Whenever a game comes out, not only is the game provoking all sorts of theories to make it race to the top of the charts, but the fans are also racing to come up with some of the most extreme and shocking theories, which was exactly what happened when Fallout 4 was released!
The months leading up to Fallout 4’s release, the internet was flooded with fan conspiracy theories that ranged from extreme to those with common sense. But none of them were confirmed to be in the game or even to this day many of them haven’t been seen to be true. Which is why we thought this would be the perfect opportunity to round up all of the theories that are actually true! Whether they’ve actually shown up in the game to a degree or the research has been done completely to back these up, we’ve gathered everything up for you to look over.
If you’re a big fan of the series, we can almost bet even YOU might find something you didn’t know after all of these years of playing this series. Some might even be so obvious you might have just missed them when playing through all the action. Let us know what theories you enjoyed the most and which ones you’ve caught in the game and if you discovered the truth behind them! Also feel free to share this article and let us know which theories that are confirmed you never knew about until now, we’d love to know your thoughts!
Let’s get started, we have a ton to go through!
20 Dr. Li Is An NPC?
If you love the Fallout series, you’ve most likely encountered Dr. Madison Li in Fallout 3. Because of her genius inventions and creations, many people remember her as being a very strong female character with one of the most interesting stories in the game. But before the newest addition to this series even came out, many people suggested she might be in Fallout 4, whether it was out of love for the character or just stubborn because of the ending the quest, we might never know what the community intentions were, but nonetheless, Bethesda listened.
10 Years later and Dr. Madison Li is still in the Commonwealth, who knows why?
She does appear in Fallout 4, even though this game is 10 years later and she somehow survived the war, either way, it’s a great easter egg and theory that was proven just from the game itself, plus her quest is quite fun as you would expect.
19 You Guessed It, Your Spouse Is The Synth
At one point in the production of Fallout 4, in datamined results, it was confirmed that before the launch of the game, there was going to be a quest titled, “The Replacement” which was a quest that would have allowed you to revive and recreate your spouse as a synth to be a companion. While this quest did not make it to the final game, it has been confirmed that this was going to be in the official game. This exclusion of this quest really made people upset, and we agree that this would have been a great bonus to the game. Especially if you took all that time to really focus on creating both characters at the start of the game. It makes it a ton more personal and it really immerses you in the story so you can connect and feel that emotional connection to the characters you created.
18 The Radio Predicted It All
We’ve probably all seen the radios scattered around Fallout games, but in Fallout 3 something strange happened. While this doesn’t pertain to the latest installment of the game, it’s actually very tragic and should be mentioned because it is a confirmed theory that actually happened in real life. But we don’t know if it was just a coincidence or something weirder. The broadcasts on Fallout 3 radios are pretty basic, they stuck to the time period, but there was a string of Morse Code that occasionally pops up. It turns out that these numbers actually gave a time and date, 9:45, April 20, 2010, which is almost the exact time on the same date that a huge explosion in the Gulf Of Mexico on an oil rig happened, two years after the game came out. Talk about strange!
17 Vault-Tec Is Evil
At the start of Fallout 4, you’ll all probably be familiar with how the game starts, you create your characters, husband and wife, you deal with the baby, and you get a knock on the door. This knock on the door is a representative from Vault-Tec, he wants to help you sign up for a space in the vault that is located a bit down the street you live in.
While this seems a bit annoying and intrusive, it almost seems like he knows something is wrong.
Something about him seems frantic and worried. When you agree with the things he says, it’s not long after until you hear the news report breaking on your telly. The reports of the nuclear bomb drop. When this occurs, you and your spouse grab your child and head to the shelter. Vault-Tec leaves the representative behind, he’s not allowed to go in the vault, and later on in the game, you find him turned into a ghoul. Vault-Tec doesn’t care about anyone.
16 Vault Boy Is Trying To Live
Vault Boy isn’t just giving you a thumbs up and wink for motivation, there’s actually a much deeper meaning to this iconic image from the game. He’s always seen with his thumb up and his left eye squinted and there’s actually a historical reason behind it as well. Back in the 50s, it was known that there would be all kinds of tricks to tell whether or not you were in a radiation zone if a nuclear bomb actually did drop nearby. There were theories back then of how you could tell whether or not you were in a radiation zone, one of which included exactly what the Vault Boy is doing. It was known that if you held your thumb up and closed one eye, if the mushroom cloud was bigger than your thumb, you would be in the radiation zone.
15 Vault-Tec Isn’t Innocent
For those who decided to play Fallout 4 without much backstory from past games in the series, it would be very easy to assume that maybe Vault-Tec is actually trying to protect individuals and isn’t evil like everyone is saying. It would be very easy to just believe that the something went wrong that no one planned for and everything fell apart from there, not that it was Vault-Tec’s plan in the first place. But if you really pay attention to what happened in Fallout 2 you would have known for a fact that this “Vault-Tec being good” theory needs to be laid to rest. It was true that in that specific game, it was revealed that the vaults were never used to help people, they were just experiments created by the company. They are anything but good people.
