To get the True Ending in Persona 4 Golden, you have to correctly identify the game’s true killer during the December investigation scene, then choose to stay in Inaba on March 20 instead of leaving. Get either choice wrong and the game locks you into one of several Bad or Normal endings instead, with no way back once you’ve passed that point in a save file.
Spoiler warning: this guide names the game’s true culprit and walks through the final stretch of the story in detail. If you haven’t reached December in your playthrough, bookmark this and come back later.
True Ending vs. Golden Ending: They Are Not the Same Thing
Most walkthroughs use “true ending” and “golden ending” interchangeably, but in Persona 4 Golden specifically they’re two separate requirements stacked on top of each other. The True Ending is the base epilogue that also exists in the original PS2 release. The Golden Ending is exclusive to the Golden re-release (and now Persona 4 Revival), requires maxing an entirely separate Social Link, and adds a whole extra dungeon on top of the True Ending path. You cannot get the Golden Ending without first securing the True Ending, but you can get the True Ending without ever touching the Golden Ending’s requirements. It’s the same kind of easy-to-miss layered requirement that trips people up in other RPGs’ postgame content, from hidden social-link-style bonds to DLC-expanded editions like Elden Ring’s Tarnished Edition quietly changing what a “complete” playthrough even means.
| Ending | What it requires | Exclusive to Golden/Revival? |
|---|---|---|
| Bad Ending | Accuse the wrong suspect on December 5 | No |
| Normal Ending | Accuse Adachi correctly, then choose to leave Inaba on March 20 | No |
| True Ending | Accuse Adachi correctly, then choose to stay on March 20 and complete the final dungeon | No |
| Golden Ending | True Ending requirements, plus Marie’s Social Link (Aeon) maxed by December 24 and the Hollow Forest dungeon cleared | Yes |
Step 1: Accuse Adachi on December 5
On December 5, the Investigation Team confronts you about who they believe is behind the Midnight Channel murders. Choose Adachi. Getting this wrong locks you out of both the True and Golden endings for that save file — there’s no way to correct it afterward, so if you’re not sure, save a separate backup file before this scene.
Step 2: Max Marie’s Social Link by December 24 (Golden Ending Only)
If you only want the True Ending, skip this step. For the Golden Ending, Marie’s Aeon Social Link needs to hit Rank 10 by December 24. Marie is available from early in the game once you unlock the Velvet Room’s access to her, and her Social Link raises through normal hangout events like any other confidant. Missing the December 24 deadline doesn’t cost you the True Ending — it just closes off the Golden Ending and the Hollow Forest content for that playthrough.
Step 3: Choose to Stay on March 20
March 20 is presented as your last day in Inaba before returning to the city. Before you’re given the choice to leave, visit every party member and confidant you’ve maxed to Rank 10 — each one triggers a short goodbye scene, and several of those scenes only appear if you visit them on this specific day. Once you’ve made the rounds, you’ll be asked whether you want to leave. Answer “No.” Answering “Yes” locks in a Normal Ending instead, even if you accused Adachi correctly back in December.
Step 4: Clear the Final Dungeon (and Hollow Forest for Golden)
Staying on March 20 opens the true final dungeon and its boss. Clearing it gives you the True Ending. If you also maxed Marie’s Social Link in time, a second dungeon — Hollow Forest — becomes accessible afterward; clearing it by February 13 (a deadline that, confusingly, falls chronologically before the March 20 choice in-story but is checked against your Marie progress) delivers the full Golden Ending epilogue instead of the standard True Ending.
Why This Still Matters Ahead of Persona 4 Revival
With Persona 4 Revival confirmed for February 18, 2027, a lot of players are replaying or starting Persona 4 Golden for the first time before the remake arrives, and the ending requirements are exactly the kind of thing that’s easy to miss on a first run — the game gives you almost no warning that March 20’s choice is permanent. It’s worth noting that Atlus hasn’t confirmed whether Persona 4 Revival will keep the Golden Ending’s split structure or fold Marie’s content into a single ending path, so this two-tier system may end up being specific to the Golden version once the remake ships.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I accuse the wrong person on December 5?
You get a Bad Ending and lose access to both the True and Golden endings for that save. Keep a separate save file before this scene if you want to try again.
Can I get the Golden Ending without maxing Marie’s Social Link?
No. The Golden Ending specifically requires Marie’s Aeon Social Link at Rank 10 by December 24, on top of every True Ending requirement.
Do I need to max every Social Link to get the True Ending?
No. You only need to visit the confidants and party members you have maxed to Rank 10 during the March 20 goodbyes — unmaxed Social Links don’t block the True Ending, they just miss out on that scene.
Is the Golden Ending exclusive to Persona 4 Golden?
Yes. The original PS2 release of Persona 4 only has the True Ending as its best outcome; Marie and the Golden Ending were added in the Golden re-release.
Will Persona 4 Revival have the same ending structure?
It hasn’t been confirmed. Persona 4 Revival is a remake of Persona 4 Golden, so the Golden Ending content is likely to carry over in some form, but Atlus hasn’t detailed how endings will work in the remake.
Sources: RPG Site and ScreenRant.
