Summary
Fallout 5is still largely a mystery, but at least one aspect of the future game’s plot can be confidently predicted. Of course, the details surrounding it, such as what region the game will take place in, and what factions will be involved, are still unknown. However, there are a few patterns that tend to show up in theFalloutgames. Some patterns are present in the gameplay itself, while others are narrative trends that appear in their stories. While each game tries something new, players can base their expectations on what is likely to come.
No matter what Bethesda does withFallout 5’s version of the wasteland, there’s going to need to be a strong story attached to it. The same is true for most games, but especially in the case of RPGs. While it’s fun to explore the wasteland and delve into the ruins of what once was a proud society, there needs to be a reason for the player to be out there. Be it unraveling a massive scheme, or being the one with the power to decide the fate of the wasteland. The protagonist needs a goal, and it needs to be strong enough to carry the game.
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Fallout 5’s Story Could Follow One Theme From Past Games
Even beforeFallout 4introduced avoiced protagonist to a Bethesda game, past series protagonists had goals that were easy to understand. InFallout 3, the Lone Wanderer was looking for their father, who had recently left their Vault. InFallout: New Vegas, the Courier was searching for Benny, who shot them in the head and left them for dead.Fallout 4was the Sole Survivor searching for Shaun, their child who was taken from them while they were cryogenically frozen. Each of these cases led to the protagonist uncovering something much larger, but all of these games began with a search for something important.
With so little information, it’s quite possible thatFallout 5will be nothing like past games. However, it feels like a safe bet to assume that some sort of search will kick off the plot. Not only has that been the case for many past games, but it’s also an incredibly flexible concept. Past games were often about searching for people, but the next game could involve seeking out a certain item, or a specific place. It’s a useful way to give the player direction before the plot as a whole opens up, and it has proven a good move in the last few installments.
Whatever the protagonist ends up searching for could even have been established by thetimeline leading up toFallout 5. For example, the Enclave was a major faction in the past that is pretty much gone after the events ofFallout 3, but some of their old tech could prove to be worth fighting over. The same is true regarding the Brotherhood of Steel, which could easily have had at least one branch splinter apart due to its many problems over the years. Of course, the goal could be something completely new, but it couldn’t hurt to tie the old game to the series' past.
Fallout 5is going to have a high bar to clear due to the series' iconic status, and whileFallout 5must avoid past mistakes, it can also learn from what worked before.Falloutplots don’t have to be incredibly complicated since they can do a lot with a few simple ideas. After all, the rising action of the game needs to bring the player out into the world, and embarking on a search is an excellent way to do so.Fallout 5may well follow in its predecessors' footsteps by kicking off with a hunt for something or someone.
