The Lord of the Rings: Gollum follows Gollum on his quest to escape the confines of Mordor and reclaim the One Ring. His time in Sauron's domain wasn't all bad, however, as the Candleman allowed him to have a bird, which turned out to be a pretty big asset during the escape.
After breeding this carrier bird, players are given the option to name it "Little One," but those who don't wish to grow too attached to the small creature can choose to leave it nameless. During the climax of The Lord of the Rings: Gollum, players will then be forced to decide whether Gollum should kill the bird or let it live, which can be a pretty hard decision to make.
Should You Kill The Bird Or Let It Live?
After defeating the Candleman during Chapter 10: The Friend, Gollum will leave Mell and begin his journey to the Shire. When he finally escapes the Mirkwood, he sees his loyal bird, Little One, waiting for him.
The player will then need to choose between the Kill Little One or Let Little One live prompts that appear on the screen. Since it was the bird's fault that Sauron's forces found their way into the Mirkwood, it makes sense why Gollum would wish to take revenge, especially if players never named the creature.
If players named the bird "Little One," however, they may prefer the Let Little One live option, as Smeagol comes to form a strong bond with the creature when it has a name. Both choices lead to slightly different outcomes, so players should consider both options carefully before they make their decision.
What Happens If You Let Little One Live In The Lord Of The Rings: Gollum?
If players side with Smeagol and decide not to kill Little One, a cutscene will play in which Smeagol takes a moment to say goodbye to the creature. He pets the bird for a few seconds and then throws it into the sky, allowing it to be free.
Since the creature doesn't appear in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, it wouldn't make sense for Smeagol to continue traveling with it, so letting it fly away works well regarding the overarching story.
What Happens If You Kill Little One In The Lord Of The Rings: Gollum?
If players choose to side with Gollum, the cutscene that follows will depict the strange protagonist petting the bird. After a moment, Gollum will move the creature out of view and break its neck. As a result, the shot of the mountains that follows will not depict Little One flying away.
No matter what choice players make, the scene that plays after either killing Little One or setting the creature free will always follow Gollum as he wanders through Moria. The credits will roll when the cutscene ends, so players are free to choose whichever option they prefer, as the decision only affects what happens during one cutscene.
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is available now on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, with a Nintendo Switch release planned for later this year.