Key takeaways
- Fragment 1: Layer 4 side tunnel, past the pressure door.
- Fragment 2: Layer 5 flooded vault — requires Rebreather and a spare Rope Coil for the underwater anchor.
- Fragment 3: Layer 6, on the Surveyor’s workbench, but only if you spared the Surveyor at Layer 4.
Dig to Escape All Endings Guide: Every Route, Choice, and Item You Need
Dig to Escape has four endings — Surface Escape, Deeper Down, Buried Star, and Hollow Crown — and you can unlock all of them in a single save file over roughly two playthroughs, provided you handle the Layer 3 gate correctly. The key fact most guides miss: the Rebreather is the only item that permanently locks a route if you skip it, so pick it up on your first descent through Layer 2 before you break the sealed wall. Everything else is reversible through the Layer 5 checkpoint system.
Quick Comparison: Endings and What Each Requires
| Ending | Required items | Key decision | Extra sections needed | Rough time cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Escape | Rope Coil ×2, Lantern | Leave the Hollow Gate sealed | None (base route) | ~40 min |
| Deeper Down | Rebreather, Drill Bit Mk2 | Break the Layer 3 wall | Layer 4 side tunnel | ~1 h 20 min |
| Buried Star | Rebreather, Star Fragment ×3, Rope Coil | Spare the Surveyor at Layer 4 | Layers 4–6 | ~2 h 10 min |
| Hollow Crown | All above + Crown Sigil | Return to the gate with the Sigil | New Game Plus only | ~35 min (NG+ run) |
Times assume you already know the layouts. A first blind run through all four endings typically lands between 6 and 9 hours per the community completionist average; a routed run with skip knowledge sits closer to 4.5 hours.
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The Four Endings, Step by Step
Surface Escape — the baseline ending
Definition: you climb out without ever breaking the Layer 3 wall, leaving the Hollow Gate closed behind you. This is the route the game pushes you toward if you decline every prompt to dig deeper.
- Do not pick up the Drill Bit Mk2 at Layer 2. Reason: having it in inventory triggers the wall prompt automatically at Layer 3, which is an irreversible branch point until Layer 5.
- Collect both Rope Coil pieces — one in the collapsed shaft on Layer 1, one in the flooded room on Layer 2. Reason: the exit shaft needs two anchor points, and the second coil is unobtainable after Layer 3 collapses.
- Keep the Lantern lit through Layer 3. Reason: the darkness timer on Layer 3 kills on a 90-second countdown when unlit; the Lantern resets it.
- Climb the exit shaft using the two coils. Reason: this is the only ending that requires no boss encounter, making it the fastest unlock.
Worked example: a fresh save to Surface Escape credits takes about 40 minutes at a normal pace — roughly 12 minutes on Layer 1, 14 on Layer 2, and 14 on Layer 3 plus the climb.
Deeper Down — breaking the wall
Pick up the Drill Bit Mk2 on Layer 2 (it’s in the tool crate behind the second water valve) and the Rebreather from the side alcove. At the Layer 3 wall, hold the drill prompt for the full 8-second cycle — releasing early resets it and the wall re-seals, costing you another full cycle.
Past the wall, go straight through Layer 4’s main tunnel to the descent shaft. Do not take the side tunnel unless you’re chasing Buried Star. The ending triggers when you reach the bottom of the Layer 4 shaft without the Star Fragments in inventory.
Buried Star — the collection route
This one needs three Star Fragments, and they only spawn if the Rebreather is equipped when you enter each room. Per the game’s official patch notes (1.4 update), Fragment spawns were made conditional on equipment state specifically to prevent sequence-breaking.
- Fragment 1: Layer 4 side tunnel, past the pressure door.
- Fragment 2: Layer 5 flooded vault — requires Rebreather and a spare Rope Coil for the underwater anchor.
- Fragment 3: Layer 6, on the Surveyor’s workbench, but only if you spared the Surveyor at Layer 4.
If you killed the Surveyor on an earlier run, Fragment 3 will not appear until a fresh save. This is the single most common reason players report being “locked out” of Buried Star.
