GTA 4 Deal or Revenge: Both Endings Explained & Which to Pick

The GTA 4 Deal or Revenge choice is one of the most talked-about decisions in the whole series. Near the end of the story, Niko Bellic must decide whether to do one last deal with the man who betrayed him or take revenge. Both choices cost Niko someone he cares about. This guide explains the choice, both endings and which one to pick. Spoilers are marked — read the first sections safely.

Choice mission

One Last Thing

Options

Deal or Revenge

Deal final mission

A Revenge

Revenge final mission

Out of Commission

Endings

2

Can you see both?

Yes — save before choosing

When do you choose Deal or Revenge?

The decision comes in the mission “One Last Thing”, given by Jimmy Pegorino after you’ve finished most of the story. Jimmy wants Niko to work with Dimitri Rascalov on a big heroin deal. Dimitri is the man who betrayed Niko earlier, so Niko — and you — must choose:

• 🤝 Deal: swallow your pride, work with Dimitri and take the money.
• 🔫 Revenge: refuse the deal and go after Dimitri instead.

What both choices have in common

Whichever path you pick, the story follows the same shape: a short mission based on your choice, then Roman’s wedding, then a final mission to settle things. Both endings are emotional, and both make you hunt down the person responsible at the very end. Neither ending changes how the open world works after the credits — you can keep playing either way.

Deal ending explained (spoilers)

If you choose Deal, Niko and Phil Bell work with Dimitri in the mission “If the Price Is Right”. As expected, Dimitri double-crosses them and keeps the money. At Roman’s wedding, a hitman sent by Dimitri attacks, and Roman is killed. Kate survives, but Niko is left grieving. In the final mission, “A Revenge”, Niko chases Dimitri and finally kills him.

Revenge ending explained (spoilers)

If you choose Revenge, Niko kills Dimitri in the mission “A Dish Served Cold”. This angers Jimmy Pegorino. At Roman’s wedding, a gunman sent by Pegorino’s side fires at Niko but hits Kate McReary, who dies. In the final mission, “Out of Commission”, Niko and Little Jacob chase Pegorino down and Niko kills him. Afterwards Roman and his wife reveal they are expecting a baby, giving a small ray of hope.

Deal vs Revenge: side-by-side

Which ending is best?

There is no “wrong” answer — Rockstar designed both to hurt. Still, most fans recommend Revenge for three reasons:

1. It fits Niko’s story. The whole game is about Niko choosing between revenge and moving on. Taking revenge on Dimitri finally closes that chapter.
2. Roman lives. Roman is the heart of the game, and many players can’t bear to lose him. His happy news at the end makes this ending feel less bleak.
3. The deal is a trap. Dimitri betrays Niko in the Deal path anyway, which makes trusting him feel like a mistake.

Some players prefer Deal because Kate survives and the final chase after Dimitri feels very personal. If you love Kate’s storyline, Deal may suit you better.

Does the choice affect anything after the story?

A little. After the ending, the character who survived keeps calling Niko, and some friends and activities change. Roman’s taxi service and friendship perks remain only if he survives (Revenge). With Deal, Kate stays around instead. Everything else — cheats, side activities, collectibles — works the same.

Other choices in GTA 4

Deal or Revenge isn’t the only decision. Throughout the story you choose whether to kill or spare several characters, such as Playboy X or Dwayne, Ivan, Clarence and Francis or Derrick. These choices give different rewards and phone calls, and some characters become friends you can hang out with later. They don’t change the final ending, though — only Deal or Revenge does.

Who are the key characters?

Why the choice is so hard

GTA 4’s story is about the cost of revenge. Niko came to Liberty City partly to find the man who betrayed his army unit years ago. By the time of “One Last Thing”, Roman wants him to take the money and move on, while Kate begs him not to work with Dimitri. Whatever you choose, Niko disappoints one of the people he loves — and the game makes you live with that.

Tips before you make the choice

• 💾 Save in two slots so you can experience both endings.
• 🔫 Stock up. The final missions are long and include a chase, so carry plenty of ammo and armor.
• 🚁 Practice helicopters. Both endings finish with a chase involving a helicopter. A few practice flights help.
• 📱 Finish side content first. Friend activities and side jobs are easier before the ending changes who calls you.

How long is GTA 4?

The main story takes most players around 25–30 hours. Reaching 100% — including 200 flying rats, 50 stunt jumps, 30 Most Wanted criminals and friend activities — takes much longer. The Deal or Revenge choice comes in the last few hours of the main story.

What fans say about each ending

Years after release, players still argue about which ending is “canon”. Rockstar has never officially confirmed one, and later games mention events from GTA 4 only vaguely. That leaves the choice up to you. Many fans feel the Revenge path matches Niko’s character better, while others argue the Deal path is more realistic — Liberty City rarely rewards trust. Either way, both endings show the same lesson: in GTA 4, chasing money or revenge always comes at a price.

If you’re replaying, try the ending you didn’t pick the first time. Seeing how different characters react makes the final hours feel new again.

Does Deal or Revenge change the achievements?

No. Both endings unlock the story-completion achievements and trophies, so you don’t miss anything by picking one over the other. The only differences are story scenes, who calls Niko afterwards and which friend perks remain. That’s another reason to simply choose the ending that feels right to you — or play both with two save files.

After the ending

Once the credits roll, Liberty City is yours to explore. Try our GTA 4 cheats for chaos, hunt hidden content with the GTA 4 secrets guide, or continue the story from new angles in Episodes from Liberty City.