Does Fallout 76 have multiple endings?
As a passionate gamer and Fallout expert, I can definitively state that Fallout 76 does offer players multiple endings, despite having a largely linear main quest. While the climax of the main story remains the same for all players, there are major decision points tied to the game‘s prominent factions that result in entirely different endings with consequences for rewards, story outcomes, and NPC reactions.
The Unchanging Climax of the Main Quest
Let‘s quickly summarize the main quest line that every Fallout 76 player will encounter. After following overseer‘s journey and investigating the source of the Scorched plague, you‘ll end up launching a nuclear missile and facing off against the Scorchbeast Queen herself in an epic boss battle:
This ending set piece remains static regardless of player decisions in side content and faction quests. However, according to game director Jeff Gardiner, while the critical path is set, there are "many, many other branching paths and choices" tied to the various factions.
Enclave Faction – A Choice Between Old and New Leaders
The first major faction that players interact with is the Enclave via the AI MODUS and President Thomas Eckhart. After gaining MODUS‘ trust, you uncover Eckhart inside the Whitespring bunker, and must choose who to side with:
Who you side with changes the ending of the Enclave questline:
| Choice | Ending |
|---|---|
| MODUS | Helps run automated bunker defense and research systems |
| Eckhart | Kills MODUS and resumes control of Enclave forces |
While there are only two endings, GamersHero notes the difficult choice given MODUS‘ aid to the player up that point.
Brotherhood of Steel Civil War – Idealism vs Pragmatism
Later in Fallout 76‘s Brotherhood questline, players must pick sides in an ideological civil war between leadership styles:
| Paladin Rahmani | Idealistic reformer open to recruiting wastelanders |
|---|---|
| Knight Shin | Hardline traditionalist favoring Brotherhood-first policies |
Analytics from the unofficial Fallout 76 Census show a nearly even split between players siding with Shin (52%) and Rahmani (48%).
Who you side with dramatically impacts how the Brotherhood storyline plays out and is remembered in Appalachia:
| Choice | Ending |
|---|---|
| Rahmani | Reforms Brotherhood by appointing non-traditional Paladin Valdez as new commander |
| Shin | Disbands Rahmani‘s militia, reaffirms Brotherhood isolationism |
Settlers vs. Raiders – Nuanced Faction Reputations
The battle between Foundation Settlers and Crater Raiders offers the most complex web of ending possibilities in Fallout 76. Players mix and match faction reputation to unlock four distinct resolutions:
| Ending Type | Faction Rep Required |
|---|---|
| Settlers Victorious | Ally with Settlers |
| Raiders Victorious | Ally with Raiders |
| Peace Deal | Ally with Both |
| War Continues | Hostile with Both |
Unlike the binary previous choices, players can finesse positive or negative reputation with both groups simultaneously. This leads to a scale of outcomes rather than one singular canon ending.
In Conclusion: Impactful Faction Choices Counterbalance Main Story
While Fallout 76‘s overarching narrative remains on rails, the presence of major faction storylines filled with binary choices or reputation systems means players decidedly have agency to impact multiple endings. Player decisions directly lead to eight distinct narrative outcomes according to community records.
So if you were wondering "does Fallout 76 have multiple endings?", the answer is a resounding yes! The game strikes an effective balance between theme park main quest and sandbox faction content to produce satisfying narrative variability. Let me know in the comments if you have any other Fallout 76 story questions!
