Between its Fallout and Elder Scrolls franchises, Bethesda has become a gamer favorite for expansive, open worlds that feel filled to the brim. Not only are Bethesda’s games chock full of exciting missions that are both light-hearted and serious, but they also have endless clever and impressive details. After all, who doesn’t love finding a visual representation of Poe’s ending to A Casque of Amontillado hidden in the walls of The Castle? These kinds of details are well done, clever, and keep fans wanting more.
Bethesda’s most recent Fallout hit wasFallout 4, which was their largest game to date (ignoring Fallout 76, a critical flop). In Fallout 4, fans play as the Sole Survivor, a pre-war human who ends up searching for their son in a wasteland version of Boston. This adventure takes the player across the map as they run into quite a few familiar faces, historical and pop-culture references, and big baddies.
However, some fans miss many of the coolest places in Fallout 4. With a world so large, not every cool place ends up markable on the map. Some of them can only be found by the most daring, dedicated Fallout explorers. While all players want to find the best stuff, only the best of the best have found themselves exploring all of these great hidden locations. Fallout 4 can be quite the rabbit hole, and it only becomes more exciting the more players explore.
Old Gullet Sinkhole
The Old Gullet Sinkhole is technically a marked location on the map, but it’s a difficult spot to find. Players can find this location just by standing above the sinkhole in full view of its passive Deathclaw. Only the true daredevils jump down into the unknown gullet.
Once the Sole Survivor is in the sinkhole, they face several corpses and a small pack of feral ghouls (assuming they don’t provoke the Deathclaw). Following the path into the gullet will lead to a house just west of the sinkhole. It’s the house of a notorious sleepwalker, so the gullet path is the only way to reach the unique find without a jetpack.
Rocket Shed
Fallout games are fairly notorious for filling their maps with several clever locations, Easter eggs, and hidden surprises. While most players have specific spots that they’re fond of, an of-beloved location in Fallout 4 is the Rocket Shed.
Northeast of Relay Tower 0BB-915 is an unassuming shed at the edge of a cliff. However, when players enter it, they find a balcony stocked with rockets and several launchers aimed all over the Commonwealth. Someone was clearly ready to unleash destruction on the Commonwealth, but this person’s identity remains one of Fallout 4‘s storylines that were never resolved.
Back Alley Bowling
The General Atomics Galleria is home to one of Fallout 4‘s toughest secret bosses, and it also hosts Back Alley Bowling. Getting there isn’t the problem; instead, the challenge is getting past the front desk to the alleys. If players walk past that front area, all of the Mr. Handys in the vicinity will start attacking.
Players will either have to beat them all or persuade the desk bot, Tenpin, that they’re the owner and should be allowed to look around. Also, if players become bored with adventuring, they can always kick back and bowl. It’s a fun place to check out, but it’s only accessible if the Sole Survivor is strong or charismatic enough to work their way through safely.
General Atomics Galleria
The General Atomics Galleria itself isn’t hidden. It’s a marked spot on the map and even has missions connected to it. However, many players don’t know that it’s possible to bring this area back to functionality.
When the Galleria was originally going to open, The Director (the lead Mr. Handy) killed the man who was supposed to be in charge and took it over for himself. With no humans there to maintain their functionality, the multitude of bots in the area have become trigger-happy and attack visitors on sight. With the right dialogue choices, though, players can take over the Galleria from The Director and reopen it. This includes making the shops and Hr. Handys functional once again.
Carhenge
By far one of the most famous hidden locations in Fallout 4 is Carhenge. Not only is it a fantastic, impressive structure, but there’s also a super mutant behemoth that lurks nearby. It’s a stunning video game secret and a challenge for any Fallout monster hunter.
Carhenge can be found directly south of Walden Pond. Furthermore, an almost-identical version of the monument makes an appearance as a hidden location in Fallout 76. Perhaps a strong, artistic wanderer is building them all over post-apocalyptic America. Either way, this location is only the beginning for anyone who wants to delve deep into the hidden areas and secrets of the Fallout universe.
Mean Pastries
Though the secret Crazy Cat Cabin is the haven for domesticated cats in the Commonwealth, Fallout fans who love these felines will be disappointed to know that they do indeed have an owner.
