The Stanley Parable

The Stanley Parable

85 ratings
The Little Things That Change
By Bisqwit
This guide describes all the different variations to the beginning of the game.
   
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List of changes
When the level boots up, first the game chooses a random number between 1...8.

For values 1...3: The narrator speaks a random text.
For values 3...4: Small differences are introduced into the map.
For values 5..6: Big differences are introduced into the map.
For value 7: The phone may ring.
For value 8: The phone may be disabled and no narration is issued.

Additionally, if you ordered boxes the last time around, the first two office sections will be filled with boxes. Additionally, if you are within the confusion ending branch, the adventure line will be enabled (this part is broken).

Additionally, one of the five computer displays corresponding to the current button level will display the Input prompt, except if this was the first play-through where the intro video was displayed.

Additionally, the color of each coffee cup is randomly chosen on each bootup from a few selections.
Small differences
The game picks another random number between 1...5.

For value 1: Paperpocalypse happens. Hundreds of papers are scattered around on the floors.
For value 2: There may be small detail changes on the screens. (Part 1)
For value 3: There may be small detail changes on the screens. (Part 2)
For value 4: There may be storm outside.
For value 5: Another Stanley can be seen through the window on the right side of the second room at the moment when Stanley approaches the center of the room.

Overall probability of each option being chosen:1 in 20.
Big differences
The game picks another random number between 1..4.

For value 1: The path from Stanley's room becomes a straight path into the room with two doors.
For value 2: Stanley's room is connected to a blue room with many doors.
For value 3: The path that connects the two office sections before the two rooms consists of a left-turn instead of a right-turn.
For value 4: There will be a long extra route after the second office section before the two doors.

Note: If you visit the boss's office and backtrack all the way to the beginning, all of these big differences will appear undone.

Overall probability of each option being chosen: 1 in 16.
When the phone may ring
First, the game picks another random number between 1..2.

If you get 1, you get narration instead.
If you get 2, the game picks another random number between 1..3.

For value 1, you get Stanley's wife.
For value 2, you get a helpful recommendation regarding listening to recorded messages.
For value 3, you get the opportunity to order thousands of boxes. If you choose to follow through this order, the next time when the game restarts, the two large office sections will be filled with boxes, assuming you don't get one of those "big differences" that replace those rooms entirely with something else.

Overall probability of any of the three phonecalls happening: 1 in 48.
Probability of never getting to see the boxes you order, assuming you restart normally: 3 in 16.
Narration options
The game picks another random number between 2..16.
Each random number corresponds to a different bit of narration. Some of these options will close Stanley's door as soon as he exits his room; others will not. Some of them will enable the counter that counts how many things you touch (so the narrator can nag to you about not progressing the story), others will not.

Overall probability of narration over the first scene: 7 in 16.
Differences in computer screens, part 1
Office A:
- A1 disabled
- A2 enabled
- B2 enabled and can be turned off
. C2 enabled and can be turned off
- D2 enabled and can be turned off
Office B:
- A1 disabled
- A2 enabled
- B2 enabled and can be turned off
- c1 disabled
- c2 enabled
Differences in computer screens, part 2
Office A:
- B1 enabled and can be turned off
First map variants
Confusion ending:

In map_one, the first confusion ending map (with multiple exits where should be two), only the coffee cup colors are randomized.

In thefirstmap, the first map where there are no exits in the two-doors room, only the coffee cup colors are randomized.

In theonlymap, the first map with the Adventure Line™, only the coffee cup colors are randomized.

In map, the map where the Adventure Line™ is ignored, only the coffee cup colors are randomized.

Escape pod ending:

In redstair, only the coffee cup colors are randomized. (Coffee cups can be seen through the window into the office section.)

Real person ending:

In incorrect, the map with various deterioration gimmicks, nothing is randomized.
36 Comments
XxGamingCharlesxX 15 Jul, 2021 @ 11:27am 
When I first started the game up while doing some testing, I shut the door and locked myself in Stanleys office. The narrator gave some narration, then the game reset and I found myself looking at the long hallway to the two doors (big difference value 1). I thought that was intentional, but seeing this has changed my mind.
LISTERINE® ANTISEPTIC Mouthwash 13 Jul, 2021 @ 12:26pm 
@A.I. System No.32
the chance of that happening is 1 in 110592
so I doubt it
Challah_Money 11 Dec, 2019 @ 5:41pm 
wait, are you telling me there's a hidden map loading screen to incorrect.bsp during the "real person" ending? During the "practice" blue screen? Is that why the mouse cursor appears? My mind is fucking blown
some bi girl 3 Dec, 2019 @ 6:32pm 
cool
A.I. System No. 32 16 Feb, 2019 @ 3:39pm 
I once got a phone call 3 times in a row 1: Boxes Order 2: Recorded Message Danger 3: Recorded Message Danger
NULLRAD 4 Feb, 2019 @ 9:23am 
@Tainy what commands?
Sanarek ⭙ 17 May, 2015 @ 3:05pm 
@Aperture102 have you teleported? Because I found that by teleporting through the door to the two doors room, you teleport past the world portal and not through it, putting you in a room that matches your description.
Bisqwit  [author] 18 Apr, 2015 @ 5:18am 
@Aperture102 Can't, your profile is private.
jonny 14 Apr, 2015 @ 4:30pm 
I somehow got the two doors room just to be a small, box like room. Check my screenshots.
A Delicious Glass of Water! 3 Jan, 2015 @ 6:25am 
There's console commands to toggle the Paperpocalypse and the Boxpocalypse.