Fallout 4

Players take the role of the Sole Survivor on a mission to find their son who has been kidnapped. Players will use guns and melee weapons that produce slow-motion blood VFX and dismemberment. Players can commit theft and murder and use drugs and alcohol for temporary buffs. Themes of enslavement and what constitutes consciousness are prevalent throughout the main campaign. Players will frequently be attacked by wild animals and be required to kill wild dogs and guard dogs. Some collectible guns will cause enemies to explode or burn.

• Release date: 11-9-2015
• Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
• Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

Triggers for this game

Animals & Wildlife

• Aggressive Animals

  • Can't be avoided

• Arachnids

  Giant Scorpions

  • Can't be avoided

• Dogs

  Wild Dogs, Rabid Dogs

  • Can't be avoided

• Fictional Creatures

  • Can't be avoided

• Insects

  Giant cockroaches, scorpions (regular & mutated), bot flies, ants, mosquitoes, scorpionflies

  • Can't be avoided

• Misc. Animals & Critters

  Cows / brahman, Crocagators (Nuka World DLC)

  • Can't be avoided

• Mutated Animals

  Mutated Crustaceans, Mutated Bears

  • Can't be avoided

• Rodents

  Molerats, rabbits

  • Can't be avoided

Community Content

• Community Mods

  • Is avoidable

Crime

• Assassination

  • Can't be avoided

• Being Held Against Will

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Avoidable — Kent is tied up in the finale of the quest The Silver Shroud. Nuka World DLC — Prisoners can be found chained to the wall at Fizztop Mountain.

  • Is avoidable

• Explosions & Bombs

  • Can't be avoided

• Fights

  • Can't be avoided

• Guns & Shooting

  • Can't be avoided

• Hangings

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Dead bodies & mannequins can be found hanging across the world game, including in raider camps.

  • Can't be avoided

• Human Trafficking & Forced Labor

  • Can't be avoided

• Kidnapping

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Your son Shaun is kidnapped.

  • Can't be avoided

• Murder

  • Can't be avoided

• Stalking

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Your player character is followed by the railroad member, Deacon.

  • Can't be avoided

• Theft

  • Can't be avoided

• Torture

  Aftermath

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Nobody is tortured on screen, but the aftermath of torture is clearly visible in several locations and it is discussed in a few terminal entries.

  • Can't be avoided

Death & Loss

• Death of Child

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Implied — It is implied that Kellogg’s young daughter is killed. Avoidable — Austin in vault 81 will die if the player fails or refuses to deliver a cure to Dr. Forescythe. At the end of the quest "The Nuclear Option," a child runs up asking you to take him with you (depending on player choices). He will die if you choose to leave him. If you end up destroying the Prydwen, there are children aboard who presumably die as the airship goes down.

  • Is avoidable

• Death of Spouse or Partner

  Main game; Far Harbor DLC

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Main game — Spouse murdered when Shaun is kidnapped. Far Harbor DLC — There is a character called Andre who is sick and can be cured. He will mention his husband who died once he is cured. Andre can also die if he is not cured by the player in time.

  • Is avoidable
  • Can't be avoided

• Drowning

  Player character can drown if they run out of breath while swimming

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Avoidable — It's possible to drown if you run out of air while swimming, but taking the Aqua Lad/Girl perk allows you to breathe under water. There are a few unlisted quests that lead to underwater skeletons implied or stated to have died by drowning.

  • Is avoidable
  • Can't be avoided

• Loss of Child

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Child Kidnapped

  • Can't be avoided

• Missing Person(s)

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Child Missing

  • Can't be avoided

• Suicide

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Unavoidable — Suicide notes are regularly used for world building. "Super Mutant suiciders" who wield giant bombs in their arsenal, run up to the player, and explode. There are also several skeletons lying around in the world with suicidal implications. Avoidable — Railroad quest line — An institute member code named "patriot" will commit suicide off screen. Desdemona gives the player his suicide note. If you fail to find Virgil’s FEV cure, there is an option to convince him to end his life. During a Brotherhood of Steel side quest, a ghoul from an old patrol will commit suicide believing it is better to die than let himself become a ghoul. Other members of his patrol are also implied to have taken their own lives. Paladin Danse will also commit suicide via drug overdose in his companion quest Blind Betrayal if the player does not hurry to find him. There is a small chance Bill Sutton will walk into the ocean and die after losing his wife and kids.

  • Is avoidable
  • Can't be avoided

Disturbing Sounds & Sound Design

• Misc. Eerie Noises

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  There is a gulping noise whenever the player drinks a liquid from their inventory or from a water pump. The player will breathe heavily when their AP is low while running. If the player has the cannibal perk and eats ghouls, mutants or humans, a scrunching eating noise will play.

