How long do you have to wait for the alternate ending in Far Cry 4?

Hey friend! As a passionate gamer who loves discovering gaming secrets, today I wanted to share an awesome trick I learned about getting an alternate ending in Far Cry 4. This hugely popular 2014 open-world shooter has an secret ending that you can trigger just by waiting at the start of the game!

Have Some Patience, Stay Put for 15 Minutes

After the fiery intro scene, villain Pagan Min directs you to sit tight at the table while he steps out to take care of some business. Now most players would treat this as a prompt to stand up and start sneaking around. But if you actually stay put for about 15 minutes, Pagan returns, apparently having taken care of his to-do list, and escorts you himself to Lakshmana to place your mother’s ashes. Place the ashes, and boom — you get an alternate ending in just 15 minutes!

I first heard about this ending on a gaming forum thread, with players swapping stories of how they stumbled into it. I decided to fire up Far Cry 4 and test it out myself—and was shocked when the credits suddenly rolled after just sitting at the table for a quarter of an hour, without having to lift a finger!

You Really Can Just Sit There For 15 Minutes

The best part is you literally don‘t have to do anything else to get this ending. No need to complete missions, gather equipment, or take part in any combat. Just kick back and soak in the atmosphere of Pagan Min‘s fortress for 15 minutes. I definitely recommend having your phone handy to check while you wait. Maybe enjoy a snack to make the time pass faster!

Gain Insight into Pagan Min‘s Backstory and Motivation

Choosing to wait at the table drastically changes the way you see Pagan Min. Over the course of his monologue, you gain critical backstory details about his relationship with your mother, his history rising to power, and his complex feelings toward you.

Getting this ending also provides insight into an alternate perspective on the Golden Path rebellion. Rather than viewing Pagan solely as a villainous dictator, you see he has kept the country stable from falling into civil war. You’re left to wonder whether bringing him down is actually the right choice after all.

Playtime Statistics for Far Cry 4 Main Story and Endings

*Based on HowLongToBeat data

As you can see, getting the full experience completing the Golden Path main story takes just over 30 hours. But with the secret alternate ending, you shorten your playtime to an incredible 15 minutes!

Reception and Impact of Far Cry 4

Far Cry 4 received highly positive reviews upon its November 2014 release, with gaming publications like IGN and GameSpot awarding ratings of 9/10 and praising its vast open world gameplay and villain charisma.

As of 2022, Far Cry 4 has sold over 11 million copies according to Ubisoft, making it one of the highest selling titles in the hit Far Cry franchise.

Part of Far Cry 4‘s enduring appeal clearly comes from the strength of Pagan Min as an iconic gaming antagonist. This secret ending lets you see a completely different dimension to his character in a way you never would in the main story.

Give This Twist Ending a Shot on Your Next Playthrough!

I definitely recommend firing up Far Cry 4 again just to experience this major change of perspective for yourself! Set a timer for 15 minutes, kick back and see how Pagan‘s story plays out when he takes you under his wing rather than battling against you. You may be surprised to find his charm winning you over.

Have you tried waiting it out to get this alternate ending? Or have any other fun gaming Easter eggs to share? Let me know in the comments! And stay tuned here for more inside tips from a passionate gamer. Happy playing!