Hollow Crown — New Game Plus only
The Crown Sigil does not exist in a first playthrough. Once you’ve cleared any ending, a New Game Plus save is created; on that file, the Sigil sits in the Layer 1 shrine, which is otherwise decorative on a normal run. Carry it back to the Hollow Gate and the gate opens instead of sealing.
Hollow Crown takes about 35 minutes on NG+ if you beeline — you don’t need the Fragments or the Rope Coils for this one, only the Sigil and a working Lantern.
Decision Matrix: Which Route Fits Your Current Save
| Your situation | Do this next | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First playthrough, no items yet | Surface Escape, then reload the Layer 3 autosave | Fastest unlock; Layer 3 autosave holds before the branch |
| Have Rebreather, missing Drill Bit | Backtrack to Layer 2 tool crate | Drill Bit is permanently missable after Layer 3 |
| Killed the Surveyor | Fresh save for Buried Star; do the other three first | Fragment 3 never spawns otherwise |
| Cleared any ending already | Hollow Crown on NG+ | Sigil only exists on NG+ files |
| Under 2 hours to play | Deeper Down + Hollow Crown | Neither needs the Fragment collection loop |
Items You Actually Need (and What They Cost You)
- Rebreather — Layer 2 alcove. Required for Buried Star and Deeper Down’s flooded stretch. Irreversible if skipped.
- Drill Bit Mk2 — Layer 2 tool crate. Required for both wall-breaking endings.
- Rope Coil ×2 — Layer 1 and Layer 2. Needed for Surface Escape and Fragment 2. The Layer 2 coil is lost if Layer 3 collapses first.
- Star Fragment ×3 — conditional spawns, see above.
- Crown Sigil — NG+ Layer 1 shrine only.
- Lantern — starting item, but its oil burns down over roughly 25 minutes of continuous use. Refill canisters are found on Layers 2 and 4; if you run dry on Layer 3 the darkness timer kills you.
Common Mistakes That Force a Replay
Three errors account for most of the reported “I can’t get this ending” threads. First, releasing the drill prompt early at the Layer 3 wall — the wall re-seals and there is no second Drill Bit. Second, entering the Layer 4 side tunnel without the Rebreather equipped; the Fragment simply doesn’t render, and players assume it’s a bug. Third, overwriting the Layer 3 autosave after breaking the wall, which removes the ability to go back for Surface Escape without a fresh save. Keep a manual save from Layer 3 before you commit.
None of the item pickups have a real-world cost or purchase element — everything is found in-world — so the only “price” is time. Budget roughly 12–14 minutes per layer on a routed run and add ~20 minutes for each Fragment detour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get all endings in one playthrough?
You can get three of the four in a single save by using the Layer 3 autosave and the Layer 5 checkpoint to branch, but Hollow Crown requires New Game Plus because the Crown Sigil does not exist on a first file. Plan for two runs minimum.
Is the Rebreather really mandatory?
Yes, for Deeper Down and Buried Star. Without it, the flooded sections on Layers 4 and 5 are impassable, and Star Fragment 2 will not spawn. Surface Escape is the only ending that doesn’t need it.
What happens if I kill the Surveyor?
You lose access to Star Fragment 3 permanently on that save, which locks out Buried Star. Per the game’s 1.4 patch notes, the Fragment’s spawn is tied directly to the Surveyor being alive at Layer 4.
How long does a full all-endings run take?
Roughly 4.5 hours if you know the routes, or 6–9 hours blind. Hollow Crown on NG+ adds only about 35 minutes once you have a cleared file.
Does the Lantern ever run out for good?
No — refill canisters respawn on Layers 2 and 4 each visit, so you can always top up. The risk is only running dry mid-Layer 3, where the 90-second darkness timer applies before you can backtrack.
Can I change my ending choice after the wall?
Partially. Deeper Down and Buried Star share the same branch point, so if you have the Fragments when you reach the Layer 4 shaft bottom you get Buried Star; without them you get Deeper Down. Surface Escape can only be recovered from a pre-wall save.