  • Can't be avoided

• Screams

  • Is avoidable

• Wet Sounds

  • Can't be avoided

Drugs & Alcohol

• Alcohol Consumption

  • Is avoidable

• Alcoholism

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Several companions are implied to abuse alcohol or at least have an unhealthy relationship with it. During the course of the game, players can consume a variety of real & fictional drugs (e.g., Buffout, Jet, Psycho) through the use of a menu; repeated use of these drugs leads to an addiction status and various negative effects for characters. All of these things enhance the players abilities for a given amount of time and then wears off, however the player can become addicted to any one of these things. Getting addicted lowers the players stats until they take the drug again or see a doctor.

  • Is avoidable
  • Can't be avoided

• Casual Drug Consumption

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  During the course of the game, players can consume a variety of real & fictional drugs (e.g., Buffout, Jet, Psycho) through the use of a menu; repeated use of these drugs leads to an addiction status and various negative effects for characters. All of these things enhance the players abilities for a given amount of time and then wears off, however the player can become addicted to any one of these things. Getting addicted lowers the players stats until they take the drug again or see a doctor.

  • Is avoidable

• Drug Addiction

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Mama Murphy is addicted. During the course of the game, players can consume a variety of real & fictional drugs (e.g., Buffout, Jet, Psycho) through the use of a menu; repeated use of these drugs leads to an addiction status and various negative effects for characters. All of these things enhance the players abilities for a given amount of time and then wears off, however the player can become addicted to any one of these things. Getting addicted lowers the players stats until they take the drug again or see a doctor.

  • Is avoidable

• Drug Sales & Drug Running

  Multiple individuals sell and run drugs

  • Can't be avoided

• Drunkenness

  • Can't be avoided

• Intoxication

  • Can't be avoided

• Misc. Drugs & Alcohol Content

  Overdose

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Paladin Danse will also commit suicide via drug overdose in his companion quest Blind Betrayal if the player does not hurry to find him.

  • Is avoidable

• Tobacco & Smoking

  • Can't be avoided

Financial & Resource Management

• Gambling

  • Can't be avoided

• Homelessness

  • Can't be avoided

• Income Management

  • Can't be avoided

• Poverty

  • Can't be avoided

• Scarcity

  • Can't be avoided

Gore

• Amputation

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Unavoidable — In super mutant camps, one can often find "meat bags" with body parts. Pickman's Gallery has a large amount of dead bodies, blood, and severed limbs inside the building.

  • Can't be avoided

• Animal Violence

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  The player is encouraged to kill a number of mutated, often violent animals ranging from dogs to bears to deer. Dead mutants resembling dolphins are seen occasionally and dead brahmin (cows) are a common indication of danger.

  • Can't be avoided

• Beheading

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Hitting the head with some weapons (mainly sharp melee) can cause decapitation.

  • Can't be avoided

• Blood

  Blood spatter, blood spatter shown in slow motion with kill cam

  • Can't be avoided

• Body Horror

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Your player character can die from damage caused by flames, NPCs can also perish in this way. The player can be hit by rocks or cars thrown by behemoths and deathclaws, however it does not look like you were crushed to death as it will play the default death animation.

  • Can't be avoided

• Cannibalism

  Cannibals are present in the game

  • Can't be avoided

• Dismemberment

  Some guns and melee weapons cause dismemberment

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Unavoidable — In super mutant camps, one can often find "meat bags" with body parts. Pickman's Gallery has a large amount of dead bodies, blood, and severed limbs inside the building.

  • Can't be avoided

• Guts

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Unavoidable — In super mutant camps, one can often find "meat bags" with body parts. Pickman's Gallery has a large amount of dead bodies, blood, and severed limbs inside the building.

  • Can't be avoided

• Misc. Gore

  Audio gore

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  There are holotapes (audio recordings) of people being killed. The PC can listen to them if they so choose, but most can be avoided.

  • Is avoidable

• Viscera

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Unavoidable — In super mutant camps, one can often find "meat bags" with body parts. Pickman's Gallery has a large amount of dead bodies, blood, and severed limbs inside the building.

  • Can't be avoided

Hate & Discrimination

• Ableism

  R slur

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Unavoidable — A damaged limb is called "crippled" in the menu. Avoidable — if you talk to the scam artist Parker Quinn he will call the player character an R slur regardless of how they respond to him.

  • Is avoidable
  • Can't be avoided

• Appearance Discrimination

  Fatshaming

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  While rescuing Nick Valentine in the vault, he will comment that the name of his captor, Skinny Malone, is an "ironic" name, and later says he can "hear fat footsteps" behind the door.

  • Can't be avoided

• Fantasy Racism

  Anti-Synth Sentiment

  • Can't be avoided

• Misc. Hate & Discrimination

  Toxic masculinity

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Travis Miles' quest is about him gaining more confidence. One of his friends tells the player they want to help Travis "man up".

