The Fallout series spans decades and includes multiple mainline entries, spin-offs, and expansions. In this article, we’ll break down every official Fallout game, explore their storylines, and provide an overview of the impact they had on the franchise.
Mainline Fallout Games
The core Fallout games are where the heart of the franchise beats strongest. Each title takes players to a different region of post-apocalyptic America, offering a blend of exploration, role-playing, and moral dilemmas that define the series.
Fallout (1997)
Platform: PC
Developer: Interplay Entertainment
The original Fallout was released in 1997 and set the foundation for the entire series. Set in the year 2161, the game takes place in Southern California and follows the journey of the “Vault Dweller,” a survivor from Vault 13, who must find a water chip to save their vault from disaster.
Fallout introduced players to the series’ distinctive retro-futuristic aesthetic, where 1950s optimism meets the grim realities of nuclear devastation. It also introduced the SPECIAL system (Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility, Luck), which would become a hallmark of the series’ role-playing mechanics.
While Fallout was a top-down, turn-based RPG, it established the intricate world-building and freedom of choice that players would come to love in future installments.
Fallout 2 (1998)
Platform: PC
Developer: Black Isle Studios
Released just a year after its predecessor, Fallout 2 expanded on everything that made the first game great. Players take on the role of the “Chosen One,” a descendant of the Vault Dweller from the first game. Set in the year 2241, the Chosen One embarks on a quest to save their village, Arroyo, from famine by finding a Garden of Eden Creation Kit (GECK).
Fallout 2 introduced a larger world, deeper factions, and even more complex quests, solidifying the series as a staple in the RPG genre. The game also featured more dark humor and political satire, reflecting the grim and often absurd realities of post-apocalyptic life.
Fallout 3 (2008)
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Fallout 3 marked a major shift in the series, as it was the first game developed by Bethesda Game Studios after they acquired the rights to the Fallout franchise. Moving from the top-down perspective of the first two games, Fallout 3 adopted a first-person perspective and open-world design.
Set in Washington, D.C. in the year 2277, Fallout 3 follows the story of the “Lone Wanderer,” a survivor who leaves Vault 101 in search of their father, leading to a deeper involvement in the fate of the Wasteland.
Fallout 3 brought the series into the mainstream, introducing millions of players to the world of Fallout. Its open-world design, immersive environments, and the introduction of the V.A.T.S. (Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System) combat mechanic were revolutionary for the series.
Fallout: New Vegas (2010)
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
While not a numbered entry, Fallout: New Vegas is considered by many to be one of the best in the series. Developed by Obsidian Entertainment, many of whom worked on the original Fallout games, New Vegas combined the mechanics of Fallout 3 with the narrative depth of the original titles.
Set in the Mojave Desert in 2281, Fallout: New Vegas tells the story of a courier who is left for dead and embarks on a journey of revenge and discovery. Along the way, players become embroiled in a power struggle between different factions vying for control of the region, including the New California Republic (NCR), Caesar’s Legion, and the enigmatic Mr. House.
New Vegas is praised for its branching storylines, meaningful choices, and the depth of its RPG mechanics. Despite some technical issues at launch, it remains a fan favorite and is often regarded as the peak of storytelling in the Fallout series.
Fallout 4 (2015)
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Fallout 4 returned players to the East Coast, this time setting the game in the ruins of Boston, now known as the Commonwealth, in the year 2287. Players take on the role of the “Sole Survivor,” who emerges from Vault 111 after a cryogenic sleep to find their son, who has been kidnapped.
Fallout 4 brought several new mechanics to the series, including an expansive crafting and settlement-building system. It also introduced voiced protagonists for the first time in the series, which was a controversial change among fans.
While the game was praised for its detailed world and improved combat mechanics, some criticized it for simplifying RPG elements and focusing more on action. Despite this, Fallout 4 was a commercial success and remains a highly popular entry in the franchise.
Fallout 76 (2018)
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Fallout 76 is the most recent mainline entry in the series, and it took the franchise in a new direction. Set in the year 2102, just 25 years after the Great War, Fallout 76 takes place in West Virginia and focuses on Vault 76, one of the first vaults to open.
Unlike previous games, Fallout 76 is an online multiplayer game, meaning players explore the wasteland with others in real-time. At launch, the game was criticized for its lack of non-player characters (NPCs) and reliance on multiplayer interactions, leading to an experience that felt different from the traditional single-player Fallout games.
However, Bethesda has continued to support Fallout 76 with numerous updates, expansions, and the addition of NPCs in the Wastelanders update, improving the overall experience.
Fallout Spin-offs
In addition to the mainline titles, several spin-offs have expanded the Fallout universe, offering unique takes on the franchise’s lore and gameplay mechanics.
Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel (2001)
Platforms: PC
Developer: 14 Degrees East
Fallout Tactics is a tactical RPG that focuses on the Brotherhood of Steel, a prominent faction in the Fallout series. Set in the Midwestern United States, the game follows a squad of Brotherhood soldiers as they attempt to bring order to the wasteland.
Unlike the mainline games, Fallout Tactics is heavily combat-focused and features squad-based, turn-based tactical gameplay. While it lacks the deep role-playing elements of other entries, it offers a unique perspective on the Brotherhood of Steel and their role in the post-apocalyptic world.
Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel (2004)
Platforms: PlayStation 2, Xbox
Developer: Interplay Entertainment
Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel is an action RPG set in the Fallout universe, but it’s widely considered the black sheep of the series. Released on consoles in 2004, the game follows a group of Brotherhood of Steel initiates as they complete missions and fight against mutants and raiders.
Brotherhood of Steel was criticized for its linear design, lack of depth, and departure from the series’ established lore. It’s often regarded as one of the weaker entries in the franchise, and its influence on the broader Fallout universe is minimal.
Fallout Shelter (2015)
Platforms: iOS, Android, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Fallout Shelter is a free-to-play mobile game that offers a lighthearted and management-focused take on the Fallout universe. Players take on the role of an Overseer and are tasked with building and managing their own vault, ensuring the happiness and survival of their dwellers.
Fallout Shelter was a surprise hit and became one of the most successful mobile games of its time. Though it lacks the depth of the mainline games, it offers a fun and addictive experience that fits perfectly into the Fallout universe.
Expansions and DLCs
In addition to the full games, the Fallout series has seen a wealth of downloadable content (DLC) and expansions that add new regions, quests, and storylines to the base games. Some of the most notable expansions include:
- Fallout 3: Broken Steel, The Pitt, Point Lookout
- Fallout: New Vegas: Dead Money, Honest Hearts, Old World Blues, Lonesome Road
- Fallout 4: Far Harbor, Nuka-World, Automatron
These expansions often add significant content to their respective games, introducing new locations, factions, and challenges that enrich the post-apocalyptic world.
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So, how many Fallout games are there in total? Including mainline entries, spin-offs, and expansions, there are six mainline games and several notable spin-offs and DLCs, creating a sprawling universe full of stories, moral dilemmas, and unforgettable characters.