How to Play the Fallout Games in Chronological Order
Envisioning an alternate-universe, retro futuristic apocalypse teeming with mutated monsters, troopers in hulking energy armor and sinister human experiments disguised as bomb shelters, the Fallout franchise has spent over twenty years establishing one of many richest settings in video video games.
With Season 2 of the Fallout TV sequence about to hit Amazon Prime, there’s by no means been a greater time to strap a Pip-Boy to your wrist and reacquaint your self with the world of Fallout. However the place’s the very best place to start out? Beneath, we’ll run by way of the franchise’s total chronological historical past, in addition to some recommendation on the place to start out for these embarking on their first-ever Fallout journey.
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How Many Fallout Video games and Expansions Are There?
In complete, there are 9 essential Fallout video games – eight on dwelling console and one on cellular units. There are additionally 13 main expansions unfold throughout Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas and Fallout 4. The Fallout franchise is a core Bethesda recreation that can probably proceed to obtain help.
Which Fallout Recreation Ought to You Play First?
For newcomers, the very best start line is arguably Fallout 4, though Fallout 3 and New Vegas are nonetheless nice methods to enter the franchise. Fallout 4 is the latest single-player addition to the sequence, and consequently, is essentially the most modern-feeling tackle the universe. Extra importantly, it’s the one mainline single-player Fallout recreation nonetheless simply accessible on all fashionable consoles bar Nintendo Change.
As for these apprehensive they could be behind on the story, every Fallout recreation tells a contemporary narrative with a brand new lead character and setting, and Fallout 4 isn’t any completely different. Though you might miss a couple of references to the occasions of earlier video games, it’s fairly straightforward to leap in with none prior data of the lore.
For PlayStation Fallout 4
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For Xbox Fallout 4
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For PC Fallout 4
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Learn how to Play the Fallout Video games in Order
These blurbs include gentle spoilers for every recreation, together with characters, settings, and story beats.
One factor to notice earlier than we get began: We is not going to be counting two video games on our chronological timeline. The primary is the cellular (and now on-line) vault administration simulator, Fallout Shelter. Though the sport does comply with the lore of Fallout’s vaults, it additionally options characters and objects lots of of years earlier than they seem within the Fallout storyline, making it non-canon.
We additionally didn’t rely Fallout: Brotherhood of Metal, which Bethesda has confirmed takes place in its personal chronology. That being mentioned, we’ve included Fallout Ways, regardless of its canonicity being questioned. Though Bethesda has since retconned components of Ways’ story, sure occasions from its narrative have been referenced in future video games, making it no less than semi-canon to the timeline.
Lastly, we received’t be together with any expansions that don’t include story content material. For instance, Fallout 4’s Wasteland and Contraptions Workshop expansions aren’t featured on the listing. The identical goes for New Vegas’ Courier Stash DLC.
1. Fallout 76
Bethesda’s most up-to-date addition to the Fallout canon is the primary on the chronological timeline. Fallout 76 is an internet expertise that follows the primary vault dwellers to enter the wasteland 25 years after nuclear battle eviscerated the world.
Taking over the position of one among these pioneers, the participant’s journey begins as they exit the titular Vault 76 and embark on a journey by way of Appalachia seeking their lacking overseer. Alongside the way in which, they uncover the world they as soon as knew has been reworked right into a nuclear hellscape, full with mutated monstrosities, long-dormant killer robots, and zombie-like irradiated people often known as Ghouls. To outlive, they will group up with different survivors, construct bases, full quests, and reestablish a neighborhood among the many ruins of a fallen world.
Fallout 76 was Bethesda’s try at creating a totally on-line Fallout recreation for the primary time, permitting gamers to discover the wasteland with associates. Though it was acquired poorly at launch, it has been up to date steadily within the years since, with the Wastelanders and Metal Reign updates including NPCs and new questlines.
2. Fallout
Quick ahead 59 years and we attain the occasions of the primary recreation within the sequence. Developed by Interaction Productions, Fallout follows a vault dweller dwelling in a bomb shelter often known as Vault 13. Hiding away from the apocalyptic wasteland outdoors their doorways, the participant’s peaceable way of life is thrown into chaos after the vault’s water programs cease working, threatening the lives of everybody dwelling in Vault 13.
They’re tasked with a seemingly easy mission: enterprise into the wasteland, get well a brand new water chip, and return dwelling to avoid wasting their fellow survivors. Nevertheless, the stakes of the vault dweller’s mission grow to be far grander after they encounter a military of mutated abominations often known as Tremendous Mutants and their chief, the Grasp. Not solely do these monsters jeopardize the way forward for Vault 13, however they pose a significant menace to the complete wasteland.
Providing a markedly completely different gameplay fashion to the Bethesda-developed Fallout video games launched years later, the primary Fallout was an in-depth CRPG, that includes turn-based fight and a top-down digicam. That being mentioned, a lot of Fallout’s future was current in its first entry, together with a heavy concentrate on participant alternative and immersive role-playing.
3. Fallout Ways
Three many years later, we attain the occasions of Fallout Ways: a method spin-off developed by Micro Forté. Though among the lore of Fallout Ways has since been retconned and is taken into account non-canon by Bethesda, sure occasions from its story have been referenced in future video games, making it no less than partially a part of the timeline.
The sport itself sees gamers lace up the boots of an provoke of the enduring power-armour-clad faction, the Brotherhood of Metal. Becoming a member of the military’s ranks and main a bunch of fellow troopers, they full numerous missions throughout the Wasteland.
