As the fourth main game in the franchise, Fallout 4 has a lot of lore to draw upon, with past events and characters referenced throughout the epic RPG. It also means that a fair few familiar faces can make a return, traveling up from the Capital Wasteland to the Commonwealth to join in the fun. While some of the returning characters might only appear under specific circumstances, others play vital roles in the main storyline.

Set 10 years after Fallout 3, Fallout 4 and its DLCs shifted to a new area along the east coast of the United States, setting its new story in Massachusetts, now known as the Commonwealth. This small time gap allows for plenty of characters from Fallout 3 to make an appearance and for long-time Fallout fans to catch up on their lives. From strange guardian angels and giant robots to young boys who are all grown up, here are all the returning characters from Fallout 3.

7

Sierra Petrovita – The Nuka-Cola Super Fan Still Adding To Her Collection

Fallout 3 & Fallout 4 Nuka-World DLC

To call Sierra Petrovita a Nuka-Cola super fan would be something of an understatement. When met in Fallout 3, Sierra is one of only two people living in Girdershade, a very small settlement southwest of Evergreen Hills, where Sierra spends her time building her Nuka-Cola museum, which she will ask the Lone Wanderer to help with. Sierra’s quest in Fallout 3 is “The Nuka-Cola Challenge,” where she will happily show the Lone Wanderer around her museum before asking for their help to find 30 Nuka-Cola Quantums to fill her vending machine and make her museum perfect.

Sierra can be encountered in Fallout 4 during the Nuka-World DLC and the fanatical collector will be hanging around Nuka-Town USA. Sierra will ask for help with a pre-war competition with the quest “Cappy in a Haystack,” requiring travel all over the DLC area. In the end, Sierra will be able to come face-to-face with her idol, John-Caleb Bradberton, who has spent the last 200 years as a head in a jar. The Sole Survivor has the choice to either side with Sierra and keep Bradberton alive for her to talk to or allow the man to die at last.

6

The Mysterious Stranger – Always Appearing When He’s Needed Most

Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout 4, Fallout 76, & Fallout Shelter

The Mysterious Stranger is an enigmatic figure that has managed to appear in all Fallout games, even smaller titles like Fallout Shelter. Popping in at just the right moments, the trench coat and fedora-wearing man gives the player character aid when they need it the most. In early Fallout games, the Stranger would appear as a temporary ally during combat encounters, but this mechanic was altered for Fallout 3, with the Stranger only appearing in V.A.T.S.

To have the Mysterious Stranger appear in Fallout 4, the Mysterious Stranger perk must be chosen when leveling up, making the Stranger appear when using V.A.T.S. and deal extreme damage. With increased ranks, the chances of him showing up increase up to a 14% chance. Amusingly, Sole Survivor companion Nick Valentine seems completely aware of the Stranger’s existence and will even comment on it should he appear. Poking around Nick’s detective agency, it is possible to find a file the sleuth has put together tracking the Stranger’s many appearances through the Fallout games.

5

Liberty Prime – The Massive Robot Fights Alongside The Brotherhood

Fallout 3 & Fallout 4

From strange vanishing entities to giant robots capable of mass destruction, another returning character from Fallout 3 is the US Army super weapon Liberty Prime. Discovered under the ruins of the Pentagon by the Brotherhood of Steel, Liberty Prime was restored inside their headquarters of the Citadel before playing a key role during the finale of the main questline for Fallout 3. After being destroyed during the events of the Fallout 3 DLC Broken Steel, Liberty Prime is transported to the Commonwealth along with the Prydwen and the majority of the Brotherhood forces for Fallout 4.

The massive robot will make an appearance if the Brotherhood is the chosen main story faction to take down the Institute, where the massive robot will need to be repaired and brought online once more. After being rearmed, Liberty Prime will travel with the Brotherhood and the Sole Survivor to aid in the assault on the Institute headquarters. Otherwise, Liberty Prime can be seen and destroyed completely when working alongside the Institute when the Brotherhood is also eradicated. This is accomplished with a virus to trick Liberty Prime into targeting the Prydwen as a Communist incursion, destroying them both in the process.

