Fallout 5’s location will be paramount to its success. We’ve found five cities that we think could create incredible post-apocalyptic maps to explore.

Putting this list together wasn’t as easy as it sounds. To be a strong location for Fallout 5, the city needs at least a handful of iconic landmarks to be instantly recognisable, even after the fall of nuclear bombs. We also had to discount some of the most-populated cities in the world with large shanty-towns as those structures are unlikely to survive a nuclear war, leaving little to explore.

Gosh, this is morbid stuff. Let’s get on with the list, shall we?

#1 – Los Angeles, CA

Keeping with the all-American roster of cities in the previous Fallout games, Los Angeles seems like an obvious choice for Fallout 5’s location. The City of Angels is home to the rich and famous, beautiful beaches, gang warfare and a clear divide between those with money and those without.

Even in a post-apocalyptic state, LA could adopt these traits. Maybe those used to struggling suddenly thrive and thus become those with the wealth and power, while those used to having others do their bidding struggle and become victims to those with the power?

Landmarks to be featured in Fallout 5 are:

The Hollywood sign – likely reduced to a handful of the letters, but still as iconic as ever.

The Chinese Theatre and the Walk of Fame – with a cult wearing the movie costumes previously worn by street performers (with the occasional one liner thrown in), worshiping names of celebrities long-deceased.

Los Angeles Zoo – imagine entering a secure structure where the animals are top of the food chain again, surviving off of human visitors who are just passing through.

Disneyland – okay, so it will need to be renamed with a new mascot, but a children’s wonderland turned nightmare wasteland would be interesting to explore.

#2 – London (and Surrounding Towns), UK

London is one of the most recognisable cities in the world. Originally founded in 50AD, London has centuries of history and architecture to create a brilliant video game location – as seen in Assassin’s Creed Syndicate. After the bombs drop, London would still remain an exciting city to explore.

Also, if the map size would allow, having a nearby sleepy village would also add some contrast to London’s aura. Imber is a real-world town that was evacuated in December 1943 during World War II when US troops needed a space to prepare for the D-Day landings. It was never re-inhabited and the town has a strange ambience today that could be used to create authentic ruined village locations for Fallout 5.

Even if the location was strictly limited to London, the UK capital has more than enough landmarks and variation in environments to be a genuinely interesting location to explore.

Landmarks to be featured include:

Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament – would Big Ben still ring out after a nuclear war? Would the Houses of Parliament become the home of decision making for the company even after the bombs drop?

Buckingham Palace – one of the most important structures in Great Britain, would the palace retain its royal standing? Or, would it become home to the common folk who survived the nuclear fallout, becoming something far seedier?

The London Underground – the Presidential Metro was included in Fallout 3’s Broken Steel DLC, but the London Underground would be far more extensive. The London Underground was the world’s first underground railway and stretches for approximately 250 miles. In the event of a nuclear war, many residents of London would head to the shelter provided by the London Underground, which could make it the most-populated location in the UK after a nuclear war.

Tower Bridge – often mistaken for London Bridge, Tower Bridge is probably the most iconic Bridge in London. The combined bascule and suspension bridge stretches over the Thames and is a tourist hotspot. Admittedly, it is unlikely to survive into a post-apocalyptic world, but…what if? It could become a guarded crossing from one part of the city to the other, with the Thames being a poisonous radiated cesspit.

Wembley Stadium – the home of the English national football team, the stadium could be a secure fortress with a beautiful garden on the pitch. Wembley could be the last safe-haven in the country, a place to aspire to earn entry to.

#3 – Moscow

The Russian Capital, Moscow makes for a formidable post-apocalyptic playground, so much so that it was the location for Metro 2033, Metro Exodus and Metro: Last Light. But, that doesn’t mean that it wouldn’t make a good Fallout 5 location.

