A fan of the Fallout series has given a rather detailed analysis of the game's ghouls, offering up a more scientific explanation of the "underlying cause of ghoulification." Hailed as one of the most celebrated post-apocalyptic franchises in gaming, the open-world RPGs are centered around the concept of nuclear radiation and the inhabitants that get by in a world devastated by an atomic blast. As such, many are subjected to radiation, either from drinking the water or the very air itself, with some becoming mutated entirely.
The ghouls in Fallout have a surprising amount of lore behind them. Biologically, they're different to humans in their appearance. With cracked and wrinkled skin, as well as croaky voices, they stand out when compared to those whom they often refer to as "smooth skins," aka regular people. From a story perspective, ghouls come about due to severe exposure to radiation, mostly from nuclear bombardments. While it generally kills, it is possible to survive, at least in the Fallout games, and many go on to lead as normal lives as they can, save for bouts of prejudice and occasionally turning feral.
However, Reddit user Hinnerhynn has offered up a more scientific explanation for how the ghouls in Fallout came about, going beyond radioactive explosions. Using their knowledge of microbial theory, they theorize that pathogen yeasts called Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans could come into the equation. The former is often found in bird droppings, can infect humans, and is also said to utilize radiation "as an energy source." The latter can be found in the digestive tract of people and is therefore ignored by the immune system, allowing it to exist elsewhere in the body.
Working symbiotically with the human body, both these pathogens could theoretically work by keeping the person alive, while also feasting on radiation in the air in a kind of "semi-opportunistic pathogen relationship" with the host. It's pretty fascinating stuff, though as stated, it is just a theory and even Hinnerhynn admits it falls more into sci-fi territory than real-world application.
The Fallout series recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, with many no doubt reminiscing about the first game, which came out in 1997. Since Bethesda took over the franchise in 2008, things have been looking up as each release from then on has entered the mainstream, though the original two installments are still beloved by those who remember them.
Sadly, it's unlikely that getting to play a ghoul in Fallout will become a reality. They are a mainstay of the games, of course, and living for hundreds of years sounds pretty good. But the risk of turning feral and attacking on sight, not to mention the discrimination that comes from other wastelanders, may not be worth it for some players.
Fallout 76 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Source: PCGamesN
