Summary
- Fallout 5 should maintain a reserved use of supernatural elements, balancing them with the series' main themes.
- Lovecraftian references and occult aspects can be included, but should remain sparse and hidden.
- A balance is key for Fallout 5, ensuring that supernatural elements don't begin to overshadow the franchise's core focus.
Bethesda's Game Studio's Fallout has always been a widely popular series, and saw a spike in interest on the heels of the Amazon TV show, which manifested in a resurgence of players for the latest entries, Fallout 4 and Fallout 76. While that has garnered Fallout a good amount of positive buzz recently, speculation surrounding the next main title's potential direction and other aspects have been ongoing ever since its 2015 release. And though Fallout 5 is much further down the line currently, the discussions on how it might evolve continue.
Fallout's core focus has always been the ravages that nuclear war unleashed upon humanity and the Earth, and its trademark darkly humorous take on a post-apocalyptic setting. However, another inclusion that has been seen in the series are some straight-up supernatural encounters on top of the worst of Fallout's radiated mutants and bloodthirsty raiders roaming the wasteland. In hidden nooks and otherwise unassuming corners of its ruined landscapes are some Eldritch and haunted events. Such strange scenes are not intrinsic to the narrative or setting, though, present mostly on the periphery. This subdued approach should be maintained in Fallout 5 to keep them feeling special, and not distract from the main themes and story.
Fallout 76's Cult of the Mothman and other cryptids can also be said to be adjacent to the above.
How Fallout 4 Uses Lovecraftian Horror To Unsettle The Player
In between raiders, synths, and super mutants, Fallout 4 players can come across locations and quests that delve into Lovecraft’s brand of horror.
Fallout 5 Should Retain the Series' Reserved Use of the Supernatural
Fallout's Dalliances with the Paranormal
Fallout has contained occult and supernatural elements in some form going back to the original CRPGs. Bethesda's latter titles continued this tradition, and each release has had a few locations whose mysterious happenings and nature place them more firmly in supernatural territory. One of the most well-known now is Fallout 3's Dunwich Building and the otherworldly obelisk that can be found in its deepest section. This was expanded via Obadiah Blackhall and his search for the sinister tome Krivbeknih to complete an unnatural ritual in the Point Lookout DLC. There, the player is able to assist Blackhall or take the book and destroy it in Dunwich.
The Dunwich thread returned with Fallout 4's Dunwich Borers, and the massive quarry where another disturbing ritual seemingly occurred. Both locations are clearly Lovecraftian references, with the Krivbeknih bearing a close resemblance to the infamous Necromonicon. Others, like the Cabot family questline in Fallout 4 and the haunted Grandchester Mansion in Nuka World (a reference to the real-life Winchester House) serve to add a similarly uncanny and creepy factor into the mix of Fallout's more grounded scares.
Fallout 5 Needs to Keep Moderating its More Otherworldly Aspects
Places like the Dunwich Borers and Mansion go well beyond the realm of disturbing human-wrought horrors in Fallout. However, a big part of their impact is their relative sparsity and more hidden nature. Fallout is not really a supernatural setting at heart, and what makes these locations and stories special is that they lie outside the franchise's general framework. They thus stand out as often more unsettling than many of Fallout's more realistically terrifying undertones and aspects. This makes them feel unique and rewarding for players who stumble upon or meticulously scour the ruins in hopes of discovering just such a mystery.
Fallout's Lovecraftian elements and related bizarre inclusions can be some of the most intriguing, and Fallout 5 should certainly continue to include a few locales and fantastical encounters of this kind scattered throughout. At the same time, it should be sure not to overindulge in them either. By keeping them to a minimum, and more tucked away, perhaps just by furthering the Dunwich plot with another self-contained encounter, or having a quest akin to the Secret of Cabot House, it could ensure a good balance, retaining the mystique while not overshadowing Fallout's more major components and themes.
Fallout 4
- Released
- November 10, 2015
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.
- ESRB
- M FOR MATURE: BLOOD AND GORE, INTENSE VIOLENCE, STRONG LANGUAGE, USE OF DRUGS
- Developer(s)
- Bethesda
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda
- Engine
- Creation
- Franchise
- Fallout
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- How Long To Beat
- 27 Hours
- Metascore
- 87
- File Size Xbox Series
- 51 GB (December 2023)
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
