Summary
WhileFallout 76may feel less than traditional to some fans of Bethesda’s post-apocalyptic series, the game excels at delivering consistent, substantial updates that have introduced a plethora of new content for players to dive into. Most recently,Fallout 76released the Skyline Valley update, giving players access to a brand-new area of the map, a new questline involving Vault 63, and the introduction of a new enemy type called the Lost. AsFallout 76continues to add content to its region of Appalachia, adding one cryptid type in a future update could create a thrilling new enemy.
The Appalachian setting ofFallout 76is the perfect excuse for the game to go all-out with a variety of bizarre creatures and cryptid, since the real-life version of the region is already known for its iconic mythos around beings like the Mothman and the Flatwoods Monster.Fallout 76has gone far beyond including these native Appalachia creatures to feature a broad cross-section of North American cryptid folklore, giving the game an identity distinct from other entries in the franchise. To continue filling the region with new and unique enemy types,Fallout 76should add Skin-Walkers to give another iconic cryptid representation in the game.
Skin-Walkers Would Be a Game-Changer for Fallout 76
How Skin-Walker Lore Could Fit into Fallout 76’s Appalachia
Although originating from the Navajo culture of the American Southwest, Skin-Walker mythology has found its way around North America and into pop culture. These beings are said to be malevolent witches that can shape-shift into animals and are often depicted as humanoid animals walking on all-fours or animals with some sort of uncanny trait that is unsettling to those who encounter them. As Skin-Walker lore has evolved and intertwined with modern culture, depictions of these beings are often reminiscent of Werewolves orthe Wendigo, the latter of which is already present inFallout 76.
However, introducing Skin-Walkers as their own unique enemy type could fit into the established folklore ofFallout 76’s version of Appalachia. The wasteland of Appalachia inFallout 76is already full of beings who have been transformed into strange horrors, whether by radiation exposure or experimentation within the vaults, so it’s not a stretch to think that these Skin-Walker enemies could have been the result of an experiment in creating an animal-human hybrid gone wrong. With organizations like theCult of the Mothmantaking root in Appalachia, the mysticism surrounding Skin-Walkers could also naturally lead to the creation of a new type of cult faction.
Skin-Walker Enemies Could Introduce a Terrifying New Gameplay Element
Skin-Walkers would not only make a great addition toFallout 76from a lore standpoint, but they could also be the basis for an unsettling new combat encounter. Since the primary ability associated with Skin-Walkers is their ability to shape-shift into animals, these enemies could initially appear as typically non-hostile wildlife likeBrahmin or Radstagsand only attack players after they’ve turned their backs on them. To fit with the concept that Skin-Walkers can’t perfectly replicate the animals they disguise themselves as, these Skin-Walkers could feature some kind of tell that could tip players off that they are an impostor Brahmin or Radstag if they look closely.
This type of enemy could add a new layer of horror toFallout 76since players would constantly have to be watching their backs for Skin-Walkers taking the form of standard wildlife. TheFalloutfranchise has a history of dipping its toes into the horror genreand givingFallout 76players this new type of enemy to deal with would be a natural progression of the game’s cryptid representation and the series' horror excursions. As Bethesda has shown throughout its consistent updates toFallout 76, the developer is not afraid to experiment with new concepts in the franchise, so unique Skin-Walker enemies would be a logical addition to the game.
Fallout 76
WHERE TO PLAY
Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of Skyrim and Fallout 4, welcome you to Fallout 76. Twenty-five years after the bombs fell, you and your fellow Vault Dwellers—chosen from the nation’s best and brightest – emerge into post-nuclear America on Reclamation Day, 2102. Play solo or join together as you explore, quest, build, and triumph against the wasteland’s greatest threats. Explore a vast wasteland, devastated by nuclear war, in this open-world multiplayer addition to the Fallout story. Experience the largest, most dynamic world ever created in the legendary Fallout universe. Expand southward to Skyline Valley – a brand-new region of Appalachia. Investigate the cause of the electric storm circling overhead and unveil the mystery around Vault 63 and its dwellers, including a shocking new Ghoul type – The Lost.
