Grand Theft Auto 5 is a wild ride that ends by hitting players with one of the most difficult options: either kill Michael, Trevor, or choose the Deathwish option. Although players are hit with several inconsequential choices throughout the game, none are remotely as important as this one. You have spent hours playing as each of the three characters, and the decision here will affect how the game ends. However, there's one choice that players can make that can result in the best ending for GTA 5.
Should You Kill Michael, Trevor, or Choose Deathwish in GTA 5?
After completing A Big Score main mission, Franklin gets a visit from Devin Weston in Grand Theft Auto 5. After a quick conversation, he casually tells him to kill Michael. Franklin argues with him, informing him of how FIB wants him to kill Trevor. After Devin leaves, players can open up their phone and make one of the following choices.
- A: Kill Trevor
- B: Kill Michael
- C: Deathwish
Choosing any of the options above will change GTA 5's ending for better or worse. It's up to players to weigh the decision on who they feel comfortable parting with in the game. Let's explore each option and decide which one will result in the best/canon ending for the game.
Outcome of Option A (Kill Trevor)
If players go with option A, Franklin will call Trevor and set up a meeting by the oil fields, beginning the final mission, "Something Sensible." He'll also call and convince Michael to help him take down Trevor, to which he agrees. After confronting Trevor at the location, he'll find out about Franklin's true intentions and drive off, beginning a chase sequence.
This chase will end in disaster as Michael rams Trevor's truck into an oil tanker. While being doused in spilled oil, Franklin shoots liquid, engulfing Trevor in flames. The death of Trevor will mark the end of GTA 5, as both Michael and Franklin part ways, lamenting their actions leading to the death of their friend.
Players will lose access to Trevor as a playable character in GTA 5's story.
Outcome of Option B (Kill Michael)
Similar to Trevor's scenario, Franklin will call up Michael to meet up with him in the field of satellite dishes outside town, starting the final mission, "The Time's Come." After both meet at the location, Michael receives a phone call from his wife, informing him that his daughter has been accepted into college. However, this sweet moment disappears quickly as Franklin pulls a gun on Michael.
Another chase sequence ensues, leading both characters into the power station, where Franklin chases Michael up one of the chimneys. After tackling him, Michael grabs Franklin's hand, and players get a choice to either save Michael or let him fall to his death. Regardless of the choice, Michael will fall to his death, leading to the end of GTA 5.
Players will lose access to Michael as a playable character in GTA 5's story.
Outcome of Option C (Deathwish)
Choosing the Deathwish option isn't as dreadful as it appears at first. Franklin will call up Lester and tell him that he needs to discuss something important, starting the final mission, "The Third Way." After discussing the problem with Lester, they'll come up with a plan to lure Steve Haines' FIB agents and Weston's men to one location. After the plan is set, Franklin calls Lamar for support, and they both arrive at the Foundry to meet Trevor and Michael.
What follows is a free-for-all battle between FIB agents, Weston's men, and our protagonists. After clearing out waves of enemies, it'll begin the second phase of the mission where Trevor will head out to eliminate Steve Haines, Michael will go after Stretch of the Ballas, and Franklin will track down Wei Cheng of the Triad.
After everyone completes their objectives, Trevor will kidnap Haines in the trunk of a car. After everyone bids him farewell, they push the car off a cliff, leading to the end of the game. This is the best and confirmed canonical ending to GTA 5's story, but players are free to make the choice they feel most comfortable with.
Grand Theft Auto 5
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 92 /100 Critics Rec: 92%
- Released
- September 17, 2013
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar North
- Publisher(s)
- Rockstar Games
WHERE TO PLAY
- Engine
- Rockstar Advanced Game Engine
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- no
- Cross Save
- yes
- Franchise
- Grand Theft Auto
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- yes
- PC Release Date
- April 14, 2015
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- March 15, 2022
- PS5 Release Date
- March 15, 2022
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action
- Platform(s)
- Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- How Long To Beat
- 32 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 84 GB (July 2023)
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