However, that cabin is not the only place to find cats. One of the coolest places to find house cats is a pastry shop in North End called Mean Pastries. This location is unmarked and completely abandoned, save for an expert safe and one little cat. Between Old North Church and Cabot House, it’s the perfect place to role-play as a cat-lover.
Founder’s Triangle
The Fens is a particularly interesting part of Fallout 4 as it houses the game’s first big settlement, Diamond City. While Diamond City becomes the Sole Survivor’s first real home away from home, the area surrounding it can be less than friendly. It’s full of super mutants, raiders, bandits, and other enemies.
One specific spot of interest, and one that is unmarked on the map, is the Founder’s Triangle. Most players passing through will probably be distracted by the raiders and turrets spanning the little corner. However, when they aren’t trying to blow you up, adventurers can discover an interesting bronze monument in the center of the annexing triangle.
Shenley’s Oyster Bar
Initially, the best part of Shenley’s Oyster Bar is its sign. Other than some dangerous raiders, it seems like that’s all it has to offer. It might seem quite disappointing for an unmarked location.
Though it seems lackluster at first glance, Shenley’s Oyster Bar’s real value can be found on its top floor. There, players can find a skeleton handcuffed to a severed hand with a saw nearby. Clearly, one unfortunate soul was forced to remove a limb to find their freedom. This is a grotesque yet clever reference to one of the scariest moments in the Saw film franchise and is a fun surprise to find in a location that most people wouldn’t check out.
Lil’ Gentry Playground
When it comes to a post-apocalyptic world, even cute, happy things can be creepy. For example, the Lil’ Gentry Playground appears far more sinister than it probably should. This is an unmarked location in Beacon Hill, west of the Boston Bugle. It’s an abandoned place where children used to play.
While the playground does look nostalgic and old, it also has workbenches for power armor and weapons nearby. Apparently, kids can learn to be imaginative learn about weapon mechanics at the same time. For any fan who knows the Fallout universe well, it’s a location that reminds players about just how wacky the world was before the war, too.
Vitale Pumphouse
With all of the rivers in the Boston area, it makes sense that there are some unique things to find by the water. One of the most interesting locations is the Vitale Pumphouse.
To find the pumphouse, players have to go east of Finch Farm and south of Hub City Auto Wreckers. In the first room, the walls will give players the code 0451 to enter the second, locked room. However, there’s a trick to the lock that players must figure out. Any fascinated Fallout fan can look it up or try to find it on their own. Once players get past the locked door, they will find The Gainer, a unique .44 pistol.
Shanty Store
Not every trader is a friendly local in a little town or village. Sometimes, players can find traders selling things in the strangest places. One such trader is Leonard Moore, the entrepreneur of the Shanty Store. Due south of the Coastal Cottage, the Shanty Store is an unmarked location in the middle of nowhere.
Though Leonard is a fascinating character, he’s also a bit strange. After all, his only friend is Jangles the moon monkey. Otherwise, Leonard acts like an average traveling merchant; except, of course, for the fact that he never travels. Any avid Fallout fan should jump at the chance to meet this kooky trader.
Hoarder’s Apartment
The Hoarder’s Apartment can be pretty hard to get to. Players must scale ramps outside of Pickman Gallery and traverse across the rooftops, heading in the direction of Cabot House. Among the highest Boston roofs, there will be a small apartment with a patio double its size. Inside, fans will discover exactly why this location is named after an unfortunately realistic reality show.
Through the dimly lit rooms, which are only lit by glowing mushrooms, players will come across stacks upon stacks of useless junk. While the apartment has little to offer when it comes to loot (only a lunchbox and an audiotape), it’s an eerie place that all players should visit.
Prost Bar
The Prost Bar is part of several missions including one about a woman in danger and another involving another woman that’s gone missing. It’s a dark, dank bar filled with skeletons that doesn’t need any of Fallout 4‘s many horror mods to be terrifying. Though the location is unmarked, it can be found if players travel west from the gazebo in Swan’s Pond.
