Summary
The role-playing game genre is well-known among gamers for many things, most notably its focus on the player being able to carve their own path in whatever way they see fit. Whether it’s through choosing a certain quest line, picking between different sides, or just the ability to roam freely and explore. But one of the fan-favorite parts of the traditional RPG experience for gamers has always been the ability to have a partner by their side along the way.
TheFallout gameshave contained its companion system ever since its inception in 1997, allowing the player to meet and recruit various NPCs throughout each wasteland to travel alongside them. They usually had their own strengths and weaknesses both in and out of combat and could prove beneficial in different situations. More than just being useful to have around, though, they often also offer unique interactions for the player, having their own interesting backstories and dialogue.
This ranking will only feature games considered cannon in the franchise. Companions have been selected and ranked in terms of their usefulness and individual personality.
WhileFallout 76didn’t share the same companion system as the other games in the series, it did at least have the option for “Allies” instead. Allies are available for the player to recruit totheir CAMP, where they essentially stay as “roommates.” While they don’t follow alongside the player, they can offer merchant services, quests, as well as some interesting and comical dialogue.
The game has many useful ally options, but Beckett is easily one of the best, providing some good offerings as a vendor but also a great backstory and questline. Once rescued from Rollins labor camp, the ex-raider can be recruited as an ally, offering services as a food/drink vendor via his bar. Beckett’s tough backstory is where his character shines the most. A former member of the Raider gang known as the “Blood Eagles,” Beckett has turned over a new leaf after seeing the damage he caused, owning up to his mistakes, and doing what he can to help those in need.
While his offerings as a vendor may not be the most useful to players, Beckett’s meaningful backstory and questline make him a great choice and one of the more compelling charactersFallout 76has to offer.
Fallout 4brought agreat selection of companionsto the table, each not only having some great personalities but all being great picks for their various proficiencies. From the polite and proper Mister Handy robot Codsworth to the loyal German Shepherd(and, of course, good boy)Dogmeat.
But coupling together all the points that make a good companion, it would be hard not to give Nick Valentine the top spot here. Nick is a rareGen 2 prototype synthcreated to see how synths would perform if they were given the ability to freely think for themselves. Implanted with the memories of a past police officer, Valentine seems like he’s straight out of a 1940s film noir, from his classic detective clothing to his old-timey quips.
His ability can be a godsend, too, being able to hack various locked terminals, allowing the player to bypass the often irritating minigame. Morally good but not afraid to get his hands dirty, Nick is overall a well-crafted NPC and a general blast to roam the Commonwealth with.
Fallout: New Vegasseems to be the undisputed fan-favorite of the franchise, often regarded for its great writing that aligns closer to the depth of the first two games. Naturally, its fantastic writing pours over into its variety of NPCs and companions as well. Whether it’s Lily’s strange yet caring “motherly” personality or Raul, the rough and ghoulish gunslinger,New Vegasprovides the most varied selection of sidekicks in the franchise.
But it’s hard to argue with picking a companion like ED-E from the game’sLonesome Road DLC. The prototype Eyebot was sent on a cross-country journey from East to West to deliver a heap of data to the Enclave before being shot down near Primm and left for scrap. Luckily, he is found and repaired by the Courier, giving him the chance to lead on as their trusty steed.
His useful ability to act as a mobile workbench for the player, along with his unfortunate backstory, gives this little bot the top spot here, not to mention being an absolute unit with energy weapons in combat.
Across the series, Super Mutants are usually somewhere near the top of the “avoid” list for obvious reasons, butFallout 3brought a rare exception to the franchise in its roster of companions when it introduced Fawkes.
Somehow, resisting the mental effects during hisexposure to FEV, Fawkes was able to retain his intelligence, unlike the average green monster. Being deemed a “failure” by the other Mutants for his well-spoken and kind nature, he was locked up in Vault 87 before being optionally rescued by the Lone Wanderer. While Fawkes retains the often monstrous and grotesque appearance of the average Mutant, he is a well-educated and moral companion at his core, making him a pleasant accomplice to have alongside. Not to mention, he is an absolute tank in battle, possessing high HP and an affinity for all weapon skills.
Unfortunately for the evildoers of the wasteland, Fawkes will only side with the player if they possess good karma, so maybe think twice before eyeing up Megaton’s shiny centerpiece.
The companion system in the original two games functioned differently to the later releases, functioning as more of a “party.” Players could recruit multiple companions to have by their side at the same time, which allowed for lots of experimentation with different team builds.
Fallout 2offers a pretty unique bunch of companions, even featuring aDeathclawas an option. If given only a single option, though, John Cassidy is a great all-rounder to have by the players' side. Now residing in his bar in Vault City, where he settled down after years of roaming the New California wastes as a hardened adventurer.
Cassidy’s stats are balanced, so he is solid in combat across the board, especially when using ranged weapons like the hunting rifle. It makes him a great sidekick for battle with few downsides compared to the other companion options, and his backstory as the old, grizzled wasteland vet makes him stick out from the pack.
Even though much has changed since 1997, the original game established much of what the franchise is so well-known for today, including the more party-based companion system that would be brought over into the second game.
Fallouthad a much smaller pool of only four allies to choose from, but it makes up for it by having each of these companions be so unique to one another. Ultimately, it would be nearly impossible not to chooseDogmeat, the original good boy himself. The Shepherd can be found and recruited outside Junktown for the humble offering of some delicious iguana on a stick.
Dogmeat is a unit in combat and is able to deal up to three high-damage hits in a single turn with melee combat. However, the fact that he’s a wild hound makes him a bit unpredictable, as the player cannot give him direct commands like their other companions. But even just having the wastelander’s best friend at the player’s side gives Dogmeat the top spot, as well as the coveted title of “Original Good Boy” of theFalloutfranchise.