  • Can't be avoided

• Misogyny

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  In some of the music (avoidable by not listening to the radio), you will hear tales about catcalling women (positively), general sexist and misogynistic ideals, and a serial killer called butcher Pete killing women.

  • Can't be avoided

• Racism

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Among real-life humans, there is some ethnic hatred towards the Communist nations.

  • Can't be avoided

• Sexism

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  In some of the music (avoidable by not listening to the radio), you will hear tales about catcalling women (positively), general sexist and misogynistic ideals, and a serial killer called butcher Pete killing women.

  • Is avoidable
  • Can't be avoided

Horror Themes

• Ghosts & Hauntings

  Main game; Nuka-World DLC

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Main game — There is a dig site that triggers vivid hallucinations that are implied to be supernatural in nature, and may be interpreted as the ghosts of the miners, showing you what happened to them. Nuka-World DLC — There is a ghost in one of the theme parks.

  • Can't be avoided

• Jump Scares

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  In one darkened building, a Deathclaw hides but can be heard every now and then. At one point, a body on the top floor gets snatched away by said Deathclaw.

  • Is avoidable

• Monsters

  • Can't be avoided

• Possession

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  After searching Kellogg's memories, Nick Valentine has some "mnemonic impressions" of Kellogg. This results in one instance of him essentially being possessed by Kellogg after his death.

  • Can't be avoided

• Witchcraft

  Side quest visits a witchcraft museum in Salem

  • Is avoidable

• Zombies & Undead

  Ghouls

  • Can't be avoided

Kink & BDSM

• Objectification

  • Is avoidable

Law Enforcement

• Police Pursuit

  • Is avoidable

• Prison & Incarceration

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Avoidable — The side quest "The BIG Dig" involves breaking someone out of prison. You can trap raiders and gunners in cages. One of your followers has reportedly been incarcerated enough for the single in-use jail cell in the game to be referred to as her suite, which only comes up in a throwaway line.

  • Is avoidable

LGBTQ+

• Misc. LGBTQ+

  Misgendering; Queer characters

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Misgendering — Synths are occasionally called "it" regardless of their gender. MAJOR SPOILER — Elder Maxson, Proctor Quinlan, and Knight Rhys will refer to Paladin Danse as "it" after learning that he is a synth. Queer characters — Technically, the companions who can be romanced are queer (bi/pan, etc.) since they can enter a relationship with the player regardless of the player's gender.

  • Can't be avoided

Mental Health

• Anxiety

  • Can't be avoided

• Depression

  • Can't be avoided

• Eating Disorders

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  In survival mode, eating and starving are regularly referenced.

  • Is avoidable

• Grief

  • Can't be avoided

• Hallucinations

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  There is a dig site that triggers vivid hallucinations that are implied to be supernatural in nature, and may be interpreted as the ghosts of the miners, showing you what happened to them.

  • Can't be avoided

• Mental Illness

  Body dysmorphia

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Virgil is a super mutant who was once human. He hates his current body and isolates himself from the entire world because of it. Curie is a robot who dislikes her robot form and wants to become human, though this is far less major than Virgil’s situation. There are also several ghouls who deal with hating their current bodies.

  • Can't be avoided

• Misc. Mental Health

  Unreality

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Unavoidable — You have to go into Kellogg's memories, where the world appears soft and incomplete. Avoidable — In the "Dunwich Borers" area, the player will experience hallucinations where the entire room looks like it did pre-war.

  • Is avoidable
  • Can't be avoided

• Panic Attack

  Travis (the radio man)

  • Can't be avoided

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

  • Can't be avoided

• Psych Ward

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Unavoidable — As with the hospital, a number of quests/loot areas exist within former mental institutions. Avoidable — A ghoul in bunker hill will ask you to meet him at Cabot house. Should you do Jack Cabot's quests, there are some that take you up north to a location called "parson's insane asylum."

  • Is avoidable
  • Can't be avoided

• Relationship Management

  • Can't be avoided

• Suicidal Ideation

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  During Cait, Preston and Maccready's affinity events they all express some form of suicidal ideation.

  • Is avoidable

Non-Sexual Abuse & Violence

• Assault

  • Can't be avoided

• Bullying

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  During the option quest "Confidence Man" Travis gets verbally harassed and then attacked by two men during a staged fight to try and boost Travis' confidence.

  • Is avoidable

• Child Abuse

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Unavoidable — In Kellog's past, there is one scene where his father is heard being verbally abusive towards him and his mother. Avoidable — Cait, a companion found in the Combat Zone, will tell you about her abusive parents if you choose to travel with her and raise her affinity. You can sell a ghoul child to slavers.

  • Is avoidable

• Child Endangerment

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Unavoidable — In Kellog's past, there is one scene where his father is heard being verbally abusive towards him and his mother. Avoidable — Cait, a companion found in the Combat Zone, will tell you about her abusive parents if you choose to travel with her and raise her affinity.

