Slay the Princess, a 2023 indie game hit, has returned with The Pristine Cut, an expansion adding approximately 35% more content. This update features new routes, improved existing storylines, three new princesses, and fresh achievements. This guide will walk you through unlocking each new route in Slay the Princess — The Pristine Cut.
Happily Ever After Route
Happily Ever After Epilogue in Slay the Princess.
One of the three new princesses becomes accessible through the Happily Ever After route, branching from The Damsel route. Begin a new game and follow these dialogue choices to reach The Damsel:
- [Silently continue to the cabin.]
- [Proceed into the cabin.]
- [Enter the basement.]
- I’m here to save you!
- I’ll see what I can do. [Examine the chains.]
- And if there isn’t a key … do you have any other ideas?
- [Return to the bottom of the stairs.]
- [Save the Princess.]
- [Approach the locked door.]
- [Warn her.]
- [Resist.]
The Damsel in Slay the Princess.
Having reached Chapter II: The Damsel, rescue her again by selecting these options:
- [Proceed to the cabin.]
- [Proceed into the cabin.]
- [Enter the basement.]
- [Rescue the Princess.]
Two paths lead to Happily Ever After: the Voice of the Paranoid and the Voice of the Opportunist.
The Damsel dialogue in Slay the Princess.
For the Voice of the Paranoid, when prompted “… What do we do now?”, choose We leave. And then we have our whole lives to figure out what we do next. Open the door, tell the Princess you won’t slay her, choose the dialogue starting with All we need to be happy is each other, and finally Trust me.
For the Voice of the Opportunist, select (Explore) What do you want to do?, then (Explore) I want you to tell me what you want., followed by (Explore) But what would make you happy? Persisting with this line of questioning eventually reveals the option beginning Okay. Clearly something is happening here.
This leads to Epilogue: Happily Ever After, with multiple endings based on your actions when only one flame remains.
The Princess and the Dragon Route
The Princess and the Dragon route in Slay the Princess.
The Princess and the Dragon route branches from The Spectre route. Initiate it with these choices:
- [Silently continue to the cabin.]
- [Proceed into the cabin.]
- (Explore) [Take the blade.]
- [Continue down the stairs.]
- [Steel your nerves and step forward.]
- [Slay the Princess.]
- Of course it is. She’s dead.
- [Leave.]
- I was kind of hoping I’d get a better ending for saving the world.
- Hell no, do you have any idea how to get us the heck out of here?
- Anything to get out of this hell.
The Spectre in Slay the Princess.
In Chapter II: The Spectre, become possessed by the Princess and then stab yourself to trigger The Princess and the Dragon route:
- [Proceed to the cabin.]
- [Proceed into the cabin.]
- (Explore) [Take the blade.]
- [Enter the basement.]
Two variations exist: the Harsh Princess and the Gentle Princess. For the Harsh Princess, immediately attempt to slay her, inquire about her desires, and allow possession. Then, slay the Princess. For the Gentle Princess, converse and explore the situation before allowing possession and then slaying her. Each path offers unique choices and endings.
The Cage Route
The Cage route in Slay the Princess.
The Cage route unlocks after reaching The Prisoner route through these choices:
- [Silently continue to the cabin.]
- [Proceed into the cabin.]
- (Explore) [Take the blade.]
- [Continue down the stairs.]
- [Steel your nerves and step forward.]
- [Drop the blade.]
- Okay, we’ve talked enough.
- I’m getting you out of here. [Examine the chains.]
- And if there isn’t a key…do you have any ideas?
- [Return to the bottom of the stairs.]
- [Save the Princess.]
- [Approach the locked door.]
- [Warn her.]
- [Resist.]
The Prisoner in Slay the Princess.
In Chapter II: The Prisoner, trigger The Cage route by having the Princess slay herself as you exit the basement:
- [Proceed to the cabin.]
- [Proceed into the cabin.]
- (Explore) [Take the blade.]
- [Enter the basement.]
- [Sit with her.]
- [Sit where you were told to sit.]
- (Explore) What would you have me do?
- Okay. I’m trusting you. [Give her the knife.]
- [Look away] or [Watch in uneasy silence.]
- [Leave the basement to claim your reward.]
The Prisoner cabin in Slay the Princess.
With the exit blocked, choose Let us out of here to access The Cage route via three Voices.
For the Voice of the Broken, choose I don’t want to die again (unlocking the Restless Thoughts achievement), then Is there really no other way?. Give the knife to the Voice of the Skeptic to enter The Cage.
For the Voice of the Cheated, select I don’t want to die again and refuse to kill yourself with Sorry, but we’re not doing that.
For the Voice of the Paranoid, ask What do you suggest then? and then slay yourself.
This initiates Chapter III: The Cage, offering unique endings and achievements.
