What triggers the Hat ending
The Hat ending triggers when the hat man becomes the park's new obsession. The route begins on the hate chain: photograph the square-versus-circle conflict until the broadcast reaches Everyone hates everyone.
At that point a figure in a bowler hat appears. Photograph him immediately. The television asks Who is this hatman?, then decides that hats are back, and finally that everyone wants a hat. Keep filming the hat theme and the ending card follows.
What to photograph
The hat man first, then anyone wearing or wanting a hat. The hat man is the figure with the round brimmed hat and, in some appearances, a small heart-marked hat. Once hats become the story, keep the lens on hat-wearing figures and hat-related broadcasts.
Step-by-step route
- Run the Viral hate chain until the TV reaches Everyone hates everyone.
- Watch for the hat man to appear in the crowd. Do not photograph him too early, before the hate chain is complete.
- Photograph the hat man the moment he shows up. This is the fork: skipping him leads to Eyes Closed.
- Follow the headlines Who is this hatman?, Hats are back, baby, and Everyone wants a hat, photographing hat-wearing figures until the ending card appears.
Common mistakes
The classic mistake is waiting one photo too long. If you ignore the hat man and keep filming the hate, the run slides into Eyes Closed. The two routes are identical until that moment.
Do not photograph hats before the hate chain is complete. Early hat photos can start a different story and keep the park from reaching the state where the hat man appears.
How to confirm the ending
The card reads Hat Ending, ending 9 of 12, with the tagline "someone finally noticed the hat man in time". The park-wide hat craze and the Who is this hatman? broadcast are the confirmation.
Headlines to watch for
These are the on-screen captions that tell you the route is on track. If the TV stops using them, the run has moved to another story.
Who is this hatman?Hats are back, babyEVERYONE WANTS A HAT
Frequently asked questions
Why is the Hat ending so popular?
It pays off a character the game teases early with the WHO IS THIS HAT MAN? broadcast. The route is also the most dramatic fork in the game: one photo decides between hats and silence.
Can I get the Hat ending without the hate chain?
Not reliably. The hat man appears after the park reaches total hate. Photographing a hat earlier can start a different ending, but it will not produce the full hat storyline.
What is the difference between Hat and Eyes Closed?
Only the hat man photo. If you photograph him, the park becomes obsessed with hats. If you ignore him and keep filming the panic, the run ends as Eyes Closed.
See also
- All 14 Say Cheese! endings — the full list and recommended order
- Eyes Closed Ending route — you stopped watching and the panic had nowhere left to go
- Viral Ending route — the news found its story and the park paid for it
- Say Cheese Ending route — everyone wanted to be in the picture. only one of them fit
- How Say Cheese! chooses your ending — route families and the last-photo prompt
- How to start a run — controls, camera, and your first photo
- Camera and TV guide — how a photo becomes a headline