Arknights: Endfield - Yvonne, Laevatain and Gilberta Side Stories

February 14, 2026 · 4:05 PM

As promised on my Arknights: Endfield stream page, I am here to discuss the three side stories I just played through: Yvonne, Laevatain, and Gilberta. I also want to talk more generally about how the side story system is implemented in the game and the good and bad as I've experienced it.

The side story system seems to draw inspiration from previous open-world gacha games like Genshin Impact. It acts as a companion narrative that either expands on events from the main story or introduces a character who has not yet appeared. Since these stories take place in the overworld, you may stumble upon one simply by walking around your base if you have met the prerequisites.

Yvonne seems to be so good with children and it was quite surprising considering how people described her.

This final screen was ultra cute, really love the 'buddy' touch that Yvonne emanates with Endmin

Yvonne's story centered entirely on Tata's death and Yvonne having to face her grief. I felt the story was bound to go in this direction because, in the main plot, she maintained her composure and put on a brave face for everyone following that scene. I saw other characters attempt to discuss what happened several times, but she brushed them off to hide her feelings during a moment when everyone else was celebrating a victory over Nefarith.

The moment when her defenses crumble and she starts crying (see the attached video) was the most emotional part of Endfield so far. People might say that Tata is just a machine, and while that is technically true, it was much more than that to her. She built it piece by piece from scratch and even installed all of its memory modules, meaning they shared countless memories together.

It would've been better if Endmin actually hugged her here as it was way too emotional watching her break out her character crying. Yvonne! Let's pray nothing this bad ever happen to her again. View video page

Yvonne has been a complete surprise to me. Between the main story and this side story, she has risen quickly in my heroine rankings and now sits at the very top, far ahead of everyone else. As I have mentioned elsewhere, she feels like a true companion to the protagonist. She is someone the Endmin can do crazy things with, like painting graffiti in an industrial zone.

Overall, I would rate this side story a 9/10. It was almost perfect, though it could have used a bit more time to explore Yvonne's past. A few flashbacks showing her building Tata in the facility would have added even more emotional weight to the experience.

A blushing Laevatain?! What is this? How is it even possible? I was not ready for it...

Yes, please step on me...cough cough...What were we talking about again Laevatain?

Laevatain's story was a bit of a curveball. While it explored her relationship with her past self from the original Arknights (Surtr), it also focused on the insecurities and fear that the Endmin felt regarding their own lack of memories. The two bonded quickly over their shared problem and helped each other get back on their feet.

I read about Reconveners in the Endfield wiki, and it seems there are individuals who, through Originium, share a connection to a "previous life." This explains why the game has so many characters who look exactly like those from the first game. Regardless of that connection, I agree with the story's conclusion that Laevatain is her own person, and as long as she finds a place to call home, she will be fine.

One thing that bothered me in Laevatain's story was the constant change of environment between scenes, which broke the narrative flow. One moment you are chasing her through a memory of Originium (a concept introduced without much warning), then you are back in the real world, and then back in the memories again. I feel Yvonne's approach, which kept the initial story in the overworld before moving to a single, interconnected dungeon at the end, was the better choice.

I would rate this side story a 7.5/10. It was interesting and served its purpose by introducing unique game concepts, but there was a clear lack of direction in the presentation. It definitely needed more polish in the beginning, but I won't complain too much.

Yvonne is a master of cute poses, I could stare at her doing these all day. Plus her clothes are really good design wise.

Extremely cheesy scene, but I still liked it overall. You know, I think I've seen this done in so many series, but it works.

Then we come to the low point of this review: Gilberta's side story. It felt weak compared to the other two, and it didn't help that it was significantly shorter. The concepts used in the story are fine. The trope of a "messenger who feels the pain of the messages she carries" has been done many times before, but I feel several issues held this story back.

First and foremost, we did not know Gilberta prior to this side story. She did not appear in the main story at all, so she was a completely unknown character. It is difficult to make a player care about someone in just one hour of content stretched thin by mini-gameplay sessions. Her design is a great spin on the character Angelina, whom she is based on, but that is the only highlight.

I rate this side story a 5.5/10. It was mediocre and failed to evoke much emotion. I like her voice and character design, but those elements cannot carry a story that lacks substance. I hope this isn't the direction the game takes for future updates, especially since this story was unlocked later than the others.

The photo segment was ultra cute, it really showed how good the animation engine of the game is.

Yeah, this world isn't that sweet to allow these things to happen, especially to NPCs.

I still need to play through Wulfgard's side story, but that is a topic for another day. Perhaps I will discuss it in the post I make once I finish the Wuling storyline, I shouldn't be too far from finishing it and I hope to catch up soon as the patch 1.1 is slowly, but surely coming.