The Fallout franchise is full of locations that are creepy or beautiful to behold, but some of them are just downright dangerous. From irradiated landscapes to monster lairs, the Fallout games do not disappoint when it comes to challenges. Yet, it can be hard to settle on which locations are the most dangerous — each one presents its own unique challenge.

The atmosphere alone can create an ominous sense of foreboding, throwing players off. Or the charging horde of enemies could be what does the player in. A lot of these locations require either high levels or a lot of talent at lower ones to overcome them. So, here are ten of Fallout’s deadliest locations.

10

The Castle Is Overrun With Monsters

Fallout 4

Formerly the base of operations for the Minutemen, the Castle, also known as Fort Independence was once a major hub of communication for the organization. Unfortunately, it was overrun with mirelurks which quickly routed the Minutemen and wiped out a good portion of their leadership. The mirelurks then took up residence within the fort, transforming it into their new nest. The Sole Survivor has the option to help retake the fort in the mission, “Taking Independence.”

The tricky part about the Castle is the sheer abundance of Mirelurks living there. They have had decades to increase their numbers, which include mirelurks, their spawn, and even the deadly mirelurk queen. At higher levels, it isn’t impossible to deal with the threat of the mirelurks, but what makes them tricky is how durable they are. Most melee fighters will find their weapons bouncing off a mirelurks armor, and considering that they have ranged poison attacks, they become a hassle to deal with in large numbers.

9

The Libertalia Is a Tightrope Walk Over Water

Fallout 4

Libertalia is unique among raider camps in Fallout 4. Situated in the Northeast section of the map, Libertalia is nestled on the water, being a collection of boats strung together with haphazard docks and rigging. It certainly makes for one of the most unique locations in the game, but this also comes with challenges. The water below the Sole Survivor is deep, and if they fall in they are likely to drown, especially if they are wearing power armor.

Making matters worse is the lack of cover in Libertalia, meaning the Sole Survivor will need to rush to eliminate as many raiders as they can before taking too much damage. These raiders are far from pushovers though. Since they come from the northeast part of the world, they are tougher and even possess a Fat Man that could destroy the Sole Survivor outright if they don’t dodge it in time.

8

The Glowing Sea Is the Embodiment of Nuclear Horror

Fallout 76

The Glowing Sea might just be the single most irradiated location ever introduced in a Fallout game. Since it isn’t too far removed from the time of the Great War, the area is soaked with radiation. Walking around without power armor or rad resistance will quickly wear down a player’s health. The Glowing Sea itself is actually responsible for further spreading radiation thanks to the storms that naturally occur within its boundaries. Then there are the things that lurk inside its foggy depths to be wary of.

The Glowing Sea is home to some of the most dangerous creatures in Fallout 76. This includes the like of bloatflies, bloodbugs, and stingwings, but quickly elevates into more dangerous enemies the further in a player goes. These take the form of radscorpions, and most terrifying of all: packs of Deathclaws. It makes sense then that the most dangerous location in the game would be home to the franchise’s most infamous monster.

7

The Statesman Hotel Is a Cramped Slog Through Enemies

Fallout 3

For those players who enjoy tight hallways and corners that serve as blindspots, the Statesman Hotel is just the thing. Formerly a hotel that served upper-class clientele, the Statesman has since become a den of some of the most dangerous creatures in the entire franchise: Super Mutants. They aren’t alone though, supporting them are the equally terrifying body horror monstrosities known as centaurs.

There are twelve floors that players must work their way through to reach the top floor, but along the way is a good source of ammunition and weaponry left behind by the centaurs. Interestingly, if the hotel has been cleared before, new waves of Super Mutant enemies may spawn that are even more dangerous than the previous batch. Overall, the hotel is one of the deadlier close-quarters environments players can find themselves in.

6

The Mariposa Military Base Is the Source of the Super Mutants

Fallout

In the very first Fallout game, few locations can match the lore and danger of the Mariposa Military Base within the timeline of Fallout. While not the source of the world’s current post-nuclear war woes, it is in many ways a byproduct of it. The base itself was the source of the Forced Evolutionary Virus Project, a secret government project that spiraled out of control, not only creating the franchise’s first major antagonist, the Master but also the race of the Super Mutants.