Moscow is equal parts beauty and oppressive concrete. Some structures are genuine architectural masterpieces, while others are obnoxious grey concrete boxes, designed for functionality over appearance. This would make Moscow such an amazing city to explore in a truly open-world game.

Landmarks to be featured include:

The Kremlin – a fortified complex at the heart of Moscow, this Russian citadel includes five palaces (including the Grand Kremlin Palace), four cathedrals, and the enclosing Kremlin Wall with Kremlin towers. It could become a stronghold or a city in its own right in Fallout 5.

Red Square – technically a part of the above, Red Square is one of the most famous locations in Russia. The city square separates the Kremlin from a historic merchant quarter known as Kitai-gorod.

Lenin’s Mausoleum – okay, so there are a lot of iconic landmarks around Red Square. Lenin’s Mausoleum, also known as Lenin’s Tomb, is situated in Red Square. It is the resting place of Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin, who died in 1924 but through a modern process of mummification, still looks like he is simply resting. Could Lenin become some sort of a God in Fallout 5’s post-apocalyptic world, or would he be loathed by the Ghouls who resent that a century-old corpse has better skin than the living?

#4 – Paris

Paris is renown for being one of the most romantic locations on the planet, but in the event of a nuclear war, it is a reputation that would not stand the test of time. With destroyed buildings and the population focused on surviving, all that would remain of the Paris that we know and love are the structures that make it such an iconic city. The good news is, there are more than a few to explore in Fallout 5.

Landmarks to be featured include:

The Eiffel Tower – one of the most iconic landmarks in the world. If the tower was to remain standing, it would become a point from which the remaining city could be explored, standing strong on the skyline for miles.

The Louvre – the Louvre Museum is the world’s largest art museum. While the art would likely be looted as law and order falls following the nuclear war, the halls could be replaced with the art of post-war artists.

Arc de Triomphe – overlooking the Champs-Elysées, the Arc de Triomphe is the biggest arch in the world. Commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 to celebrate his victory at Austerlitz, the Arc looms over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The beautiful arch is rich with history and would be a great addition to Fallout 5’s map.

Disneyland Paris – yes, Disneyland again. But, as we mentioned before, even a rebranded Disneyland would be an interesting place to explore.

Notre-Dame de Paris – okay, it’s not THE Notre-Dame but it’s still a beautiful structure. “The House of God and the abode of men” could become the home to a religious cult, or one of the last safe areas for nuclear survivors.

#5 – Rome

Founded on 21 April 753 BC, Italy’s capital city is a sprawling, cosmopolitan city with a wealth of ancient ruins that evoke the power of the former Roman Empire. In Fallout 5 it could be home to Caesar’s Legion, who were a formidable opponent (or ally) in Fallout: New Vegas.

Landmarks to be featured include:

The Colosseum – the historic oval amphitheatre sits in the centre of the city, so would serve as a good base to launch from, possibly for Caesar’s Legion. Formerly home to gladiator battles and other public spectacles, it could return to its roots in Fallout 5.

Vatican City – the city-state is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, completely surrounded by Rome. The Pope could offer the right of passage to Roman Catholics while the remainder of the populace tries to gain access to the riches contained within the Vatican. They would serve as Caesar’s Legion’s chief power rival.

Pantheon – the former Roman template isn’t the largest structure in Rome but would add some history to the desolate streets of Fallout 5’s Rome.

Piazza del Popolo – one of the largest urban squares in Rome, which translates to “People’s Square.” Piazza del Popolo has been included in this list not just due to its iconic imagery or historical importance, but also because of how it could impact gameplay in the area. The large open square could be used by a gang of snipers, placing expensive or valuable items out in the open while they lie in wait to snipe their victims. A mad-dash through a rain of bullets could give untold riches, or put the player out of their misery for good.

Those are our top five Fallout 5 locations. Each has its own history and culture to be adapted to the Fallout formula, but this could provide a breath of fresh air for the franchise.

Where would you like to see Fallout 5 set?