispers, though the smoke chokes the words before they can land.
Reader's Guide
Ending 1 is characterized by a somber, fiery aesthetic that contrasts sharply with the pastel, puzzle-focused environments of the preceding chapters. Narratively, it functions as a red herring, presenting a surface-level 'happy ending' that immediately subverts itself to reveal Tim's guilt.
The chapter concludes in the final room of Chapter 7, where the player must simply open the door without having altered the timeline via specific mechanics in earlier levels. There are no hidden secrets or collectibles within this specific ending sequence; its purpose is purely narrative closure for the 'standard' playthrough. The visual style shifts to a darker palette dominated by oranges and blacks, emphasizing the destruction of the castle.
Did You Know?
- Ending 1 was designed to be the conclusion players reach if they do not experiment with the game's time mechanics in later chapters.
- The text displayed during this ending explicitly states that Tim's actions caused the fire, flipping the traditional damsel-in-distress trope.
- This is one of three possible endings, each offering a different interpretation of the relationship between Tim and the Princess.
- The burning castle imagery in Ending 1 is directly referenced in the game's manual and promotional material as a central mystery.
More in Worlds & Chapters
Elsewhere in the Braid universe
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