Is There a Bad Ending in Fallout 4?
The short answer is: it depends on your perspective. Fallout 4 offers a complex narrative landscape where “good” and “bad” are often blurred, and the consequences of your choices are rarely black and white. While there isn’t a single ending universally considered “bad,” several endings can be viewed as less desirable or morally questionable depending on your values and what you hoped to achieve in the Commonwealth. This makes the question of a “bad ending” largely subjective, hinging on your interpretation of the game’s lore, factions, and the impact your actions have on the world.
The Nature of Choice in Fallout 4
Fallout 4 revolves around the player’s choices and the ramifications of those choices on the future of the Commonwealth. There are four primary factions: The Minutemen, The Brotherhood of Steel, The Railroad, and The Institute. Each offers a different vision for the future and comes with its own set of values and ideologies. No single path is without its shortcomings, and each path will result in the destruction of at least one or more factions.
- The Minutemen: Focused on community building and defense, this faction often represents the most “good” or morally palatable choice for many players, aiming to create a safer and more democratic Commonwealth. However, their limited resources and potential to spread themselves too thin can be seen as a weakness.
- The Brotherhood of Steel: A military force focused on preserving pre-war technology and maintaining order, they often resort to extreme measures, including the outright destruction of non-human threats, leading to potential collateral damage. Their rigid and often ruthless approach can make their ending feel morally questionable to many.
- The Railroad: Dedicated to the freedom of synths, they operate in the shadows and are willing to commit acts of sabotage to achieve their goals. While their cause is seen as noble by some, their tactics are questionable, and their influence outside of the freedom of Synths is minimal, thus their impact on the entire Commonwealth is reduced.
- The Institute: A clandestine organization of scientists and engineers who create synths, they are seen by many as detached and amoral, prioritizing technological advancement over the well-being of the Commonwealth’s populace. Siding with the Institute often leads to a grim vision of a technologically superior but emotionally impoverished society.
The Lack of a “Perfect” Outcome
What’s important to understand is that none of the endings in Fallout 4 are perfect or unequivocally “good.” Each faction has its flaws and, ultimately, the end result is largely dependent on what you as the Sole Survivor value and prioritize. Choosing the Minutemen, for example, can be seen as the most peaceful ending, where the Commonwealth is free and relatively safe. But this still entails the destruction of the Institute and possibly the Brotherhood of Steel. Similarly, siding with the Brotherhood ensures that pre-war technology remains in safe hands, but at the cost of potentially alienating synth sympathizers and creating an oppressive state. The Railroad while morally focused on the Synths, ultimately leaves a power vacuum. The Institute ending can be deemed as the “worst”, in the fact that Synths are tools, and they intend on ruling over the Commonwealth. There is always loss involved in each.
Therefore, there isn’t a definitively “bad” ending in Fallout 4, just different shades of gray that align with your specific ethical and moral compass. What one player might see as an acceptable outcome, another may view as deeply flawed and undesirable.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are the four main endings in Fallout 4?
The four main endings are achieved by siding with one of the following factions: The Minutemen, The Brotherhood of Steel, The Railroad, or The Institute. Each ending involves completing the main questline with that faction, which typically results in the destruction of at least one other faction.
2. Is the Minutemen ending the “best” ending?
Many players consider the Minutemen ending the most desirable, as it aims to rebuild the Commonwealth and establish a more democratic and peaceful society, with the player in charge. However, the concept of ‘best’ is subjective.
3. Is the Institute evil?
The Institute is often portrayed as the antagonist, with its amoral experimentation on human subjects and the creation of synths viewed by many as unethical. Their belief in their superiority and disregard for the Commonwealth’s population contributes to their negative perception.
4. Is the Railroad ending the hardest to achieve?
The Railroad ending can be a bit trickier, as it’s possible to get locked out of it if players anger the Institute too early. This ending requires careful navigation of both the Railroad and Institute questlines.
5. What happens if I side with the Minutemen?
Siding with the Minutemen involves defending settlements, completing radiant quests, and ultimately destroying the Institute and potentially the Brotherhood of Steel. This path positions you as the leader of the Minutemen and the general of the Commonwealth.
6. Can I get locked out of endings?
Yes, certain actions can prevent you from completing the questline for a specific faction. Angering or destroying one faction often means losing access to its quests and, thus, its ending.
7. Can I have all factions in the end?
No, not all of the factions can be allied together in the end. The ending of the game always involves the destruction of one or more factions, it is not possible to peacefully ally them all.
8. Can I marry or have children in Fallout 4?
While there is no marriage mechanic, players can reach max affinity with companions, and some companions have romantic potential. There is no way to have children in the base game without the use of mods.
9. What is the most satisfying ending in Fallout 4?
This is entirely subjective. Some players find the Minutemen ending the most satisfying, others may prefer the Brotherhood’s more forceful order, and some may even find the Institute ending fascinating in its cold, technological focus.
10. Who is the most evil character in Fallout 4?
Many consider Shaun, also known as Father, to be the most evil character, given his role as the leader of the Institute and his manipulation of the Sole Survivor. Others consider characters like Conrad Kellogg or Pickman as very evil, for their depraved actions.
11. Are there any “bad” endings where the Commonwealth is destroyed?
While no ending results in the literal physical destruction of the entire Commonwealth, some endings, like the Institute’s, can be seen as creating a bleak future for the majority of its inhabitants.
12. Is there a canon ending for Fallout 4?
There is no official canon ending for Fallout 4. Bethesda has left the ending open to interpretation, allowing players to craft their own vision of the Commonwealth’s future. It’s meant to be subjective to the players’ choices.
13. Can I still play after completing the main story?
Yes, after completing the main questline, you are free to continue exploring the Commonwealth, complete side quests, and build settlements.
14. What is the scariest location in Fallout 4?
Many players find locations like Dunwich Borers, Pickman Gallery, or the Museum of Witchcraft to be particularly creepy, due to their disturbing lore and atmosphere.
15. Can my companion’s ending change?
Your companions’ end states are partially dependent on your choices during their companion quests and which faction you choose. They often express their feelings on your decisions and which faction you chose.
Conclusion: Your Commonwealth, Your Choices
In conclusion, Fallout 4 doesn’t have a clear-cut “bad” ending. Instead, it offers a series of moral dilemmas, where each choice comes with its own set of consequences. The perceived quality of an ending is highly dependent on your own values and what you believe is best for the Commonwealth. This subjectivity is a key element of the game’s design, encouraging you to engage with the narrative and ultimately shape the future of the Commonwealth as you see fit. Whether you prioritize rebuilding communities, preserving technology, or fighting for synth rights, your choices determine the fate of Fallout 4’s world.