Over a decade since its initial release, Fallout: New Vegas is still fondly regarded by many fans of the franchise, particularly because of its engaging storytelling and extensive player freedom. One element that especially contributes to this is New Vegas' factions, the groups and organizations in the Mojave Wasteland that players can side with or fight against. Their fleshed-out motivations and impact on the story are important parts of what makes Fallout: New Vegas' world feel unique and alive.
New Vegas has three major factions to - the New California Republic, Caesar's Legion, and the Free Economic Zone of New Vegas - which are the region's primary political players. Minor factions like the Brotherhood of Steel also play a significant role, despite being smaller in size. Finally, an assortment of much smaller groups dot the landscape, including raider tribes, gangs, and other companies. Some of the best Fallout: New Vegas mods even add additional small factions to the game, building on the number of compelling stories already there.
This variety creates the feeling of a shifting balance of power. ing one of the three major factions impacts not just the other major groups but the smaller ones as well. Factions like the Boomers or the Great Khans can also be recruited for the game's final battle, or they can be wiped out entirely. Each group has distinctly unique values and goals, which differs from the oftentimes lackluster approach taken by Fallout 4, criticized by some players for leaving important story questions unanswered.
How Fallout: New Vegas' Factions Compare To The Other Games
To many players, Fallout 4's factions felt unorganized, and their goals were vague. The Institute's plans for the future were unclear; the Minutemen seemed ill-equipped, regardless of how much the player tried to build them up; and the lack of minor factions, at least compared to previous titles, made the world feel static and empty at times. Although more small organizations were introduced via add-ons, this didn't prevent some from feeling none of Fallout 4's factions were worth ing.
Fallout 76, likewise, suffers when it comes to factions, although some work has been done to change this since launch. The Wastelanders update added human NPCs and re-introduced faction reputations, which played a large part in making player actions carry real influence in previous Fallout games. Despite the attention given to the feature, though, many still feel Fallout 76's best factions are player-made, as the opportunities they provide for player freedom are much more significant. If a potential Fallout 5 ever goes into development, it should take notes from Fallout: New Vegas' engaging and immersive faction lineup.
