Fallout 5is years away at this point, but that hasn’t kept longtime fans from speculating about what awaits the franchise next. After the success of Amazon Prime’s live-action adaptation, excitement about theFalloutgames has been reignited, makingFallout 5one of the many future games to look forward to.
Since the project hasn’t even been officially announced, there aren’t any actual details revealed by Bethesda yet. From the setting to the planned release window,Fallout 5is one of the industry’s biggest mysteriesright now. With each game, a fresh protagonist is introduced, andFallout 5could take some compelling directions with its lead this time around. Every protagonist has been unique in their own way, butFallout 5could really shake things up, while also returning to some fan-favorite traits.
What Features Fallout 5 Protagonist’s Should Include
A Tight-Lipped Hero
When developing sequels, trying new things can often lead to improvements, but for many fans,Fallout 4’s voiced protagonist proved controversial. Since the Sole Survivor was so intertwined with the main story, it’s understandable as to why Bethesda opted to give the character a voice. However, returning to a silent protagonist may bethe best decision forFallout 5.
Bethesda has a history of silent protagonists, and it has proven to be a formula that works quite well, especially from a role-playing perspective. Silent protagonists allow gamers to further immerse themselves in the role of a character, while hearing someone else’s voice can potentially create a disconnect. WithStarfieldalso featuring a silent protagonist, it seems as though Bethesda may be going back to this proven method after the backlash from someFallout 4players.
Players have even made mods that turn the game’s protagonist silent.
Leaving the Vaults Behind
Fallout 5may benefit from taking a note fromFallout: New Vegas' Courier.New Vegasfeatures one of the biggest franchise shake-ups by introducing a protagonist who isn’t a Vault Dweller. The Courier proves thatFalloutcan feature characters that are seemingly blank slates without making them completely naive to the world. Of course, Vault Dwellers have been integral tothe lore ofFallout, and there is still room to feature the Vaults in a variety of other ways. However, it would be fascinating to see another protagonist whose past isn’t confined to the Vaults.
Clear Dialogue Choices
Another major changeFallout 4brought to the series was the dialogue wheel. It was intended to streamlineinteracting withFallout 4’s NPCs, which makes sense, but the implementation was off. The vagueness of each answer choice can often result in unwanted outcomes, which can be really frustrating when trying to play the protagonist a specific way. The dialogue wheel can ultimately hurt building one’s character, and ifFallout 5wants players to truly enjoy its role-playing, then returning to the old dialogue formula may be best.
Season 2 of the live-actionFalloutseries will premiere in December 2025.
Going Full Ghoul
Making the game’s protagonist a Ghoul from the start may be a bit risky, but it could prove to be just the leap the series needs to keep things fresh. AfterFallout 76added Ghoulsto the game following the success of Walton Goggins' performance in the Amazon series, the door is now wide open to take this concept a step further. A story revolving around a Ghoul trying to survive the wasteland while also fighting to remain as human-like as possible could add an extra level of challenge inspired directly by the live-action series. Not only that, but it could also further humanize the Ghouls, setting the stage for an intriguing, emotional story.
Fallout 4
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.