4

Dr. Madison Li – Genius Whose Fate Is Often Linked With Liberty Prime

Fallout 3 & Fallout 4

An NPC tied to Liberty Prime in both Fallout 3 and Fallout 4 is Dr. Madison Li, who plays a role in getting the giant robot running in both games. In Fallout 3, Li is revealed to be an old friend of the Lone Wanderer’s father, James, and one of the scientists who worked on Project Purity. She can be met in Rivet City, where she can once again be recruited for Project Purity. After James’ death, Li worked with the Brotherhood of Steel to help power Liberty Prime in preparation for the assault on the Enclave blockade.

In Fallout 4, Li can be found inside the Institute once the Sole Survivor gains access, as she is the head of the Advanced Systems division. Her role in the story will change depending on whether the Institute or Brotherhood are sided with, while she will presumably flee with the other scientists for the Railroad and Minutemen Fallout 4 endings. If recruited by the Brotherhood once more, Li will assist in repairing the robot; however, after the destruction of the Institute, she will express her anger at the Brotherhood for betraying her trust for a second time.

3

Dogmeat – The Best Boy In Any Wasteland

Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout 3 & Fallout 4

Technically, the Dogmeat seen in Fallout 3 and Fallout 4 are different dogs, but the naming tradition for the canine companion goes right back to Fallout with a Dogmeat available to recruit in each Fallout game. In Fallout 3, Dogmeat is an Australian cattle dog with heterochromia and can be met in a scrapyard south of Minefield and northeast of Big Town fighting off the raiders who killed his former master. Regardless of the Lone Wanderer’s karma, once saved, Dogmeat will happily follow them on their travels, fetching supplies such as food and ammunition for them.

Fallout 4’s Dogmeat is a German Shepherd who can be met almost immediately outside of Vault 111 at the Red Rocket truck stop down the road from Sanctuary. Just like his Fallout 3 counterpart, Dogmeat in Fallout 4 will not leave the Sole Survivor based on their actions within the game, allowing characters of any morality to keep him as a companion. Dogmeat also plays a pivotal role in the main questline during “Getting a Clue,” where he will track down Kellogg using his scent. Dogmeat also has his own perk called Attack Dog, which will increase his damage in combat.

2

Arthur Maxson – From Squire To Elder To Preserve The Family Lineage

Fallout 3 & Fallout 4

Arthur Maxson is the last living descendant of Roger Maxson, founder of the Brotherhood of Steel, with great expectations put on him even at a young age. In Fallout 3, the Lone Wanderer can meet 10-year-old Maxson in the Citadel where he is acting as a Squire under the tutelage of Elder Lyons. Young Maxson is quite a timid and polite boy, but clever and an excellent source of information about the Brotherhood’s beliefs. As he’s just a child, Maxson doesn’t play much of a role in Fallout 3 beyond contextualizing certain aspects of the Brotherhood.

However, by the time he is met once again in Fallout 4, Maxson is a very different person and becomes the leader of the East Coast Brotherhood Chapter, having been named Elder. Although just 20 years old, Maxson looks significantly older and is battle-hardened with a fierce determination to wipe out the Institute. Maxson can be met if the Brotherhood is joined, occasionally giving out quests in person, as well as joining the Sole Survivor during the attack on the Institute. Maxson will also arrive to oversee things personally during “Blind Betrayal,” leading to a heated confrontation with Paladin Danse.

1

Robert Joseph MacCready – From Foul Mouthed Mayor To Dedicated Father

Fallout 3 & Fallout 4

While exploring the Capital Wasteland just south of Vault 87, the Lone Wanderer might come across the very unusual settlement of Little Lamplight. All the underground settlement’s inhabitants are children, led by their mayor, Robert MacCready. MacCready will, reluctantly, assist the Lone Wanderer in gaining access to Vault 87 and its G.E.C.K. as part of the main questline. 10-year-old MacCready, just like the rest of the kids in Little Lamplight, is slow to trust “mungos” (adults), but if the Child at Heart perk is taken, interactions with him are much easier.

By the time of Fallout 4, MacCready is in the Commonwealth working as a mercenary and trying to find a cure for his son’s illness. MacCready has grown up a lot since being Little Lamplight’s mayor in Fallout 3, although he is still very sarcastic and cautious of strangers. He can be hired by the Sole Survivor in Fallout 4, and once his affinity is high enough, his personal quest will start, and he will trust the Sole Survivor enough to open up and ask for help.