Mind-Blowing Fallout Fan Theories That Make The Wasteland Even Creepier

Vault Boy is probably the most recognizable character from the series. Considering each game takes place in a different location with new characters, he acts as a sort of focal point throughout. The most familiar image of Vault Boy entails him giving a thumbs-up gesture. However, many fans speculate this is not a welcoming motion, but rather a more sinister gesture. Rather than greeting the player, Vault Boy may actually be holding up his thumb to compare it to the size of a mushroom cloud in the background.

The "general rule of thumb" taught to Americans during the Cold War involved holding out your arm, shutting an eye, and holding your thumb up to size the cloud. If the cloud was bigger than your thumb, that meant you were in the radiation zone and needed to hightail it out there. This sounds a lot like Vault Boy's signature, seemingly cheeky pose.

Update: This fan theory has been verified in the 2024 Amazon Prime Video ‘Fallout’ TV show.

Almost every game features a protagonist who is far stronger than the vast majority of characters in the world. This is certainly true in the Fallout series, in which the player character can easily beat entire hordes of enemies with little effort.

One theory suggests the reason your character is so strong is because they had some form of shelter from all the radiation, whether it's in a vault or safely locked away in stasis. Everyone on the surface has had exposure to the constant radiation post-nuclear apocalypse, which has made them sickly and weak.

There are a number oddly shaped structures in Fallout 4. Domes and pipes stretch across the surface and underwater, which covers most of the map. Given the massive amount of water in the game, some believe there could be an entire underwater civilization lurking in the depths.

Players who think there is more to the water believe the "Aqua Boy" perk - which lets players breathe underwater - is undeniable evidence.

A quest in Fallout 4 delves into the lore of a disease known as New Plague. This virus was discovered just before the war, and efforts were made to find a cure. One character in the game, MacCready, has a son who has contracted the disease and asks the player to help him find this cure.

By the end of the mission, however, it isn't clear whether the cure works or can even be produced in the aftermath of the Great War. Redditor /u/Emberwake believes the New Plague still exists in the Fallout universe after the nuclear event, and it's started to spread to other survivors.

Fallout: New Vegas begins with the player character - the Courier - shot in the head and presumed long gone. He survives due to unforseen events and appears to make a complete recovery relatively quickly. One theory from Redditor /u/Plebian_Donkey_Konga posits the protagonist never fully recovered.

When the Courier levels up, he's not getting stronger - he's slowly healing. If this theory proves true, it means the entire experience is spent with a character who is likely experiencing discomfort and agony.

One Easter egg in Fallout 4 is an experimental plant in the research facility operated by Neriah. This flower shares a striking similarity to Nirnroot, a plant with healing properties in Skyrim. The experimental plant also heals the player, and some believe it is the same plant in both games.

Fans have since proposed that this could provide a strong link between both universes, even going so far to suggest they could take place in the same world. Proponents of this theory also point to a computer log near the plant, which lists it with the codename "NRT" - a possible shortened version of "Nirnroot." They also both grow near water.