Fallout isn't just about war, it's about rebuilding. After the atomic annihilation of America, its future is uncertain. With the old government brought to its knees, the question is thus: what will subsume it? Many have tossed their hat in the ring; there's the fascinating NCR, the mysterious Institute, and the iconic Enclave, among dozens of others.
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Of course, not every faction in Fallout wants to rule the world. The Kings just want to rule Freeside. The Brotherhood of Steel is often more interested in tech preservation than they are in rule of law. That's why, for our ranking, we've considered not only each faction's vision for the future but also just how interesting we find them. Evil factions and all, here are our favorite groups in the Wasteland!
10 White Glove Society
Humanity lost their manners in the apocalypse. Wastelanders scarcely care to chew with their mouths closed, or wipe the irradiated blood from their boots. Thankfully, we have the White Glove Society, standing in stark opposition to the impolite masses. The White Gloves always chew with their mouths closed, lest their visitors realize what it is they're chewing on.
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Yes, the White Gloves are cannibals. And no, it's not just for survival. Situated in New Vegas, this fancy faction has ample food. Hear us out, though; they're surprisingly reasonable cannibals. It's even possible for the courier to cleverly guide these creeps toward more socially acceptable culinary avenues.
9 Hubologists
When it comes to evil factions, the Hubologists are interesting and insidious. Based on a certain religious organization, Hubology is essentially a cult centered around the teachings of science fiction author Dick Hubbell.
We like Hubology because it's an interesting look at how this type of group might operate without laws or oversight. In San Francisco, where they're based, Hubologists are spoken of quietly and fearfully. Locals generally despise the religion, but those who speak out against it are threatened or beaten. Just walking into their headquarters, however, one could easily be fooled into thinking they're a friendly if eccentric group.
8 Kings
It's always important to have someone to look up to. That goes double in a society without order or direction. Wastelanders need good examples to follow, and Elvis Presley is... probably a fine one, right?
Well, whether he is or not, the fact is that the Kings are utterly charming. They're lovable scoundrels with hearts of gold, though their lack of organization can land them in trouble. The leader of the Kings, The King, comes across as kind and knowledgeable. Sadly we don't get to see much of how they're run behind the scenes, but from what we do see, it always seems like the Kings want what's best for Freeside.
7 Followers Of The Apocalypse
The Followers Of The Apocalypse are an interesting look at charity, idealism, and socialism in a world where so many others are just out for themselves. In 2281, when New Vegas takes place, they've taken it upon themselves to help the people of Freeside, who've been completely forgotten by Mr. House.
One fascinating thing about them is that their organizational talents and socialist principles inspired a prominent fascist. Edward Sallow, more commonly known as Caesar, was once a Follower. While we do love the Followers, we wish they would look out for themselves more. Charity is fantastic, but it most certainly does not protect them from Super Mutants in Fallout 1.
6 Great Khans
The Khans are a well-known group in Fallout lore. Their story dates all the way back to Fallout 1, when they kidnapped the future president of the NCR and were nearly wiped out by the Vault Dweller as a result. This triggered a process of slow rebuilding and constant conflict with the fledgling Republic. By 2281, when New Vegas takes place, the NCR remain the biggest enemy of the Khans, while the Khans are a mere speck on their radar.
We love the Khans' Mongolian influence and their overarching story. Having been chased east out of the Republic, they're now being co-opted by Caesar's Legion. The Khans are almost like cowboys, struggling to maintain their outlaw status against the forces of civilization.
5 Brotherhood Of Steel
The Brotherhood of Steel is the Fallout faction. They've got the power armor, the energy weapons, the vertibirds, their faces on the box art even—seriously, they're so cool! What's not to love, right?
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The Brotherhood is in just about every Fallout game, but that doesn't mean they're always portrayed in an interesting way. In Fallout 1, their story interestingly ties in with Mariposa and the FEV, but it feels like they could've done more. In Fallout 3, they're generic good guys with a giant robot. Fallout 4 goes a bit deeper, looking at their relationship with synths, but still ultimately feels flat. The Brotherhood is at its most interesting in New Vegas, where their overconfidence in technology has left them, ironically, obsolete.
4 The Master's Army
Good and evil aren't black and white. Morality is ultimately subjective—it's gray. What seems to us like an act of ultimate evil is often, to its perpetrator, something necessary, or even noble. In fiction, we often see only caricatures of real evildoers. In Fallout, however, we have a character with the same terrifying philosophy as Hitler himself: The Master.
Despite his death at the end of Fallout 1, The Master looms large over the entire series. He and his mutants remain amazing and memorable as some of the best-written villains in video game history. The intelligence of the West Coast mutants is terrifying, constantly reminding us of their original intended purpose as "better versions of humans".
3 Caesar's Legion
By now our penchant for villains should be obvious, and Fallout villains are in a league of their own. Like the Master's Army, Caesar's Legion is a fictional look at a frighteningly real philosophy, and yet another master class in writing a believable villain.
Edward Sallow once belonged to a group of socialists; the Followers. In the authoritarian regime of Rome, he says, he found a blueprint for a post-apocalyptic society, as well as a new name: Caesar. Now disillusioned with the Followers, he strove to build a nation he saw as perfect. Day by day, he moved further toward fascist totalitarianism. In New Vegas, we see the end result of this slow rise: an evil group, terrifying not only in terms of size, but also organization. Caesar shows us how beliefs can be corrupted. It's no mistake that the color of the Legion is red—the color of communism.
2 New California Republic
The New California Republic is an allegory for America—warts and all. To some, this burgeoning nation is a beacon of liberty, safety, and democratic ideals. To others, the forces of the NCR are needlessly cruel, selfish, and disorganized; ill-equipped to police their own territory, let alone the rest of the world.
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With its expanded lore in New Vegas, the Republic is easily one of the most interesting groups in the wasteland. While far from perfect, the NCR very well may represent the last hope for a nation like America to live on. With their technological obsession, it's unlikely the Brotherhood of Steel would establish a true country. The Enclave are out too, for several obvious reasons, so... God Bless the NCR!
1 The Enclave
So far, we've seen how most Fallout factions are great because of their interesting themes and messages. If that's the case, the Enclave shows us how money and political influence go hand in hand. They show us how American ideals can be corrupted, and how sometimes our politicians are actually wolves in sheep's clothing.
The Enclave wields the American flag like a weapon. They use their self-proclaimed status as the last vestige of a once-great nation to spread their hateful ideals. They believe wastelanders should be wiped out so that they can "rebuild" without "mutants" getting in their way. It's a scathing critique of uniquely American themes, touching on colonialism, paranoia, and isolationism. This makes the Enclave a fascinating counterpoint to the NCR, and our favorite faction in the series, despite how evil they are. Now where is your power armor?!
NEXT: Fallout New Vegas: Best Quests, Ranked
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