What makes the bar interesting, though, requires some ’80s TV knowledge and a keen eye. If players know anything about Cheers, then they will realize that this bar is an exact replica of Sam’s. The three skeletons inside resemble Cliff, Norm, and Frasier, who were all regulars on the show and at the bar. Though it doesn’t have much to offer in the way of loot, Prost Bar is still a must-find for expert explorers.
Ted William’s Seat
Ted William’s Seat is a location that most fans miss because they don’t know that it’s around to be found. However, the seat is hidden in plain sight in one of the places that players go to often: Diamond City. The Fallout 4 creators decided to make Fenway Park as accurate as possible, and that included adding a red seat in the stands for former player Ted Williams. While the players can’t get very close to the stands, they can spot it in the right field bleachers if they look carefully. The reference may not mean much to players that don’t follow baseball, but this red seat is a meaningful tribute for Red Sox fans everywhere.
Wreck of The Orca
While Bethesda loves its own properties, it also loves Easter eggs and references to other pop-culture sensations. One of Fallout 4‘s most iconic and well-known Easter eggs is the Wreck of the Orca. When players find this wrecked boat, they will discover a slain, mutated sea creature lying close to a skeleton. This is is a reference to Jaws, one of the most famous movies of all time.
All sailors in movies or post-nuclear areas should fear angry, breaching sea beasts. In a bay north of the Salem Museum of Witchcraft, fans can find this grim homage. Also, for those not afraid of the water, there’s even a diving cage hidden below the depths.
Valenti Station
North End, with all its creepy graveyards, isn’t the most friendly place. However, tucked away in the unmarked Valenti Station players can find a friendly reminder of what life was like before the nuclear fallout.
Just south of Old North Church, Valenti Station is mostly blocked by rubble and decay. While it may look neat on the outside, it’s pretty ghastly inside. When players go inside, they will find a lobby with skeletons seated comfortably in couches. One skeleton is sitting beside a teddy bear. Both the skeleton and teddy bear are wearing sunglasses, and there’s a beer located nearby. This appears to be a nod to Seth McFarlane’s Ted.
Handy Eats
Within the General Atomics Galleria, players can find a lot of unmarked yet fascinating locations. The most interesting place is Handy Eats, which is a diner entirely run by Mr. Handys. Their only customers are some decrepit skeletons, but they still call them diners and treat them like people. In a dangerous town, Handy Eats is, surprisingly, the most friendly place players will encounter.
While there isn’t much in the way of loot here, there also aren’t any big monsters nearby. However, for players who enjoy learning more about the Fallout universe and the game’s lore, Handy Eats is a great find.
Vault 75
Some of the weirdest and coolest things in Fallout games can be found by simply exploring the vast open worlds. Vault 75 is a great example of this. Near the Old Gullet Sinkhole players can find Malden Middle School, a fairly intact building that is occupied by some Gunners. While investigating, though, players will eventually learn about Vault 75, which is located below the school.
The vault was created to protect kids during the nuclear fallout, but, unfortunately, these students were also experimented on to become stronger for the “Uptopland,” aka the wasteland. Eventually, the kids revolted against this and left the vault to discover the dangerous world on their own.
Treasure of Jamaica Plain
Only weathered adventurers are able to find this rare treasure. To find Jamaica Plain, players must trigger its quest by finding Hadrian’s corpse. This body can spawn randomly almost anywhere on the map, which makes it a little tricky to find without intense exploration.
Once players get the mission, they can head to Jamaica Plain and, particularly, the Town Hall. In the basement, the Sole Survivor must outsmart and survive many traps, including laser tripwires, turrets, and heavily locked doors. Inside the treasure room, though, players will find wonders that cannot be seen anywhere else in the Commonwealth, such as a 2076 World Series baseball bat and other older items. Though these items aren’t particularly useful, they are interesting.
Union’s Hope Cathedral
Near the collegiate administrator building in Cambridge lies an old, weathered church. Though there are no quests attached to it and it is an unmarked location, the Union’s Hope Cathedral is very unique.
If players decide to enter the church through its front doors, they will discover feral ghouls attacking another ghoul. However, the ghoul who is being attacked, Father Gabe, isn’t very gracious. If the Sole Survivor tries to help him, he will attack. The only way to pacify him is by successfully intimidating him. He’s very protective of his home, so proceed with caution.