10 Wild Fallout Fan Theories & Rumours That Could Actually Be True From The Games

May 14, 2024, 9 p.m.

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10 Wild Fallout Fan Theories & Rumours That Could Actually Be True From The Games

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Summary Fallout's wacky game world lends itself well to fan theories, many of which are entirely plausible.

Many theories attempt to give a narrative justification to gameplay mechanics, while others attempt to fill in unseen parts of the world.

Believable Fallout theories include multiple characters actually being synths in Fallout 4, and vault dwellers generally being much stronger than those on the surface.

Fallout is known for having a unique and charming world with as many unanswered questions as answered ones. Conspiracies are ingrained into the franchise's DNA as much as the whimsical nature of the world is, and the wild setting of Fallout means that its theories can be just as outlandish. Bethesda has been shrewd in giving its fan community many answers, letting the mystery build over time from entry to entry.

Some rumors and theories have been longstanding, having earned a following since before Bethesda bought the rights to the franchise (Bethesda's tenure began with 2008's Fallout 3). Some have been amplified thanks to the Institute taking center stage in Fallout 4, acting as a boogeyman for both the Commonwealth and the Fallout theorist community. With the outrageous nature of the franchise's world, some of these outlandish theories could actually hold some weight.

Related 10 Best Things to Do After Beating Fallout: New Vegas After beating Fallout: New Vegas, players may not quite be finished exploring the Mojave Wasteland. There is still plenty to do once the credits roll.

10 Dogmeat Is A Synth

Fallout's Good Boy Might Not Be A Real Boy

Dogmeat has been a reoccurring canine companion in the series. He has become such a staple that even the Fallout show included him, becoming one of the most recognizable elements of the franchise, but there is a chance that the German Shepard is not a real dog at all. Dogmeat seems to be a universal name for several dogs, since the dog from Fallout 4 probably isn't the same as the one in the series' first entry.

With the Institute's prominence in the series' fourth entry, there is a possibility that Dogmeat is actually a synth. Allegedly, the dog was sent by Father to aid the Sole Survivor in finding them, since he randomly begins following the player after visiting Red Rocket. The dog will do whatever the player says afterward, despite not forming much of a bond, and he is strangely intelligent for a stray. Dogmeat does have some Institute links, since he has worked with Nick Valentine before.

9 Father Was Going To Bring Back The Sole Survivor's Spouse

A Synthetic Nate Or Nora

Father (or Shaun) is the leader of the Institute and has the resources to do practically anything he wants. Although he has spent very little time with his biological parents, he genuinely cares for at least one of them (the Sole Survivor), since he wants them to take over as the leader of the Institute after he is gone. Even if the player sides against the Institute, Shaun will entrust a synth child version of himself to the Sole Survivor as a final gift to make up for the parenting that they didn't get to do.

Since the Institute can perfectly replicate human beings, and Father is somewhat sentimental about his past, a synth version of the Sole Survivor's spouse could have been in the plans. There is cut content in which either Nate or Nora return as a synth as part of the Institute questline. From a narrative standpoint, this would have made sense, considering the synth version of Shaun had been made, and the reconstruction of the player's family could have made the Institute a more appealing Fallout faction to join.

There is a mod which adds Nora back into the game as a companion. Thanks to all the voice lines recorded for the character, the companion is fully voiced and is available for Xbox via ChosunYoung on Bethesda's mods site, and PC via the same creator's Nexus Mods username, HouseVariable.

8 The Courier Is Healing Over Time When They Level Up

That Gunshot Isn't Something To Just Sleep Off

A bullet wound in the skull is not something that people typically recover from. Even if they do, it will take time, but that doesn't appear to be the case for Fallout: New Vegas' protagonist, the Courier. The Courier recovers from this both quickly and completely after a few days in Goodsprings, ready to take on the Mojave shortly after getting out of bed, which seems bizarrely superhuman for someone who is meant to be relatively normal.

This theory suggests that the Courier did not fully recover after waking up in Goodsprings. Instead, anytime the player levels up, the New Vegas protagonist recovers, finding their old strength again. The Courier was one of six messengers trusted to deliver packages to Mr. House (although they were the only one with the Platinum Chip), and is known to have traveled around the Mojave beforehand, meaning that they must have been quite fearsome before being shot in the head.

The Courier worked for Mojave Express and was given the nickname of Courier Six while working there.

7 The Nuclear Thumb Theory

There Might Be More To The Vault Boy's Pose

For a long time, it has been theorized that there is more to the Vault Boy's signature pose than meets the eye. It is said to actually be a rule which people can use to determine whether they are safe from a nuclear blast. If someone can see the mushroom cloud from behind their thumb, then they should evacuate, since they are in the radiation zone. Of course, this theory won't work in real life.

The Amazon Prime series has practically confirmed Fallout's rule of thumb, although the origin of it has been retconned. It is mentioned in the show's first scene; however, this does not confirm that this is something Vault-Tec told the masses with its mascot. It is more of a nod to the popular theory, since the thumb rule is based on an old American protocol when the fear of nuclear war was at its peak.

6 Vault Dwellers Are Stronger

A Lack Of Radiation Helps

Radiation sickness is something that players need to look out for when traveling around irradiated America. The signature sound of the Pip Boy's Geiger Counter alerts Vault Dwellers to this threat, as they can easily die from it, but the lack of background radiation on the surface might be an advantage. It could be a source of strength, since the healthier Vault Dwellers could be in better shape than anyone else on the surface.

