Should I Kill Gene In High On Life?

When It Makes Sense

• Good fit: You are on a replay or experimental run and want to see an alternate story branch. Once the choice is made, the game commits to that path, so treating it as part of a second playthrough lets you experience the different outcome without sacrificing your main save.
• Good fit: You are role-playing a ruthless bounty hunter and value narrative consequences over companion access. Killing Gene can fit a colder, more pragmatic characterization if you are prioritizing immersion in that style of playthrough.

When You Should Avoid It

• Warning sign: It is your first playthrough and you want the fullest experience. Gene provides dialogue, side content, and late-game interactions that are cut off or reduced if he is killed early, so new players usually get more value by sparing him.
• Warning sign: You want to avoid missing content tied to a companion character. Major choices in High On Life can remove a character from the hub and related scenes, so if you dislike losing optional content or potential achievements, you should pause before confirming the kill.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Killing Gene opens a distinct narrative branch with unique dialogue and cutscenes, giving you a different perspective on the story for that playthrough.
• The choice supports a darker role-play and demonstrates that High On Life carries real consequences for player actions, which can make the game feel more reactive.

Cons

• You lose Gene as an ongoing companion and source of commentary, which reduces optional interactions and may remove or alter side content for the rest of the run.
• The choice is typically irreversible without reloading an earlier save, so an accidental or impulsive decision can cost you hours of intended gameplay unless you have a backup.

Decision Checklist

• Is this your first playthrough, or are you replaying to see alternate outcomes?
• Have you saved recently so you can reload if you dislike the consequences?
• Do you care more about experiencing all of Gene’s content or about seeing the darker story branch?

Alternatives to Consider

If you are unsure, create a manual save right before the choice and try one option first. If the outcome feels wrong, reload and pick the other. Alternatively, watch a video of the kill choice on a reputable playthrough channel to satisfy your curiosity without committing your own save. A second, shorter replay is also a lower-risk way to experience the alternate path after you have already seen the main content.

Final Recommendation

On a first playthrough, spare Gene to preserve the companion content, side material, and late-game interactions that make the world feel fuller. On a second or experimental run, killing him is a reasonable way to see how the story changes and to play a colder version of the protagonist. Because the choice is effectively permanent within that save, create a backup before deciding so you can switch paths if your preference changes. For exact mechanical consequences, consult an up-to-date community guide or walkthrough.