Since its first entry in 1997, the Fallout franchise has built a famed rogues’ gallery for itself. From the machinations of calculating supercomputers to the banal evil of mortal men, the series is rife with iconic antagonists.

Not only do Fallout‘s villains vary in how evil they may be, but they also differ in quality to a shocking extent. Some are run-of-the-mill obstacles that await being filled with lead by the player, whilst others are so captivating that they’ve gone down as some of the greatest foes in gaming history. Everything from the mechanics of their encounter to their characterization is vital in the discussion of who rules the wastelands and who sinks to being pistol fodder.

S-Tier

The Master

The villain of the first Fallout game is a mainstay in the discussion of video game antagonists for a good reason. His motivation to usher in the next stage of human evolution and bring about peace is one mired in bloodshed. After a hard-fought battle against his corridors of Fallout‘s iconic super mutants, players come face-to-face with The Master himself. He argues that humanity will not survive the wastes, that their differences breed conflict, and that they will only continue to eat each other.

He cannot be persuaded on the grounds of morals, but crucially he is not without reason; players can fight him or show him the folly of his plan. With evidence gained from learning as much as possible about mutants, a player can convince The Master that mutants are sterile. After confirming this for himself, The Master comes to regret his plan and allows the player to leave before he destroys himself.

This nuance of character, a villain that can be brought down by logic and reason but not brute-force charisma, is married to a gripping visage. A melted paste of bloodied flesh draped over a screen, The Master invokes both a Lovecraftian horror and a more mechanical evil (such as AM from I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream).

This impression of illness and artifice is furthered by his mix of voices, both male and female. His patchwork vocals and grim appearance further add to the tragic ending of the first Fallout, where this pained monster—an architect of evil—comes to terms with what he’s done and regains a drop of the humanity he longed to shed, embodied in a last act of remorse.

Caesar

Caesar walks a similar tightrope to The Master, at once undeniably callous yet cool-headed and detailed in his reasoning. Though seemingly anachronistic, Caesar’s Legion is one of the most fleshed-out factions in Fallout: New Vegas. Their leader is no great physical threat but remains an ideological menace.

He is open about the brutality of their conquest, seen throughout the wasteland with their sexist system, imperialist conquest, and crucifixions, but still believes in his cause. He argues that the wasteland will be made stable by his legion and that his domination is inevitable, invoking Hegelian dialectics.

However, a closer analysis by the player allows for his ruse to be uncovered. His words are empty talk, an outlook lacking either the context of totality in all things found in Hegel’s work or an answer to the materialist critique of Hegel’s philosophy, one that posits a form of dialectics based on material relations rather than idealist concepts.

For all their showboating, the Roman cosplay of this brutal empire is a composite of sports jerseys and football apparel, the so-called decadence that the Legion would rail against. Vile but philosophically consistent (if not philosophically flawed), Caesar is another easy pick for one of Fallout‘s best baddies.

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A-Tier

Father

Though not as gripping as the villains in S-Tier, Father’s cold demeanor and lack of regard for life do well to match the technocracy of the Institute. With a disregard for the synthetic beings they create and for human life in general, they fit neatly into the antagonist role for Fallout 4.

Father’s lack of care for his mother’s death implies a detachment towards human life, one that mirrors perfectly his organization’s emphasis on technological innovation above everything. His pursuit of progress at all costs does not hit as hard as that of The Master, but his emotional detachment contrasted with the implication of care for how his father thinks of him lets Father stand out regardless.

B-Tier

Frank Horrigan

Frank Horrigan’s dismissal of diplomacy leads him to lack some of the complexity found in other antagonists. Despite this, the menace of his titan body gives him an edge in theatrics. His bravado and meat-headed brutality are indicative of Fallout 2‘s Enclave faction. The last remnants of the US materialized as a xenophobic, blood-drenched cult of death—an empire trying to claw its way back from the rubble.

Frank Horrigan perfectly encapsulates what is expected by such a culture; despite all the experiments his own faction ran him through, despite he himself being one of the very mutants the Enclave discriminates against, he remains fiercely loyal to the cause. Choked by metal and a perception of honor, his dying words are ‘Semper Fi’, a simplified Latin term used as a motto by the marines and other military units. His tough fight and undying loyalty to a self-destructive society cement his place as a decent villain.

C-Tier

Colonel Autumn

Autumn does not arrive with the trappings of Roman antiquity or a suit of behemoth metal but a simple coat. He doesn’t really have the ideological backbone that his fellow antagonists have; a few lines of dialogue are enough to get him to walk away. Moreover, he’s not backed by much of a physical threat, being dispatched with greater ease than most Fallout villains. Still, a decent vocal performance produces at least an ounce of charisma, enough to save Autumn from being a total snore.

Fallout 4

Fallout 4 is an RPG in the Fallout series, being the fourth major installment. This time around, players are in The Commonwealth, formerly Massachusetts, in the year 2287.

Released

November 10, 2015

Engine

Creation

ESRB

M FOR MATURE: BLOOD AND GORE, INTENSE VIOLENCE, STRONG LANGUAGE, USE OF DRUGS

How Long To Beat

27 Hours

X|S Enhanced

No

File Size Xbox Series

51 GB (December 2023)

PS Plus Availability

Extra & Premium