What's the best Fallout game to start with if you're looking to explore the post-apocalyptic franchise for the first time? If you're new to the series — perhaps you've just watched the Fallout Amazon live action adaptation — then you have a number of options available to you. In this Fallout beginner's guide, we're going to break these options down and help you decide on the Fallout game that's best for you.
What is the Best Fallout Game to Start With?
The short answer, for most people reading this guide, will be Fallout 4. It's the most readily available release, and it's the most modern mainline Fallout title, with gameplay that feels nowhere near as dated as what you'll find in previous games.
But if you want a longer answer...
The best Fallout game to start with will largely depend on the kind of experience that you're looking for. The original Fallout games — Fallout and Fallout 2 — play very differently to Fallout 3 and Fallout 4, because they were made by an entirely different developer in a completely different era.
The first two Fallout games are old-school, isometric role-playing titles that are incredibly clunky by today's standards (although the writing and storytelling is still great). As such, they're difficult to recommend unless you're already a fan of more hardcore RPGs — but then you'd probably already be aware of their existence.
The mainline Fallout games made by Bethesda — Fallout 3 and Fallout 4 — are much more welcoming thanks to modernised game design. They're open world RPGs with real-time combat, featuring branching quests that can be altered through player choice.
However, so many years after its initial release, Fallout 3 is really showing its age. It's a slow, often awkward game compared to more modern RPGs, but its world building, setting, and quest design still hold up. Fallout 3 is a decent place to start your Fallout journey if you can stomach its inherent jankiness, but we think there's a better option...
Which brings us to Fallout 4. If you're completely new to Fallout, this fourth instalment is probably the best place to begin because it's the most streamlined title in the entire series. It's also the closest game, tonally, to Amazon's Fallout show.
Fallout 4 has the series' most refined gameplay mechanics, and its dynamic open world is still a joy to explore. That said, Fallout 4 does stumble a bit in terms of storytelling and role-playing. It's not as in-depth as previous games, offering a reduced degree of player choice, and generally speaking, the writing and world building isn't as engaging. Still, for most people, numerous gameplay improvements will be enough to outweigh Fallout 4's narrative flaws.
Fallout 4 is our standout choice as the best Fallout game to start with, then, but Fallout 3 isn't a bad shout either, if you can gel with its dated gameplay. And on that note, we should mention Fallout: New Vegas. Released shortly after Fallout 3, it's incredibly similar in terms of janky old gameplay, but the writing, world building, and player choice is fantastic — the best that you'll find in a more modern Fallout title.
Elsewhere, Fallout Shelter and Fallout 76 offer up something different. Fallout Shelter is a mobile game — ported to PC and consoles — that has you create your own Vault, and the gameplay revolves around keeping the facility up and running. It's obviously a much more casual game compared to a typical Fallout title, but it might be worth checking out if you're into the tone of Fallout.
Fallout 76, meanwhile, is essentially a multiplayer game built on the foundations of Fallout 4. It suffered from an incredibly rough release in 2018, but it's been heavily updated since, and now stands in a much better position. If you want to experience Fallout with friends — or strangers! — then it's worth a look.
How Many Fallout Games Are There?
Now, let's take a look at a list of all the Fallout games, complete with release dates, and which platforms they're currently playable on.
There are a total of 10 Fallout games released so far, spanning 21 years and multiple developers.
All Mainline Fallout Games
There are 4 mainline Fallout games released so far:
- Fallout (1997) - Playable on PC
- Fallout 2 (1998) - Playable on PC
- Fallout 3 (2008) - Playable on PC, PS3, Xbox 360, PS4 (via PS Plus streaming), Xbox One (via backwards compatibility), PS5 (via PS Plus streaming), Xbox Series X|S (via backwards compatibility)
- Fallout 4 (2015) - Playable on PC, PS4, Xbox One, PS5 (via backwards compatibility), Xbox Series X|S (via backwards compatibility), with native PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions releasing on the 25th April, 2024
All Spinoff Fallout Games
There are 6 spinoff Fallout games released so far:
- Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel (2001) - Playable on PC
- Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel (2002) - Playable on PC
- Fallout: New Vegas (2010) - Playable on PC, PS3, Xbox 360, PS4 (via PS Plus streaming), Xbox One (via backwards compatibility), PS5 (via PS Plus streaming), Xbox Series X|S (via backwards compatibility)
- Fallout Shelter (2015) - Playable on PC, Mobile (iOS, Android), PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
- Fallout Pinball (2016) - Playable on Mobile (iOS, Android)
- Fallout 76 (2018) - Playable on PC, PS4, Xbox One, PS5 (via backwards compatibility), Xbox Series X|S (via backwards compatibility)
Do You Need to Play Every Fallout Game to Understand the Story?
As with any series that boasts multiple instalments, you may be wondering whether there's one main story that carries through all of the games.
The simple answer is that no, there isn't. While there is a timeline to the Fallout games, there are no recurring main characters, and playing previous games isn't needed in order to understand later titles.
Each Fallout game has its own central plot, with its own characters, and its own setting.
Did you find this Fallout Beginner's Guide helpful? Do you know which game you're going to start with? Brave the wasteland in the comments section below.
Comments 23
Agree if you're completely new to these games that 4 is the way to go. Tight gameplay and they made the RPG elements more introductory than the older games.
