The Fallout franchise is renowned for its distinctive Vaults, and in Fallout 4, players have the chance to delve into seven intriguing underground bunkers. Marketed as safe havens during the nuclear apocalypse, these Vaults are often the setting for dark and disturbing experiments conducted by Vault-Tec. Exploring the narratives behind each Vault reveals a tapestry of unique and often tragic stories that captivate the Sole Survivor.
Throughout the Commonwealth, players will encounter these diverse Vaults, with five appearing in the base game and two added via downloadable content (DLC). While many are discovered during questlines, some require thorough exploration. Each Vault offers its own secrets and rewards, making them essential destinations for curious adventurers, while certain Vaults encourage return visits for their additional loot or lore.
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Vault 111 – Cryogenic Facility
Located Above Sanctuary Hills
Vault 111 marks the beginning of the Sole Survivor’s journey, as it serves as their local Vault. Positioned above Sanctuary Hills, entry involves descending an elevator to a facility promising safety. Unfortunately, instead of comfort, the residents are subjected to a harebrained cryogenic experiment, leading to their premature freezing.
Inside the Overseer’s office lies a unique weapon, the Cryolator, which can only be accessed through a master-level lock, providing one compelling reason for players to return to this beginning Vault.
The Vault’s original goal was to analyze the effects of cryostasis on its inhabitants, with staff monitoring them until an all-clear signal was issued—one that never came. As a result, players awaken in a devastatingly empty Vault 210 years later, with terminals revealing a grim history of desperation, starvation, and violence among the remaining staff. As the Sole Survivor makes their escape, they witness the fallout of chaos within the Vault’s walls.
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Vault 88 – Build Your Own Vault
Located In Quincy Quarries, Northwest Of Quincy
Vault 88 stands out due to its unique focus in the Vault-Tec Workshop DLC. Located northwest of Quincy, this unfinished Vault was left in a state of disarray when the nuclear bombs fell, with only its entrance constructed. Over two centuries, the Vault’s occupants transformed into ghouls, with Overseer Barstow remaining unaffected due to her fanaticism towards Vault-Tec.
Upon arrival, players find raiders breaching the entrance. After defending the Vault, they can collaborate with Barstow to complete construction. Vault 88 offers players the opportunity to customize it as they see fit, turning it into a thriving settlement though its renovation can feel tedious. Barstow’s unwavering commitment to Vault-Tec becomes a crucial plot element, as her departure can signal a shift in direction based on the player’s choices.
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Vault 114 – Unfinished Vault Turned Mobster Hideout
Located Inside Park Street Station
Next, Vault 114, usually encountered during the main quest “Unlikely Valentine,”is located within a metro station near Boston Common. Operational plans for the Vault were left unfinished, making it unoccupied at the time of the bombs. Upon entering, the player discovers it has been commandeered by mobster Skinny Malone and his henchmen.
Originally marketed as a luxury Vault, the reality was far from the truth as residents were expected to endure squalid conditions. Vault-Tec had sinister intentions, selecting a profoundly anti-authoritarian Overseer to monitor a demographic of Boston’s elite, with the final choice—a conspiracy theorist known for his absurd beliefs—setting the stage for chaos.
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Vault 95 – Rehabilitation Facility
Located Southeast Edge Of The Glowing Sea
Moving on to Vault 95, located at the southeastern edge of the Glowing Sea, it starkly contrasts other Vaults as it was fully operational during the apocalypse. Here, residents struggling with addiction were invited into a so-called rehabilitation program that quickly devolved into chaos. Following five years of recovery efforts, a hidden stash of chems led to a violent schism among residents, ultimately resulting in the demise of all inhabitants by the time the Sole Survivor arrives.
Cait, a companion in Fallout 4, guides players to this haunting location, where they can uncover remnants of past lives and the tragic mismanagement of Vault-Tec.
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Vault 75 – Super Soldier Program
Located Under Malden Middle School
Vault 75 is arguably the most chilling of all the Vaults in Fallout 4. Hidden beneath Malden Middle School, it initially attracted families in search of safety. Upon entering, however, parents were ruthlessly separated from their children and eliminated to initiate horrific experiments aimed at creating super-soldiers by manipulating the genetic traits of the children.
Unless the main story has been completed, the Vault is controlled by the Gunners, while various factions may inhabit it depending on the player’s allegiances. The narrative dives deeper into ethical boundaries as children are genetically engineered under duress, and a failed uprising against staff shows the desperate plea for freedom and the morbid consequences of such entrapment.
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Vault 118 – Luxury Vault
Located Under The Cliff’s Edge Hotel, Far Harbor
Vault 118 introduces players to a more lighthearted narrative amidst the darker tones of the game. Nestled beneath Far Harbor’s Cliff’s Edge Hotel, it offers an intriguing murder mystery quest involving one of the robobrain residents. The quest is engaging and adds a fun twist to the exploration, allowing players to unravel enjoyable yet dark secrets within the Vault.
Although designed to accommodate wealthy individuals alongside a workforce, the project faced a funding cut after the luxury segment was completed, leaving the lower-class workers without a home. The outcome revealed Vault-Tec’s incompetence, as the rich occupants were left without proper management, resulting in bizarre situations spawned by a poorly executed scam.
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Vault 81 – Fully Functioning Community
Located West Of Diamond City
Finally, Vault 81 is exceptional, not only for its engaging storytelling but also for its ongoing viability, maintaining a community of descendants from the original residents. Located west of Diamond City, the entrance is discreetly hidden within a construction site. Notably, Vault 81 is distinguished by its thriving population who have forged a happy and collaborative environment.
As players delve into the Vault’s intricacies, they uncover a distressing reality: a hidden science lab was intended for unethical experiments on the populace. Fortunately, the former Overseer thwarted these tests, preserving the community’s well-being. Completing missions within Vault 81 can unlock trades with prominent merchants, solidifying its status as one of the most rewarding destinations in Fallout 4.
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