A Fallout 3 fan has praised a cruel secret ending that we probably missed which could actually be the game’s best conclusion.

Fallout 3 is the first entry in the post-apocalyptic RPG series since Bethesda Softworks acquired the rights to the franchise in 2004. When Fallout 3 was eventually released in 2007, it became an instant classic as indicated by its score of 93 on Metacritic, earning the “Must-Play” accolade.

As with most RPGs from Bethesda, such as The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, events in Fallout 3 can end differently, depending on the choices that you make and this Reddit user believes an Enclave ending could be the best that the game has to offer.

Before we proceed, please keep in mind that we’re about to venture into spoilers for Fallout 3. “As cruel and violent as doing this is, it might actually be the best possible ending for Fallout 3,” declared Toa_Firox, kicking off the discussion.

“The Enclave headquarters is destroyed, the holdouts at Adam’s Air Force Base are wiped out, and the Bradley Hercules has no more munitions left to fire. Meaning that the Enclave is done,” they continued.

“Project Purity would see some difficulty due to the fractured remains of the Brotherhood of Steel fighting to keep control of the resources but without a base of operations or senior leadership they would likely abandon the project in favour of survival with the Outcasts at Fort Independence leaving control and distribution to Rivet City.”

“The BoS East would continue to be a problem for the residents of Capital Wastes and the region would likely fall right back into being the dangerous hell hole it was at the start of the game as Project Purity distribution would fail to reach distant settlements due to Rivet City security being underequipped.”

“However, as bleak as this ending would be for Washington, D.C., the rest of the US would see a much brighter future,” before concluding “Ironically it’s one of the most traitorous and evil endings of Fallout 3 that produces the brightest future.”

As you can imagine, this opinion on the Fallout 3 ending became a hot topic of conversation in the Reddit thread.

“It sounds like you’re killing Lyon’s Brotherhood and sparing the Outcasts when the Outcasts were the radicalising force in the East Coast Brotherhood,” replied Garlan_Tyrell. “The reason for the ideological change between Lyon’s BoS and Maxson’s BoS wasn’t just differences in vision between each Elder, because Maxson made concessions to the hardliner Outcasts to bring them back into the fold.”

“I disagree. The Brotherhood of Steel has a proven record with both Tactics and the events of Fallout 3 and 4 that they can establish some form of law and order in the Wasteland where in both cases, it involved them changing their ways to opening up to outsiders,” SpartAl412 explained.

“This is absolutely horrible for the wasteland. Maxson and his Brotherhood are not evil, and unless you’re a super mutant or synth, it brings nothing but good to the commonwealth,” MrMadre declared.

One of the best elements of Fallout 3 is player choice and I believe no matter where you sit in regards to any of its endings, no one really has a wrong opinion. After all, the beauty of choice is subjective.

Fallout 3 is playable on PC and modern Xbox consoles. It’s also included in Xbox Game Pass if you ever fancy taking a trip down memory lane.