14 Fallout And The Elder Scrolls Aren’t The Same
For many years since both of these games have been released, it’s been considered the same game universe by many players because of the Nirnroot being present in both games. While this has been a theory for many years. It’s been confirmed that they are not, by lead developers from Bethesda, that they would NEVER be the same universe and that it’s just a sort of homage to Nirn and the Elder Scrolls Series. Nothing more, nothing less. While you think that this confirmation would stop people from being convinced that this is a fact, it hasn’t stopped this idea from being a thing in the Bethesda community. It was even discussed at E3 ‘17 by Bethesda, yet no one wants to take a minute to listen, maybe people will now! We actually really doubt it, and if that’s what you want to believe, go ahead and think they are all taking place on Nirn!
13 Predicting The Future
You might even go as far as saying that this series and how it deals with Synths have also predicted the current world we live in today. Synths in the universe of the Commonwealth are a very small demographic. They are hated, hunted, and treated poorly, as if they were property. They reflect all the signature ideas of those who are oppressed, not only like how people see A.I. today and predicting how it will be in the future, but also how people treat those they have false narratives about today. This literally speaks to many points of truth, that many people don’t accept those who are different in any way. This is how the future is currently unfolding in today’s world. While it’s unfortunate and things could obviously change, it’s just there are so many truths to this theory that are literally right in front of us in real life today.
12 You’re Just A Synth
This theory has been played with time and time again, but there has been more truth to this claim that the game confirms is something you should actually be questioning about yourself (your character). When the DLC for Fallout 4, aka Far Harbor was released, Nick Valentine, a synth himself actually has a brother, a very advanced synth called DiMA. DiMA is unique, because he was actually allowed to grow into the being he wanted to be, he taught himself and he hid from the people who hated synths so he could develop his A.I. and his programming to perfectly reflect his genius and capabilities.
But this is where something changes in how you view your own character, you’re posed with a question that evaluates your own mortality.
He asks you the question, are you a synth? He gives you signs to look for to explain whether or not you might be a synth and everything matches up.
11 It’s All In Your Head (Of Course)
As a sort of continuation from the point above, when DiMA asks you about the specific questions to tell whether or not you’re a synth, it really messes with how you see your character. He makes it almost seem as if it’s just all been in your head, aka programmed. Because after all, you can’t remember the first kiss you had, your first date, when you got married, or even your characters long history in the military. So it’s very much possible that your character is a synth and DiMA seems to even agree. This kind of confirmation that’s located right in the game is some of the best because it’s not an opinion or theory at this point any longer, it’s right there in front of you. On top of all that, it makes a lot of sense if you really put everything together, it’s possible and you’re not the only one who thinks so.
10 The Monkey Is From Toy Story
To ease up the mood for a bit. There are tons of references in this triple-A title, but one of the creepiest ones that are simply there for seemingly no reason would have to be the random circus monkeys that act as a stealth detector. These creepy little dolls are actually a homage to Toy Story and the creepy cymbal monkey in the films. It doesn’t go much farther than this in the game, but it is quite funny to see how many references there are to films that the developers have a soft spot for, which also include Blade Runner, which would be a whole list of easter eggs on its own. It just really makes you wonder about other possibilities when it comes to the references they’ve added in the game.
9 Everything Is An Example Of Communism
Bethesda has a mission when it comes to their games, they want the games they create not only to have a fantastic story that’s developed and have characters that are well-rounded, but they also want to have themes in the game that will make you think. They want the player to question what they know, whether that’s in the game or in real life because of themes in the actual game. This is the case when it comes to examples of Communism playing a role in the inspiration behind the corporation of Vault-Tec and how the war was handled in Fallout 4. The way everyone was stored in vaults, how they selected individuals instead of saving as many as possible, even to how the things were after you leave the vault when the war ended, this all has represents very heavy theme that were meant to make the player actually think about what would happen if the world was headed in this direction in real life.
8 Dogmeat Doesn’t Make Sense
There are many theories around Dogmeat, but once again this is another theory that is staring at you right in the face. Dogmeat isn’t just a dog, there’s more to his story, because no matter what your thoughts are, I’m sure we can all agree that Dogmeat doesn’t make sense in the slightest. He’s a purebred German Shepherd, no scratches, hair missing, or any kind of mutation. He’s alive, healthy, and a simple dog that doesn’t look like a melted ghoul. Why?! Dogmeat has had tons of theories that make sense, such as him being a synth created to help you, which would explain why he’s so close to when you start the game, plus he already seems familiar with you when you first meet him. It doesn’t add up. But at least we can all agree that Dogmeat doesn’t make sense, whatsoever. Do you think his place in the game makes sense?