I really want to go and play Fallout 2 since there are lore ties between that game and New Vegas.
I'm amazed Fallout 3 or Fallout: NV aren't available native on PS4 or PS5.
They are definitely missing a trick there.
@Anke Totally agree, I find it crazy that Bethesda's never remastered them. Same with Morrowind and Oblivion. Just leaving money on the table.
fallout 3 and new Vegas are the best ones though i would start with those
I just play them on series X runs at 4k60fps on there
I agree its more accessible and recent but man, Fallout 4 sucks. Its just nowhere near as good as any of the others, even if it is a bit more technically competent.
@Olskeezy Not just Fallout 2- New Vegas also has a lot of lore ties to the original game as well, but nothing in New Vegas needs you to have played those two games. Also, Fallout 1 and 2 are quite short- they're more focused on having replay value than on being games that demand all of your gaming time.
Even though the gameplay style changes massively, Fallout, Fallout 2 and New Vegas are a great trilogy.
I also don't think the first two Fallout games are that janky. They're much less janky than their contemporaries such as Baldur's Gate. They're turn based, but quite accessible. Just if you play the first one and recruit Ian, don't stand in front of him if he has a weapon capable of automatic fire. Ever.
@Anke another victim of PSnow
Only thing I hate about Fallout 4 is the forced settlement building crap.. I’ve only ever played vanilla.. my second play through once the next gen update comes out I may start trying mods..
I’ve played 3, NV, and 4.. 4 is my favorite because it’s more modern and it looks better.. can’t wait to play again on the 25th
3, because it's the most mainstream. Then New Vegas because it is more down to earth and not as militaristic as 3. 4, I wouldn't recommend unless you're willing to put a lot of effort into it.
Fallout 4 is the worst of the bunch though. It's a glorified base building game.
Fallout 3 is the one i recommend.
They really should remaster it.
Fallout 3 and NV will almost definitely get remakes/remasters given the success of Prime series. 100%. I even suggest they do this before Fallout 5. Lot more risks involved in introducing Fallout 5 (judging by quality of 76, can’t rely on it actually being good) to newcomers to the franchise then just updating 3 or NV imo.
I played Fallout 4 VR and it was pretty good
@Palleon Fallout 4 VR i's pretty janky out of the box, but with the right combination of mods on PC it's excellent.
Fallout is all about the atmosphere and the very dark and cynical humor surrounding it. I would definitely recommend to play Fallout 2 and New Vegas, try Fallout 1 if you really liked the 2, and to discard the rest that has just Fallout in the name but nothing in the core. Fallout 1 and 2 were praised for the liberty they allowed to do immoral and borderline things, like being a prostitute or engage in a slavery guild, being a drug dealer/addict, try to enter and control a sect, etc... All of these elements were missing in the 3 and 4, explaining why these games got so much hate for their mainstream aspects.
That said, Fallout Tactics was pretty good but it was more like a Jagged Alliance-like with Fallout assets than a real Fallout game.
I feel, as the article states, Fallout 4 (with all DLCs) is the best one to start with, just coming into it fresh and having never played a Fallout game. It's also the most "like the show" one you can get. Previous ones are dated and janky (though charming) and 76 is survival-lite and it's an online system. It just hits a bit different.
Wasteland 3... Drops mic and runs for hills.
My advise is play Fallout 3, then New Vegas, and then Fallout 4. However after hundreds of hours of play of those games I do not believe anything is lost in any order of play. The older top down games I have absolutely no desire as I do not like the top down style, but many gamers like those early Fallout games.
Fallout 76? I'll pass on that, but it can be easily sampled by streaming with Plus Premium.
Also with Premium Fallout 3 and NV can be streamed but no download. Along with only streaming is no dlc which makes Fallout 3 an incomplete game, and to a lesser extent the same with New Vegas.
Fallout 4 is a love or hate game, even amongst fans of Fallout. For me I love 90% of it. The settlement building is a big hate or big love. For those like me the settlement building added hours and hours of game play, building and rebuilding the same settlement, saving builds on save files and recording screen shoots, videos, and viewing other builds and tips on youtube. Then there is populating the settlements and then choosing their outfits.
Fallout 4 also has mods. Some simple mods improve the game like with improving weather, graphics, and scrapping. An other simple mod can quicken game play by providing high level perks from the beginning of the game, essentially a new game plus.
@ShogunRok Fallout New Vegas and 76 are considered Mainline now not spinoff. At least according to Bethesda.
Removed - unconstructive
@Chupa_loyzer Exactly. Fallout 3 or 4 have nothing in common with the real Fallout experience. It's now a dead IP and I don't see how we could come back to such immoral games in this era of consciousness politically correct. Like, releasing a game where you have the opportunity to join a slavery guild or prostitute your partner? It would be banned right away, if ever published?
Fallout 4 is terrible. Someone forgot Fallout is supposed to be a satire and instead made a slapstick comedy.
Fallout New Vegas is the best of the bunch, then Fallout 2, and after that Fallouts 1 or 3. If you really want to play with friends Fallout 76.
Also - and this may be contentious- the best way to play any of the Fallout games is modded on a PC, because without the community patches to fix Bethesdas mess they are buggy as hell.
I bought the complete edition for F4 in 2020 but have never touched it . After bingeing the show and the new update coming think I'm finally going to take the plunge.
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