This review contains spoilers
(Dragon's Homecoming & Immortal Severance endings)
I used save-scumming to get the last two endings I hadn't seen yet. The first was the "good" ending, the second was the default ending. I think Dragon's Homecoming works incredibly well thematically--the source of all immortality in Ashina, from the Dragon's Heritage to its oathsworn to the Rejuvenating Waters, leads back to the Divine Dragon. The homecoming is more metaphorical than literal: these three individuals will travel away from these lands, taking immortality with them, to bring it where it belongs. It is incredibly worth the investment of the side quest.
For my money, though, the best ending by far was the default ending: Immortal Severance. A much bleaker ending, IS shows Sekiro killing Kuro, then taking the place of the Sculptor, waiting for another shinobi to come along seeking power. So long as immortality remains in this land, the cycle will continue. Everything repeats itself for eternity, Shura begetting Shura, until eventually nothing is left. It is, essentially, the same as the bad ending of Demon's Souls. And I love that. It works so well as a bleak statement on the futility of the characters' quest and begs them to try harder on their next cycle. The design of the game even intends for you to do multiple cycles, as you cannot unlock every boss gauntlet and every prosthetic tool without at least TWO NG+es under your belt. The cycle continues and continues and continues--until, eventually, you finish it. Shadows Die Twice, but the player dies until they realize they are the only ones keeping this dying world alive.
I used save-scumming to get the last two endings I hadn't seen yet. The first was the "good" ending, the second was the default ending. I think Dragon's Homecoming works incredibly well thematically--the source of all immortality in Ashina, from the Dragon's Heritage to its oathsworn to the Rejuvenating Waters, leads back to the Divine Dragon. The homecoming is more metaphorical than literal: these three individuals will travel away from these lands, taking immortality with them, to bring it where it belongs. It is incredibly worth the investment of the side quest.
For my money, though, the best ending by far was the default ending: Immortal Severance. A much bleaker ending, IS shows Sekiro killing Kuro, then taking the place of the Sculptor, waiting for another shinobi to come along seeking power. So long as immortality remains in this land, the cycle will continue. Everything repeats itself for eternity, Shura begetting Shura, until eventually nothing is left. It is, essentially, the same as the bad ending of Demon's Souls. And I love that. It works so well as a bleak statement on the futility of the characters' quest and begs them to try harder on their next cycle. The design of the game even intends for you to do multiple cycles, as you cannot unlock every boss gauntlet and every prosthetic tool without at least TWO NG+es under your belt. The cycle continues and continues and continues--until, eventually, you finish it. Shadows Die Twice, but the player dies until they realize they are the only ones keeping this dying world alive.