7 There Are Religious Undertones
There are many confirmed religious undertones in Fallout 4. For this entry in this guide, we’ll be going over some of the mentions of religion in the game and how it still plays a very big role in the world of the Commonwealth. Starting off with many characters such as James and his wife, who regularly quote specific passages from Revelations, this sparked the inspiration for the water purification plant, combining their scientific training with their love of purifying the world.
Christianity plays a huge role in the Commonwealth, even into the far reaches of the Fallout universe.
There are many other characters as well that have played a role in the Fallout 4 universe, such as Marcella, a Christian missionary. Daniel, a Mormon, and even Father Donald, who is a priest. There’s no doubt that there are religious themes, it just might be hard to realize if you don’t pick up on bible verses.
6 Aliens Are Out To Hurt Humans
Why are aliens in Fallout 4? Did they do something to start this war in the first place? While this might be a bit unclear, it is apparent that the alien you do find that drops the Blaster Pistol is hostile. Which obviously gives away a clue that they have no respect for your character, let alone that they crashed here. This has led many to believe that no matter what the full story is when it comes to aliens being in this game, they aren’t nice, they aren’t there to help, and they probably don’t care that people have already suffered so much. This only leaves a few things open when it comes to theories, either it’s just a coincidence or they just want to wipe out the rest of the humans. But when it comes down to it, aliens are out to hurt humans no matter what, not offering any help.
5 Everything About The Mysterious Stranger
The Mysterious Stranger has been appearing in the series for a very long time. We’ve included a quote that really sheds some light when it comes to the purpose of the Mysterious Stranger, but they aren’t completely off the hook yet:
According to the Fallout 3 Official Game Guide, “You have a Guardian Angel, but with a deadly hand-cannon instead of wings. Meet the Mysterious Stranger, AKA real name- Farmer. An odd and eldritch entity said to appear and aid you in combat before you draw your [last] breath. Of course, it helps if you have said a prayer to Farmer first.”
This not only plays into the religious aspect of the game, but it also is one of the oddest additions to the game in general. It is confirmed that this character is not human, it is indeed an entity as mentioned above, but does that solve any of the other theories out there?
4 The Mysterious Stranger Is Not One Person
The Mysterious Stranger has been said to be the father of The Lonesome Drifter, while this has been mentioned in the Fallout Official Game Guide that we mentioned above, it still poses a ton of questions we would love to discuss and hear your opinion on as well. What are your thoughts on how this stranger comes and goes when you need it the most in battle? Do you see this as being just a strange stranger in the game that wants to help you or do you think there is something more to it? It should also be noted that from game to game the stranger has looked different, even changing races. This should mean that people that turn out to be the Mysterious Stranger are, in fact, different from each other. Plus it should also be remembered that you’re not the only one that sees the Mysterious Stranger, so does Nick Valentine.
3 The Mannequins Have No Real Purpose
For years now since the release of Fallout 4, people have thought that there was a purpose for those creepy mannequins around, but in reality, there isn’t. They play NO role in any aspect of the story. They are positioned in sometimes strange manners just to give a homage to Blade Runner, but overall they’re a missed opportunity by Bethesda.
The mannequins have never watched you do anything, we swear!
The most popular theory that people believed was that the mannequins were watching you, they were frozen synths that were meant to watch your every move so the Institute could watch what you do and where you are. If only this was the actual truth, it would have made the game a bit more interesting and a lot more creepy to say the least. Hopefully, Bethesda will use this opportunity later on in their next installment. We can only hope!
2 He Is Watching You
Deacon has been watching you, he has a small camp set up outside the vault on a ridge, with supplies and chair angled right towards the entrance. While it’s unclear what exactly his motives are and you don’t even interact with this character early on in the game, it’s obvious that looking back in retrospect that he is watching you as soon as you leave the vault. Almost as if he has been waiting for you. There are various camps with chairs and the same supplies scattered around the map in a way that makes it seem like he has been watching where you travel throughout the game, he’s even in the inn when you first visit Diamond City. It’s been known that he is a spy and that he lies about many things, but this still is unclear even though the game confirms that he is watching you if you pay close enough attention.
1 Deacon Is A Spy
As we mentioned above, Deacon is a character that has been watching you. He wants you to eventually stop the Institution while he works for the Railroad, in which the mission is to help free self-aware synths. But it’s obvious that he likes to lie about many things. But it has been confirmed that he is, in fact, a spy. He will even admit to you when you take him on as a companion, that he has lied about his past. He even lies about being a synth. Also as a fun little fact, if you don’t make him wear armor, his appearance will change every time you fast travel. This should also contribute to the fact that he’s a spy.
Deacon is to not be trusted, even if he tells you what you want to hear.
Overall, he’s a strange character that will make you question many things, but at least we know for a fact that he is a spy, which means that it’s up to you whether or not you trust him.