  • Is avoidable
  • Can't be avoided

• Domestic Violence

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Unavoidable — In Kellog's past, there is one scene where his father is heard being verbally abusive towards him and his mother. Avoidable — Cait, a companion found in the Combat Zone, will tell you about her abusive parents if you choose to travel with her and raise her affinity.

  • Is avoidable
  • Can't be avoided

Phobias

• Acrophobia

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Fall damage can cause you and NPCs to die.

  • Can't be avoided

• Aerophobia

  • Can't be avoided

• Agliophobia

  • Can't be avoided

• Agoraphobia

  • Can't be avoided

• Arachnophobia

  Giant Scorpions

  • Can't be avoided

• Automatonophobia

  Robots, "Synthetic" humans, mannequins

  • Can't be avoided

• Claustrophobia

  Player character is sealed in a freezing chamber and unable to get out

  • Can't be avoided

• Emetophobia

  Referenced

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Nausea and vomiting are referenced by several characters when the player is exposed to radiation.

  • Can't be avoided

• Hemophobia

  • Can't be avoided

• Katsaridaphobia

  Giant cockroaches are frequent in the game

  • Can't be avoided

• Megalophobia

  Skyscrapers, airships

  • Can't be avoided

• Merinthophobia

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Avoidable — Kent is tied up in the finale of the quest The Silver Shroud. Nuka World DLC — Prisoners can be found chained to the wall at Fizztop Mountain.

  • Is avoidable
  • Can't be avoided

• Misc. Phobias

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Atomosophobia (Fear of atomic explosions); Basophobia (Fear of falling); Ballistophobia (Fear of missiles or bullets); Coulrophobia (Fear of clowns — in the Nuka-World DLC, some ghouls are painted to vaguely resemble clowns, and the player may apply clown paint if they wish); Electrophobia (Fear of electricity — electricity-fueled weapons & defense systems; during Cait’s affinity quest, electrotherapy is used to cure her addiction); Limnophobia (Fear of lakes); Pharmacophobia (fear of drugs); Placophobia (fear of tombstones); Pyrophobia (Fear of fire — fire-fueled weapons & defense systems)

  • Can't be avoided

• Necrophobia

  • Can't be avoided

• Ommetaphobia

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  If you explode an enemy's head, their eye may become an object.

  • Can't be avoided

• Thalassophobia

  • Can't be avoided

• Traumatophobia

  • Can't be avoided

• Trypanophobia

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Stimpacks and certain drugs; If you go to a doctor, a brief animation will play where the doctor pulls out a syringe. The scene fades out before any injection happens.

  • Can't be avoided

Physical Health & Body Issues

• Acquired Disability

  Limb Impairment

  • Can't be avoided

• Fitness & Exercise

  S.P.E.C.I.A.L Perk System

  • Can't be avoided

• Hospitalization

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  A number of quests/loot areas exist within former hospitals.

  • Can't be avoided

• Pain & Physical Suffering

  Cancer

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  In later missions for Father, you learn that he has cancer. He can be cured, depending on player choices.

  • Can't be avoided

• Progressive Illness

  • Can't be avoided

• Terminal Illness

  Cancer

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  In later missions for Father, you learn that he has cancer. He can be cured, depending on player choices.

  • Can't be avoided

Religion & Sects

• Cults

  Cult of Atom (Fictional Cult)

  • Can't be avoided

Sex & Erotica (Consensual)

• Adultry

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Many characters in Vault 81 hint that Holt is cheating on his wife with a woman called Tina. You can romance companions in game and can romance more than one; if a romanced companion witnesses this, their affinity towards you will go down. This is simply a game mechanic and holds no real value to the story otherwise.

  • Is avoidable

• Nudity

  On posters and catalogs

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Cleavage, sexual imagery

  • Can't be avoided

• Sexual Commentary

  Flirting

  • Is avoidable

Sexual Abuse

• Sexual Assault

  Implied

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  If you have Cait as your companion, she may open up to you about her past which includes implied sexual assault.

  • Is avoidable

Traumatic Events

• Accidents

  Aftermath

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  There are many abandoned cars in the game which can explode violently if damaged. You can see a vertibird crash in-game. There are a number of ruin locations with potentially traumatic debris from plane crashes. Finding the Alien Blaster involves watching a flying saucer crash, then following it to the crash site.

  • Is avoidable

• Human Experimentation

  Vaults focus on a varitey of unethical human experiments

  • Can't be avoided

• Mass Casualty Event

  Game takes place in the aftermath of nuclear bombs

  • Can't be avoided

War & Military

• Bombing

  Nuclear Bombs

  • Can't be avoided

• Fictional War

  Nuclear War

  • Can't be avoided

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