Only time will tell what Fallout 5 will look like, but one can assume that it will retain a good amount of its predecessors' core characteristics. Bethesda does seem to appreciate tradition, after all, building upon its time-tested formula rather than radically reinventing it or issuing other fundamental changes. This could wind up working in Fallout 5's favor, or to its detriment, depending on a number of factors.
One surprisingly contentious mechanic that could help influence Fallout 5's success is the settlement system. Although Skyrim and Starfield feature their own unique base-building systems, with the latter integrating the feature into its broader resource economy, the player-designed settlements introduced in Fallout 4 serve a markedly unique function. In essence, these settlements are customizable strongholds for friendly NPCs, many of whom can act as merchants or quest-givers. Though seen as superfluous and even annoying by some players, there's a case to be made that Fallout 4's settlements elevate the specific role-playing experience that the game is trying to evoke, feeding into the broader post-apocalyptic fantasy by allowing the player to work as a productive member of society rather than just another wanderer.
Fallout 5 Companion Wish List
Fallout’s companions bring the wasteland to life, and Fallout 5 shouldn’t pull any punches when it comes to adding some creative new ones.
Linking Settlement-Building to Faction Loyalty Could Deepen the Mechanic in Fallout 5
Folding Faction Relationships Into Settlement-Building Could Improve Both Elements in Fallout 5
Perhaps the greatest shortcoming of Fallout 4's settlement feature is that it winds up feeling anticlimactic and tacked-on. Certainly, it's a great addition for players who want to exercise their creativity and base-building skills, but those seeking a more focused, traditional RPG experience often end up ignoring the system altogether. This is because the rewards players earn from founding and improving settlements are often too small to be worth the trouble.
But Fallout 5 could retain the strengths of Fallout 4's settlement-building while injecting it with narrative and role-playing significance by linking the mechanic to faction relations. Disparate factions are a staple of Bethesda's RPGs, and increasing the player's image in their eyes can be a critical aspect of these games' side content. Unfortunately, upholding the player-character's reputation with such groups is often less complex than it appears at first, typically boiling down to little more than completing specific quests. But if the player could curry a faction's favor by expanding their territory via settlements, it would imbue the reputation system with some much-needed flexibility, critical thinking, and depth.
This would also lead to some obvious benefits for Fallout 5's settlement mechanics. Instead of simply existing as chores or NPC hubs, which can often feel like the case in Fallout 4, these player-created locales would have a direct impact on the game world. Additionally, new weight could be given to things like defensive structures—turrets and the like—since other factions would be actively attempting to claim each settlement as their own. In essence, conquering strongholds for various factions would allow Bethesda to evolve Fallout 4's settlement-building system into a reactive, deep minigame that leverages elements of grand strategy and tower defense titles.
It's also worth considering this theoretical gameplay shift in the context of narrative and adaptive world-building. In Fallout 4, the player can build settlements as a productive member of this new society, helping to create a sense of community and security in a world where many only want to look out for themselves. This thematic framing would still exist when players are building settlements on behalf of a faction, but it could be messier, in a good way. The player would have to actually consider the ideologies and goals of whatever group they choose to align themselves with, as they would be playing a direct role in expanding their influence and building their empires, as it were. This could lead to innumerable unique narrative scenarios, which would be a boon for Fallout 5.
Fallout 4
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 89%
WHERE TO PLAY
Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of Fallout 76 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, invite you to the ambitious open world of Fallout 4. Do whatever you want in a massive Commonwealth with hundreds of locations, characters and quests.
As the sole survivor of Vault 111, only you can rebuild and determine the fate of the Wasteland. Join multiple factions vying for power or go it alone - the choices are yours.
From a Power Armor-toting soldier to the charismatic smooth-talker, be whoever you want with the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Character system and develop your own playstyle from hundreds of Perks.
Experience exciting first- or third-person combat with the dynamic Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System, or V.A.T.S., targeting enemies for maximum tactical advantage (and cinematic carnage!) Collect, upgrade and build thousands of items with Fallout 4's crafting system. Weapons, armor, food and with the right materials, even entire settlements are possible. Welcome home.
- Franchise
- Fallout
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- yes
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- How Long To Beat
- 27 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- No
- File Size Xbox Series
- 51 GB (December 2023)
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