This would explain why Fallout 3's Lone Wanderer, with little experience, was able to accomplish everything they could in that title. Even without Nate's military experience, it could also explain why Nora could go so far as to destroy the Institute when no one else could. The constant exposure to radiation over the years could have made the people on the surface much weaker than humans of old, unless they become ghouls.

Related Finally, Fallout 4's Most Disappointing Settlement Just Got So Much Better Sunshine Tidings Co-op, one of Fallout 4's most disappointingly easy settlements to acquire and protect, just got significantly more challenging.

5 Fallout 4's Teddy Bears Are Institute Spies

It Wouldn't Be The Wildest Thing They've Done

As powerful and mysterious as the Institute is, they have done a few odd things. The faction is trying to recreate pre-war animals, allegedly made Super Mutants, and uses crows as spies, but why would it stop there? It is theorized that the teddy bears of Fallout, who have been put in humorous poses for some time now, are somewhat sentient or have a deeper backstory to them. Who placed them in these poses, and how have they survived this long?

In Fallout 4, Dogmeat can be given a teddy bear as a toy to play with, as well as a bandanna and goggles to wear.

There have been dozens of theories, but one proposes that these bears have actually been placed about by the Institute and are being used as spies inside buildings, similar to the crows. It would mean that whoever placed them has a sense of humor, or it could also mean that the teddy bears are a type of synth that is sentient, and they pause whatever they're doing whenever someone enters to maintain cover. Although far-fetched, Fallout has done more odd things before.

4 Fallout & Skyrim Share A Universe

All Because Of Nirnroot

Shared universe theories are abundant with many titles that are produced by the same company. All Ubisoft titles sharing one world is a good example, and it is theorized that Bethesda's two pillars, The Elder Scrolls and Fallout, do the same. There is an abundance of fun Easter Eggs linking the two, like the existence of sweet rolls and a few nods to the Dragonborn in comic books with their iconic, iron helmet.

The one Easter Egg, which could mean that the two share a world, is Fallout 4's experimental plant. This plant looks eerily similar to the Nirnroot found throughout Skyrim. Nirnroot is named after Nirn, The Elder Scroll's world, and if it exists in Fallout, it could mean that the world of Nirn eventually becomes Earth. It could also point to a potential multiverse and, despite the theory being dismissed by Bethesda, the company is known for retcons and changes, and this could be something for it to consider in the future.

3 Not All Vaults Were For Experiments

Only Most Of Them

Although not common knowledge to the public, the Vaults from Vault-Tec were meant to be more than just bomb shelters for humanity to wait out nuclear war. They were also places to conduct experiments on unwitting humanity, such as Vault 111's cryogenic stasis experiment. These Vaults range in levels of depravity, with some testing drugs on subjects by contaminating the air, while others are simple in their horror by not installing a working door.

Still, these Vaults were the best bastion for people to survive a nuclear war. Members of Vault-Tec who conducted these experiments likely would not have chosen to hide in them, but they probably would have had perfect Vaults for themselves and their families. These more normal Vaults likely won't be shown much in the games, since they would be relatively boring compared to the horribly interesting experimental ones, but that doesn't mean they can't or shouldn't exist.

2 Mannequins From Fallout 4 Are Alive

And They Might Be Evil

One of Fallout 4's creepiest features is its use of mannequins. These are similar to ones used in nuclear tests during the 50s, making them a thematic prop for Fallout's world, but they are placed in many particular areas in odd ways, making some sections look straight out of a horror title. This became scary enough that a mod was made where these mannequins are replaced by pink flamingos.

The Museum of Witchcraft in Fallout 4 houses most of these creepy mannequins, as well as a Deathclaw.

Like the teddy bears, it is theorized that the mannequins could be somewhat sentient. One area in Fallout 4 shows several mannequins around a skeleton in a bathtub, implying that they had something to do with the death. They could be genuinely evil, another kind of synth or just come from a bored NPC having a bit of fun. Either way, it could mean that the mannequins are something to be feared, rather than just a creepy prop in a dead world, since many have been propped to look like they have just committed a crime.

Related One Fallout Character Who Appears In Every Game Is A Clear Exclusion From The TV Show Fallout’s biggest mystery is still somehow missing from the TV series. Here’s everything to know about this figure, and why he deserves a cameo.

1 The Sole Survivor Is An Android

Just Like Synth Shaun

One theory that has gathered plenty of support claims that the Sole Survivor is actually a synth or another kind of android. For one, Nate or Nora are the only ones to survive Vault 111 after being frozen for centuries, which seems a little convenient. They also have access to V.A.T.S. before getting Fallout's iconic Pip-Boy, which is something that a synth could have built in. Just because they were made before the war, doesn't mean they can't be an android of some kind, especially because of the advancement of pre-war technology.

Then again, the Sole Survivor could also have been switched out when in stasis, with the Institute keeping the original body to conduct experiments with. Shaun has a synth version of himself, and the player's spouse was going to be recreated by the Institute before that quest was cut. It would make sense to also make Fallout 4's protagonist a synth too, effectively making the perfect, synthetic, pre-war family.

Sources: ChosunYoung/Bethesda, HouseVariable/Nexus Mods