Speculation over the future of the Fallout series is always buzzing among the fan base, especially given how the most recent Fallout game was received by the fans. Some games in the past were divisive among fans, but there hadn't really been an objectively bad entry in the series until Fallout 76. While the game has improved massively since its disastrous launch, it still left a lot uncertain about the future of Fallout.
However, the title that made many apprehensive over Fallout's future could actually hold the key to making Fallout 5 a return to form for the series. While Fallout 76 had plenty of flaws, there's one aspect that the game did better than any past entry. The Appalachia Wasteland is by far the best setting to date. Recreating what worked in Appalachia with Fallout 5 and avoiding the browns and greens of past settings is key to Fallout's future.
Fallout 76's Appalachia Wasteland Is a Visual Breath of Fresh Air
A common criticism of the 3D-era of Fallout is that their open worlds were fairly bland from a visual standpoint. With Fallout 3's Capital Wasteland, much of the explorable area is made up of city ruins bathed under a dusty green tint. Everything ends up looking pretty much the same. While it makes sense that a post-apocalyptic wasteland wouldn't be a great place for sightseeing, Fallout 76 thrived by having a truly unique wasteland to explore.
That isn't to say that past games didn't have interesting locations. Fallout 3's Megaton is a great post-apocalyptic city, especially with how many of its buildings are made up of hunks of scrap metal. The titular city in Fallout New Vegas is exceptional, especially given how its bright neon lights stand out compared to the bland Mojave. Deserted wastelands can be made interesting, with Horizon Forbidden West's Burning Shores DLC being a recent example of that.
What makes the Appalachia Wasteland work is that it's something truly new compared to past Fallout wastelands. There are rarely ever any living plants in the Fallout series, but the Appalachia Wasteland's flora is alive and well. There are full-blown forests that players can wander through, filled with living trees. While Fallout 76 can sometimes be graphically dated, there's little denying that there are still some truly beautiful nature settings.
For future Fallout games, Bethesda should keep variety in mind. Fallout 76's setting felt refreshing because it was unlike anything else in the series. The variety in color provided by the natural environment was a significant improvement over previous games. Wastelands don't always need to be dark and gloomy. In some ways, adding a bit of color can help make these environments feel more natural.
Fallout's Appalachia Takes Heavy Inspiration From Real-World Culture
Another aspect that Fallout 76 does better than any previous Fallout game is how it draws on real-world culture and myths. Cryptids that originated from West Virginia appear in-game as enemies, with Point Pleasent's Mothman having a major role in the game's story. Other urban legends are also incorporated into quests, such as the Smiling Man and the Men in Black. Incorporating real-world lore really helps Appalachia stand out.
When compared to previous Fallout games, Fallout 76 truly hit the mark with Appalachia. Fallout New Vegas certainly takes a lot from the culture of Vegas and its surrounding area, but that game's setting suffers from how much of the environment is taken up by the empty desert. There are very few places where players can actually experience cultural inspiration, while Fallout 76 lets it shape every aspect of its open world.
The main thing that Fallout 5 needs to avoid with its environment is feeling too much like the previous games. Returning to the Capital Wasteland would potentially be the worst possible choice, as the series has had more than enough ruined cities. A new setting from a different part of the world that draws from local culture is how Bethesda can take Fallout 5 to new heights, helping it stand out from the series' past environmental shortcomings.