Exploring Fallout’s Most Unforgettable Vaults in Games and TV

Amazon ’s adaptation of the Fallout universe has breathed new life into some of the most memorable vaults from the beloved game series, introducing viewers to a world where every underground shelter tells a different story. Vault-Tec, the shadowy corporation behind these bunkers, designed each one with its own unique set of rules, resources, and, more often than not, disturbing social experiments. Whether it ’s a vault built for scientific research or one meant to test the limits of human endurance, the results are rarely what anyone would call a success. Instead, these vaults often become the setting for chaos, tragedy, and sometimes, a twisted sense of community.

Fans of the Fallout games know that disaster is almost always lurking just beneath the surface. Some vaults descend into madness, while others become the birthplace of new societies—albeit ones shaped by trauma and loss. The show’s first season has already showcased a handful of these unforgettable locations, and with more on the horizon, it’s the perfect time to revisit the most fascinating vaults from across the franchise.

Vaults That Changed the Wasteland

Vault 4 stands out as a chilling reminder that not every shelter is a safe haven. What began as a scientific outpost quickly turned into a place where the test subjects overthrew their overseers and established their own rules. Outsiders are now met with a mix of suspicion and hospitality, and beneath the surface, a strange sense of community thrives.

Vault 8, the foundation of Vault City, is one of the rare examples where Vault-Tec’s plans didn’t end in disaster. This location, first seen in Fallout 2, eventually became a hub of medical advancement and order. By the time the events of the show take place, it’s little more than a communal basement, but its legacy lives on in the city above.

Vault 111, the starting point for Fallout 4, is unforgettable for its use of cryogenic technology. Waking up to find your child missing and the world changed forever is a moment that sticks with players. The show has already hinted at similar technology, suggesting that this vault’s story could soon make its way to the screen.

Experiments Gone Wrong

Vault 29 is shrouded in mystery, known only through brief mentions in the original Fallout and Fallout 76. Populated by privileged young adults, it’s a vault ripe for storytelling, whether in a one-off episode or as a recurring challenge for the show’s main characters.

Vault 75, featured in Fallout 4, took the concept of eugenics to a terrifying new level. Designed to breed stronger, faster, and more aggressive individuals, the vault’s grim history raises questions about what other experiments Vault-Tec might have conducted in secret.

Vault 87 is infamous for its role in creating Super Mutants. Human experimentation in the wake of nuclear disaster is a recipe for horror, and this vault delivers in spades. Its appearance in Fallout 3 left a lasting impression, and it would be a natural fit for the show’s darker themes.

Legacies of Tragedy and Survival

Vault 94, hidden beneath the radioactive Mire, was home to a pacifist community that refused to arm itself. When raiders attacked, the vault’s residents were slaughtered, and a catastrophic systems failure contaminated the surrounding area. The resulting wasteland is a testament to the dangers of idealism in a world gone mad.

Vault 12, the birthplace of Necropolis, is the result of a cruel experiment in radiation exposure. The ghouls who emerged from this vault are neither fully alive nor dead, and their story would make a compelling addition to the show’s roster of vaults.

Vault 109, known only to die-hard fans from Fallout: The Board Game, offered its residents a life of luxury—at least until desperation set in. Watching the privileged struggle to survive in a world stripped of comfort is a theme that resonates throughout the series.

Vault 70, a concept from an abandoned version of Fallout 3, was meant to explore scarcity and community dynamics among a group of Mormons. The idea of a vault where even basic necessities like clean clothing are in short supply is both intriguing and unsettling.

Vault 108 is a powder keg waiting to explode. With failing systems, an abundance of weapons, and a cloning machine that produces endless copies of a single man named Gary, it’s a vault that practically begs for chaos. If the show ever visits this location, it would make for an unforgettable episode.