We ranked all 8 Fallout games, so you know where to start
Fallout is one of the best franchises in gaming having been around for years. With lots to play, the series recently branched out from Bethesda-helmed projects and into areas like TV, pinball, and Magic the Gathering.
Perhaps Fallout has passed you by; maybe you’ve just finished watching the Amazon Prime TV show and want to know which game to try out. There are several entries in the series to choose from. Some are quite retro now, while others were released more recently and take advantage of modern hardware.
Fallout 76
You wouldn’t have thought a multiplayer Fallout game would fail, and yet. When the game was initially released it was to disappointment from fans who wanted so much more. The world felt too empty, and the ability to personalise your experience was lacking. While the game hasn’t turned itself around like No Man’s Sky, the climb back up the mountain has started and fans began trickling back over the years.
However, even now, the game can’t really decide what it is. It’s not a proper MMORPG, but it’s got more on its bones than a standard co-op mode. Sadly, it means the most recent release still falls short unless you’re playing with a good group of friends, but even then, it’s likely the fun will be short-lived.
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Fallout Shelter
If you want Fallout on mobile devices and handhelds, this is really the best option unless you have a Steam Deck for the mainline games. Fallout Shelter is a lot of fun, but it’s a rather shallow experience. You get the chance to become an overseer and construct your own vault, monitor civilians - torture them if you want - it’s really an idle game that requires the odd input and it serves its purpose.
There are moments of danger and certain situations you’ll have to think your way out of, plus it has a lovely aesthetic leaning into the 1950’s cartoon style of Vault Boy. While you’re not really getting the full Fallout experience, it’s a nice taste of the universe and Fallout Shelter can be played at the bus stop or during your morning poop, so have at it.
Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel
A tactical off-shoot, this isn’t an entry in the mainline but an exploration into a new genre for the series. Turn-based tactical RPG was an easy sidestep for Fallout, there was the scope to still tell an engaging story while also utilising the different characters and callbacks that fans loved. Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel, obviously, takes a closer look at the Brotherhood and expands the lore surrounding them. We didn’t only learn more about the suits of armour and the soldiers within, we got a great range of tactical missions to overcome.
Not only that, but this was a genuinely funny game that revelled in the odd humour that comes with the franchise. It’s a very different story to the usual fare as Fallout generally revolves around a vault dweller, but as a short diversion, it’s worth visiting.
Fallout
Back where it all began. Now, this isn’t meant to sound snobby but the original Fallout is not visually pleasing by today’s standards. God, it would be soo good to get a remake of this with some shiny graphics. Fallout not only paved the way for hundreds of RPGs to follow on, but it formed this astonishing world full of kitsch style and wonderful writing. It has everything you would expect from the modern releases, but at its most basic, and that’s not a bad thing.
The simple style of isometric view, smaller world, and fewer NPCs make the story stand out. Fallout is here because of its legacy and because, if you can get past the visuals and the slightly wonky UI, it stands up and should be played today.
Fallout 2
There’s not a great deal to say about Fallout 2. Essentially, it took everything from Fallout and made it better. While there wasn’t a lot of time in between the releases, the game engine was tweaked to look and feel smoother, making this feel like a proper upgrade. Fallout 2 also began to play around with the world more, bringing in pop culture references, embracing the humour, and what we see as Fallout archetypes now were fully developed in this sequel.
The story is set 80 years after the first game and you play as a direct descendant of the original vault dweller. The story wanders between being a saviour and having to fight the actual government and the narrative throughout these moments is consistently strong.
Fallout 4
Now here’s where this list becomes controversial to some. With this entry, and the next, some would argue that Fallout 4 is the better game, while others stand by the third game instead. The fourth entry in the franchise has a lot going for it; the wasteland is filled with more unique points of interest, the settlements system of base-building can be fun, and there’s a better sense that you’re playing as a character of your choosing.
However, on the flip side of that, the story was very linear in terms of narrative and it didn’t really do anything interesting. Oddly, Bethesda chose to remove things like the karma system which made companion interactions feel much more immersive and added a layer of depth. The companions themselves are great and the combat stepped up, but overall the game felt like a step backwards from the third installment.
Fallout 3
Which is where we go now. Many would put this entry behind the fourth and they could cite things like the older graphics and the age of the game generally, however, this entry was enjoyable, made even better after the DLC launched. Fallout 3 was the franchises jump from 2D to 3D and took on a much bigger world when Bethesda took over responsibilities. It took everything that made the series great and polished it to a high degree.
Due to the inclusion of things like the karma system from the original games, plus the jump to a more action-based experience, it feels like a better overall game. There’s more to do, it’s a deeper RPG with a superior narrative that takes you through Washington D.C., and the politics of the wasteland. Compared to the fourth entry, this feels like a more traditional Fallout game, but in a new dimension.
Fallout: New Vegas
It’s interesting that the best Fallout game didn’t even come from Bethesda. Fallout: New Vegas, a spin-off from the main structure of the series, is inarguably the best Fallout you can play. It’s the best all-round RPG experience. Many would argue it’s not just the best Fallout experience, it’s just one of the best RPGs of all time.
No mere vault dweller, you’re a courier caught in a bad situation - being shot in the head and left for dead. Thankfully you’re saved and go on to live a life in the Las Vegas wasteland surrounded by Elvis impersonators and three factions who are all vying for your services and allegiance. If you liked the California story beats from the TV show, you’ll find a lot more of that here.
New Vegas is a brilliant Fallout experience - strong narrative, brilliant humour, wonderful perk systems that make your character feel unique, and probably the most interesting version of the wasteland you’ll see.
Topics: Amazon, Bethesda, Fallout, TV And Film