Max Brinly is one of the pivotal characters in Supermassive Games' horror adventure, serving as the catalyst for the terrifying night at Hackett's Quarry. Players who wish to keep every counselor alive often worry about Max, as his fate is tied directly to specific choices made throughout the campaign. Understanding how to navigate his storyline ensures that he survives until the morning light without falling victim to the island's curse.
Prerequisites for Keeping Max Alive
Saving Max requires decisions made earlier in the game through other playable characters, specifically Laura and Ryan. Laura must successfully kill Chris Hackett in Chapter 9 to lift the werewolf curse from Max before the final chapter. If Chris remains alive, Max will remain in his transformed state and cannot be safely controlled by the player.
Furthermore, Ryan must support Laura during their encounters in the Hackett mansion to ensure she reaches Chris. If Laura dies or fails to eliminate Chris, Max's fate becomes sealed in a tragic outcome. Careful execution of quick-time events during these late-game chapters is crucial for setting up Max's survival scenario.
Max's Crucial Decision in Chapter 10
Once Chris Hackett is defeated, the game shifts perspective to Max on the island in Chapter 10. Max wakes up in his human form near the treehouse, fully cured of his werewolf affliction. Players are then given direct control of Max as he explores the immediate surroundings and walks toward the shore.
Upon reaching the dock, players face a critical narrative choice: swim across the lake to mainland Hackett's Quarry or stay on the island. This single decision determines whether Max survives the night or suffers an immediate, gruesome death. Making the wrong choice here neutralizes all the efforts made in previous chapters to cure him.
The Outcomes of Your Choice
The safest choice is to stay on the island and wait out the remainder of the night in peace. Remaining at the dock keeps Max completely isolated from remaining threats, guaranteeing his ultimate survival in the end-game summary. Choosing to stay allows him to reunite safely with Laura once the nightmare concludes.
If players choose to swim across the lake, Max will instantly encounter Caleb Hackett in his werewolf form upon stepping onto the shore. Because Max is now human and completely unarmed, Caleb attacks and kills him instantly without any quick-time event to save him. Staying on the island is therefore the only path to a successful outcome for Max's story arc.
