Fallout is known for its companions. One of the many choices you can make is who you take along with you, each fitting different play styles and builds. Along with that, each of them is a colorful character in their own right with unique quests and characters related to them. And no game better exemplifies this than perhaps the most roleplay and choice-heavy entry: Fallout: New Vegas.
Each of the 8 companions in New Vegas is a strong helper in combat and a strong personality with opinions about everyone and everything in the Mojave. So, it becomes hard to decide which ones to take along, and hopefully, this list may help you figure out which companion is the best.
8 Boone
In New Vegas, there really isn’t a wrong choice for companions. All of them help out a lot in gameplay while also being enjoyable. But someone has to be at the bottom, and Boone skews way too far into gameplay. To start with the positives, the Novak guard is one of the first companions you can get and one of the most powerful. His sniper shots will obliterate enemies across the battlefield.
But, while he’s good at fighting, Boone has a solid 1 in charisma. While his strong silent loner personality is cool at first, there’s not much after that, not to mention Boone barely wants to talk. His quest line does give a bit more to his character, but it doesn’t make him too much better to be around.
7 Rex
This entry may need a bit of explanation before the dog people get angry; after all, how can you not love a robot dog? But, while Rex is good, he’s no Dogmeat, and a key aspect is holding him back. But for the positives, Rex is part of one of the more fun factions of the game, The Kings. On top of that, Rex is decent in combat and gets the job done.
So, what’s the problem with Rex? Well, the only thing is that there are simply better versions of them. Dogmeat is a dog companion in Fallout 1-4 who has a lot more personality, ensuring players get attached to them much sooner than Rex. Anyway, Rex is one of the two non-human companions, and if you just really like dogs a lot, Rex is a fine pet!
6 Cass
Going along with New Vegas’s cowboy and southern style, Cass is a classic cowboy you can meet up with in the Mojave Outpost bar, mourning the destruction of her caravan business. She’s actually the daughter of someone who you can meet in Fallout 2, and she takes after her father quite a bit. She’ll eagerly team up with the courier to get a new business and get revenge for her caravan.
But Cass is actually a bit divisive for some. She has a strong, snarky, sarcastic, and loud-mouthed personality, commenting on everything you come across with strong opinions. While some players love this more brash and loud personality, for others, her company is more annoying than anything else, especially with her opinions often being misinformed and sometimes rude. So, while Cass may be perfect for some, it would be wrong to rate her any higher.
5 Arcade
For a player wanting to focus on tech and fancy energy weapons, Arcade is a perfect fit. Arcade is found at the Freeside medical center and is very intelligent and witty, making plenty of jokes about whatever you find with him. Despite the occasional snark, Arcade is one of the more fun companions to have around. Though, he’s not nearly as loyal as the others and will question the players for their actions, possibly leaving if you do enough to make him mad. This could either be annoying to some or fun role-playing for others.
But, while he may look like a stereotypical science nerd, Arcade has quite the plot and quest line behind him. This scientist has a past he would rather keep hidden as he was born to the Enclave and keeps it secret for his safety. His quest will see you slowly uncovering his past, recruiting interesting characters, and gaining one of the most powerful armors in the game. It’s considered one of the best quests in the game, so getting Arcade may be worth your time.
4 Raul
One of the less popular companions, Raul is one of the more unique ones of the bunch, able to provide more utility than simple offense. Raul is a mechanic ghoul found at Black Mountain who you can free from captivity and take around with you. Raul is fine on the battlefield, but his true strength is as a repairman, being one of the best in the game if you send him back to his shack. Raul has a similar sarcastic and joking nature to Cass, though much more cynical and a bit less vocal, making him a bold personality.
While Raul may seem like a silly character, he has one of the most in-depth backstories out of any companion. Through his quest, you get to know them quite well, learning about their detailed and tragic past while they grapple with whether to go back to gunslinging or settle down as a mechanic. The decision is made naturally through what you say in the quest, resulting in either him becoming more competent in fights and donning a vaquero outfit or his repairs becoming even better. Either choice results in an excellent conclusion to his story.
3 Lily
One of the stranger companions in New Vegas, Lily is certainly a memorable friend. Lily Bowen is a peaceful nightkin living at Jacobstown. She was originally an elderly grandma before being turned into a super mutant. Lily is the kindest of the companions in the game, treating you as one of her grandchildren.
She doesn’t have a marked quest line but has quite the story you can get involved in. Like all nightkin, Lily suffers from psychotic breaks, making her hear another voice in her head from Leo, who makes her act violently. She’s told to take medicine to cure this psychosis, but Lily only takes a half dose as otherwise, she may forget her grandchildren. You’re left with a choice on whether she should go full-on with the treatment, take half to keep remembering, or take none and see what happens. It’s a choice with no right answer and one that hurts no matter what.
2 Veronica
Veronica may seem unassuming on the surface, but this girl has loads of personality and a fascinating quest line! When you meet her at the 188 Trading Post, Veronica turns out to be a scribe for the Brotherhood of Steel. But unlike her higher-ups, Veronica is bright-eyed and curious about the world, exploring and finding how much more there is to see! Veronica is just a positive ray of sunshine to have around.
But Veronica isn’t all smiles and sunshine as she’s stuck in conflict with the stubborn leaders of the Mojave Brotherhood of Steel, wondering if she can really help anyone or learn anything from them. At some point in your journey, this can reach a boiling point as she decides she needs to try to show them the error of their ways. The quest gives you several options all around Nevada, encouraging you to discover secrets, and ultimately giving an insight into the reluctant scribe’s mindset. This quest is the perfect bonus to having her around.
1 ED-E
One of the easiest companions to get and one of the best, ED-E is an Enclave eyebot you find broken in the Mojave Express. ED-E is the second non-human companion, meaning they don’t have any dialogue. But despite this unassuming start, ED-E manages to have loads of personality and story.
ED-E is very expressive with all sorts of little beeps and boops, showing off a happy and playful personality. Not to mention that every time you go into battle, it plays a small bit of fanfare. It’s hard not to fall in love with their little quirks. But they’re not just simple fun. Through dialogue, you can discover that ED-E is actually a highly important experiment, leaving you to solve the mystery and decide what to do with it. This little quest is just enough for ED-E to become a must-have companion.