The Fallout franchise has a rich history when it comes to storytelling. Although the main quests associated with each Fallout game are memorable to some extent, the side activities possess their fair share of unforgettable moments. Across five massive games with so much excellent content to work with, it can be difficult nailing down the best of the best.
Whether it's helping a fellow wastelander in need or stumbling upon the lair of a vicious predator, the Fallout series doesn't lack interesting optional content. Although every fan undoubtedly has their favorite side quests, it's hard not to give these wild adventures their due.
10 I Forgot To Remember To Forget – Fallout: New Vegas
It takes hundreds of hours to comb through every nook and cranny of what Fallout: New Vegas has to offer. An argument can be made, however, that some of New Vegas's most interesting side quests are related to the protagonist's companions. Craig Boone and his quest, "I Forgot to Remember to Forget," is one such example.
Getting to know Boone requires effort. Little by little, the former recon sniper will open up about his tragic past. Boone is haunted by the death of his wife and his actions at the Bitter Springs Massacre. In "I Forgot to Remember to Forget," Boone can potentially find some redemption by defending Bitter Springs from Legion slavers. It's a straightforward, satisfying character arc that players shouldn't overlook.
9 Beat Francis At Arm Wrestling – Fallout 2
Fallout 2 may be dated, but there are still plenty of interesting people to meet and things to do in game. One of those interesting people is Francis, a Super Mutant at the Broken Hills bar.
Talking to Francis will initiate an easily missed quest. The Super Mutant will challenge the player to an arm-wrestling contest. If the player wins, they receive a power fist for their effort. If Francis wins, the protagonist will find himself waking up the next morning in a...compromising position, to say the least. It's worth noting that any hope of beating Francis requires a significant investment in the Strength and Endurance stats.
8 Come Fly With Me – Fallout: New Vegas
There's a chance that players will come across this quest relatively early in Fallout: New Vegas. In exchange for information about Benny, Manny Vargas will task the player with clearing out the REPCONN facility of ghouls. This task, however, turns out to be much more complicated than that. Accepting Manny's offer or stumbling on the REPCONN site itself will trigger "Come Fly With Me."
Arriving at REPCONN, players will witness a battle in progress between a cult of friendly ghouls and nightkin. Naturally, the player's help is needed in resolving the issue. Eventually, the Courier will be asked to help the ghouls reach their "Promise Land" by repairing the site's rocket ships. Aiding the ghouls in their journey or ensuring they perish in a fiery explosion is, of course, the player's prerogative.
7 The Secret Of Cabot House – Fallout 4
The Cabot family in Fallout 4 possesses a rather extraordinary secret, of which the Sole Survivor can become involved. Players learn that the Cabot family has attained immortality through the use of a mysterious serum. The serum itself is derived from the blood of the family's patriarch, Lorenzo, locked away beneath Parsons State Insane Asylum.
In "The Secret of Cabot House," the protagonist has an intriguing choice to make. They can either free Lorenzo and help him take revenge on his family, or aid Jack Cabot in killing his deranged father for good. It's a compelling moral choice that has advantages either way.
6 Oasis – Fallout 3
Speaking of moral dilemmas, there's one in Fallout 3 that's quite hard-hitting as well. While exploring the community of Oasis, players will come across an unusual cult that worships a tree. It turns out the tree, Harold, can actually talk. Longtime fans of the series may recognize Harold from the original Fallout as well as Fallout 2.
Harold's tale is a sad one. Transformed into a tree as a consequence of his exposure to the Forced Evolutionary Virus, Harold desires only one thing by the time of Fallout 3: death. Harold, unable to do the deed himself, wants somebody to put him out of his misery. The followers who worship him don't take his requests seriously, so the player must decide what to do with Harold. Either fulfill his wish and kill him, or spare him to prolong his anguish.
5 The Silver Shroud – Fallout 4
Fallout 4 contains a few gems when it comes to side quests. One of the more memorable adventures is "The Silver Shroud," which allows fans to play the role of a fictional, pre-war vigilante. After finding and donning the costume of the Silver Shroud, the protagonist can take their fight against crime to the streets.
Part of the quest's appeal is how seriously players decide to commit to the role. The protagonist can embrace the part completely, speaking in the same manner as the real Silver Shroud. It doesn't lack charm, and should succeed in making the player smile at one point or another.
4 Agatha's Song – Fallout 3
The Capital Wasteland is undoubtedly a gloomy place. Surviving to see the next day is never assured, a fact that isn't lost on anyone. It's because of this hardscrabble existence that brightening up somebody's day, even in a small way, can mean a lot.
Players have a prime opportunity to do a good deed in the Fallout 3 side quest, "Agatha's Song." The quest tasks the Lone Wanderer with recovering a unique violin for an elderly widow named Agatha. When the violin is returned, Agatha is overjoyed to be reunited with her long-lost musical heirloom. Sometimes it just feels nice to do something good.
3 Beyond The Beef – Fallout: New Vegas
In New Vegas, not every casino/hotel is what it seems. Many characters will allude to the strange nature of the Ultra-Luxe, a casino run by the White Glove Society. It's not until players initiate the side quest "Beyond the Beef" that the true nature of the White Glove Society is revealed.
In "Beyond the Beef," Heck Gunderson asks the Courier to investigate the disappearance of his son, who he believes was kidnapped by the White Gloves. Gunderson is proven correct when it's learned that some members of the White Glove Society are actually cannibals, who plan on consuming Heck's son. The quest can be completed in several different ways, offering players plenty of choices when it comes to dealing with the White Gloves and their "meat problem."
2 Pickman's Gift – Fallout 4
Over the years, the Fallout franchise has been known to include various nods to H.P. Lovecraft. One of the eerier quests players may come across in Fallout 4 can be found by visiting the Pickman Gallery in Boston's North End, a nod to Lovecraft's short story "Pickman's Model."
Inside, fans will find a great deal of macabre imagery on display. Scores of mutilated corpses line the halls, along with dozens of ghastly paintings. Pickman himself, a painter turned serial killer, can be found in the basement fending off some raiders. Players have the option of either helping Pickman or killing him. Helping the deranged killer results in "Pickman's Gift," a unique combat blade, as well as a chilling thank-you note from the man himself.
1 The Power Of The Atom – Fallout 3
Part of the appeal of an RPG is making the player feel as if their choices matter. Many choices need to be made in Fallout 3, but one, in particular, proves to be the most dramatic. In "The Power of the Atom," the Lone Wanderer holds the fate of an entire city in his/her hands.
The town of Megaton contains an armed, unexploded nuclear bomb in the center of town. Players are given two choices: either disarm the bomb permanently or intentionally set it off, wiping out the entire town in the process. It's one of the biggest decisions in the Fallout series, and it's part of a side quest! Deciding what to do with the bomb can't be taken lightly.