Summary
- Fallout 5 should introduce new and unique companion archetypes to enhance the player's experience.
- Consider potential companions like an Enclave remnant or intelligent deathclaw to add depth and variety.
- Exploring uncharted territory with companions like tribals can provide fresh perspectives on Fallout's world.
Companions are an incredibly memorable aspect of many of Bethesda’s games, and Fallout 5 could add some fascinating new ones. A player's outlook on the wasteland can be drastically impacted by who they bring along with them, and whether their attitude is positive or mired in doom and gloom.
This is why Fallout 5 shouldn’t spare anything when it comes to companions. A rich cast of characters makes each playthrough different from the last, and there are so many stories that can be shaped by having the right person by the protagonist's side. While there are plenty of tried-and-tested companion archetypes, here are a few the next Fallout should seriously consider.
How Fallout 5 Can Put a Twist on a Classic Series Faction Type
The wasteland of Fallout 5 remains a mystery right now, but continuing a spine-chilling faction type could add a dose of horror.
Ex-Vault Dweller in Fallout 5
When Naive Optimism Meets Brutal Reality
Many fans have wanted to reverse the classic Fallout dynamic of what it’s like to leave a vault, taking on an ex-dweller companion who gets to live through and react to that experience. Anyone who has seen the Fallout TV show will likely think of Lucy, but a Fallout game could explore that dynamic even further. The bright-eyed optimism they have for the outside would be tempered quickly, leading to some sobering conclusions. The huge open skies of the outside could be overwhelming for someone used to living in a box, and their companion quest could see them return to their vault, only to discover the wasteland had made them see the cushy, rigid life they once had in a different light.
Enclave Remnant in Fallout 5
Reclusive, Brainwashed, and Paranoid
Few factions in Fallout are as secretive as the Enclave, a sect of the old US government, and a former member could make for a really compelling character. With the Enclave typically being the villains, a Remnant would be ideal for evil or morally gray protagonists, providing a sneering monologue on the state of the wasteland. They may have some buried guilt from their past, and a thorough companion quest could draw it out, leading them to see the organization for what it was. Fallout rarely includes evil companions, so an Enclave Remnant could be a great one to fit that niche.
Cryptid Hunter in Fallout 5
A Wacky Tracker for a Weird Wasteland
Fallout 76’s cryptids have become a fan-favorite among many easter egg hunters and lore enthusiasts alike, so having a character whose job is finding them could give adventurous players the chance to learn more about them. With a wild west or deep south background, the Cryptid Hunter would be ideal for taking down large trophy beasts and investigating legendary creatures, allowing players to roleplay as a wasteland tracker. They’d find mundane city life dull, insisting on camping outdoors, using some janky methods of snaring the next behemoth, and their hard-bitten, wise-cracking ways could lend plenty of insight to the world.
Intelligent Deathclaw in Fallout 5
Acknowledging Fallout’s Strange Past
Ever since Goris appeared in Fallout 2, many fans have longed for the return of an intelligent deathclaw companion, but Bethesda has seemingly moved on from the idea. It’s a shame, as an intelligent deathclaw would be more than just muscle for a wastelander. They would be a great vessel for exploring human bigotry, and whether a monster should be judged by its outward appearance, or what’s inside. As a deathclaw wouldn’t be allowed inside towns at first, there’s an opportunity for some levity with the option to dress up the deathclaw in terribly stretched clothing, obviously not to disguise it, but to show it wasn’t a threat.
Savage Tribal in Fallout 5
Exploring Technological Regression
Tribals are frequently mentioned in Fallout’s lore, but not featured enough. There are potentially hundreds of thousands of individuals living lives without any technology, fearful of the spirits trapped inside machines, worshipping strange effigies made of old plane wings. A player taking a Tribal on their travels could learn a new perspective on Fallout’s world, either bringing the Tribal into society, or joining their tribe. Their outlook on life would counter many Fallout characters clinging to the ruins of the past, as the chaotic world has taught the Tribal that the present is always changing, and no one should fear to change with it.
Fallout 4
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 89%