Needless to say, the entire base is overrun with Super Mutants. Infiltrating it to stop the Master’s plans is one of the hardest tasks assigned to the player, but what’s impressive about the Mariposa Military Base is its staying power within the lore. It would show up in later games, with its history being explored as well as the consequences of the F.E.V. Project. The base itself likely has more secrets and threats to be unveiled in the future, and that can only lead to trouble for Earth’s population.

5

The Deathclaw Sanctuary Is a Maze of Horror

Fallout 3

There are few locations as terrifying in Fallout 3 as the Deathclaw Sanctuary. It would be more accurate to call it a maze of twists and turns, with it even being possible for routes to loop back on each other, further confusing anyone unfortunate enough to have found themselves inside the tunnels. Evidence found by the player indicates that many such victims met an untimely end in these dark caverns. It was not the maze that killed them though — it was the residents.

As the name implies, the Deathclaw Sanctuary is home to anywhere between six and twelve Deathclaws, each vying to consume the player whole. Trying to escape can be difficult as there are only a handful of exits and it is easy to get turned around. Some reports even indicate that a gorge within the sanctuary is hard to spot and can result in an unfortunate deadly fall. Needless to say, everything about this place is designed to scare and harm the player.

Fallout: New Vegas

The Deathclaws are the most fearsome beast in the Fallout franchise. So the question needs to be asked: What’s scarier than a pack of Deathclaws? Fallout: New Vegas provided that answer by introducing the Deathclaw Promontory, a portion of the Mojave Desert that has been entirely occupied by Deathclaws. According to reports, the promontory can house anywhere up to thirty-six different kinds of deathclaw, ranging from infancy to full maturity.

This understandably makes the promontory one of the most dangerous places to be. There are no human settlements, but the potential loot is worth the risk if the player is bold enough. However, thirty-six potential deathclaws in one location are basically asking the player to take on an army unless they are excellent at ranged attacks.

3

Vault 87 Is a Second Source of Super Mutants

Fallout 3

As with any good project, there is always a backup of information somewhere. That was the case with the Forced Evolutionary Virus, which had its research transmitted and studied by the residents of Vault 87. Tragically, this caused the birth of a new group of Super Mutants, who proceeded to take over the vault and terrorize the surrounding populace for the next two hundred years. For the player to put a stop to this though, they would need to brave the elements before the inhabitants.

Vault 87’s entrance has the highest level of radiation found in any Fallout game. If unprotected, a player could die within thirty seconds of approaching the vault’s entrance. Even if the player can get past that, they must battle their way through a virtual kingdom of Super Mutants. Alongside them are the centaurs, who act as a further layer of security. Unfortunately for most players, they will need to come here at some point for a main story mission.

2

Cranberry Bog Is the Source of an Extinction-Level Threat

Fallout 76

It isn’t that the location itself is dangerous. It isn’t terribly radiated like other locations mentioned on the list, but what Cranberry Bog does have is not matched anywhere else: the Scorchbeasts. As the primary antagonists of the game, the scorchbeasts also act as some of the toughest enemies a player can face. Yet, it isn’t revealed why these creatures roam the bog throughout the game until much later: this is the origin point for the scorchbeast invasion.

There is a silver lining though. Since the scorchbeasts are such high-level enemies, killing them in the Cranberry Bog can actually drop some of the best loot in the game. This could be gear that players will keep equipped for the rest of the story and use to help them later overcome the scorchbeast queen.

1

The Capitol Is a Reminder of All That Was Lost

Fallout 3

The thought that the capital of the United States was overrun with Super Mutants is a sad one, but there is a thematic symmetry to one of the most heavily defended locations in real life America also being home to some of the toughest foes in the game. Inside the capitol buildings, players will encounter a variety of super mutants ranging from masters to overlords. One truly special foe is the Super Mutant Behemoth, of which there are only five in the entire game.

With the worst horrors of the current world set against the backdrop of the fallen capital, there is a sense of terrible loss pervading the area as the player pushes further into Super Mutant territory. For those reasons, it is at the top of the list: difficult boss fights and thematic poignancy that make it a timeless section of the franchise.