Fallout Ways took the gameplay of Fallout in a brand new course, as gamers command their squad by way of a sequence of strategic battles in opposition to iconic foes corresponding to Tremendous Mutants, Ghouls and Deathclaws.
4. Fallout 2
Fourty-four years after Fallout Ways concludes, the occasions of Fallout 2 happen. With Black Isle Studios taking the reins as developer, Fallout 2 was the sequence’ first main sequel, this time following a descendent of the Vault Dweller from the unique recreation often known as the Chosen One.
After their settlement is hit by an extended drought, the Chosen One is chosen to depart the confines of their dwelling seeking a terraforming gadget often known as a G.E.C.Okay. Their journey takes them throughout the huge reaches of the Wasteland, touchdown them within the sights of a extremely superior faction often known as the Enclave. Because the Chosen One dives deeper into the faction’s targets, they uncover the group’s laborious at work on a sinister experiment.
5. Fallout 3
After Bethesda bought the rights to the Fallout license in 2007, Bethesda Recreation Studios took its first crack on the franchise with Fallout 3. Set three many years after Fallout 2, Fallout 3 picks up the story within the new setting of the Capital Wasteland, casting gamers as a vault dweller often known as the Lone Wanderer.
Residing an earthly life throughout the sealed partitions of Vault 101, the Lone Wanderer’s life is thrown into chaos after their father mysteriously disappears, inflicting the protagonist to be exiled from their dwelling. Starting a journey throughout the Capitol Wasteland seeking their father, they uncover his disappearance could also be extra vital than it first appeared and ultimately grow to be embroiled in a sinister plot concocted by the Enclave.
Fallout 3 acted as a significant reinvention of the Fallout sequence, buying and selling within the earlier entries’ CRPG gameplay for a totally 3D world with real-time shootouts, a first-person digicam, and the sequence’ now-signature V.A.T.S. concentrating on system.
6. Fallout 3 – Operation Anchorage
The primary growth for Fallout 3, Operation Anchorage affords gamers a sequence of recent quets set through the occasions of the principle marketing campaign. The story follows the Lone Wanderer serving to the Brotherhood of Metal enter a sealed pre-war armory. The one manner in is to outlive a simulation of the notorious Battle of Anchorage, which befell in Alaska previous to the nuclear battle that destroyed Fallout’s world.
All through the marketing campaign, the participant steps contained in the simulation and takes on the position of an American soldier combating in opposition to Chinese language troops, experiencing Anchorage firsthand. The DLC permits gamers a prolonged glimpse of a beforehand unseen a part of Fallout’s lore, in addition to providing loads of new fight encounters.
7. Fallout 3 – The Pitt
Fallout 3’s second main growth, The Pitt additionally takes place through the occasions of the principle marketing campaign. It provides a brand new locale for gamers to discover within the titular Pitt, a ruthless, plague-infested metropolis discovered amongst the ruins of Pittsburgh.
After assembly a slave that escaped the town, the growth begins with the Lone Wanderer venturing to The Pitt to discover a remedy for a rampant illness that’s been remodeling the inhabitants into blood-thirsty monsters. Alongside the way in which, they grow to be concerned within the battle between the enslaved residents and their raider masters, making powerful selections that can eternally alter The Pitt and its inhabitants.
8. Fallout 3 – Level Lookout
Fallout 3’s fourth add-on, Level Lookout is ready through the occasions of the principle marketing campaign and takes gamers to an all-new setting, with the Lone Wanderer setting sail for the haunting swamps of the titular coastal city. The growth begins with the Lone Wanderer providing to assist a mom discover her lacking daughter, Nadine, who lately launched into a journey to Level Lookout.
Upon arriving within the city, they rapidly uncover the reality behind Nadine’s disappearance runs a lot deeper than anticipated. Lodging themselves within the heart of a long-standing rivalry between the proprietor of an area mansion and a tribe of cultists, the Lone Wanderer is pressured to deal with the swamp’s eerie mutated inhabitants, confront buried secrets and techniques, and even endure impromptu mind surgical procedure in a bid to outlive.
9. Fallout 3 – Mothership Zeta
The final growth added to Fallout 3, Mothership Zeta is ready through the occasions of the principle marketing campaign and affords a singular, B-movie sci-fi spin on the franchise.
After responding to a radio sign out within the wasteland, the Lone Wanderer is kidnapped by a UFO, experimented on by aliens, and imprisoned on their craft. Escaping their cell, the participant groups with the aliens’ different human prisoners to overthrow their extraterrestrial captors and return to Earth.
10. Fallout 3 – Damaged Metal
The third growth for Fallout 3 however the one add-on to happen after the occasions of the principle story, Damaged Metal acts as an epilogue with a brand new ending. Though gamers had been initially unable to proceed their Fallout 3 save after the credit rolled, Damaged Metal added the flexibility to renew their journey, alongside delivering a brief sequence of recent missions.
Surviving their encounter with Colonel Autumn within the Purity Mission management room, the growth sees the Lone Wanderer group as soon as once more with the Brotherhood of Metal, helping the group in eradicating the Enclave from the Capitol Wasteland for good.
11. Fallout: New Vegas
Within the years following Fallout 3, Obsidian Leisure took its crack on the Fallout license with a spin-off titled Fallout: New Vegas. Set 4 years after the occasions of the earlier recreation, New Vegas tells the story of a courier who’s ambushed, shot, and left for useless within the Mojave Wasteland whereas transporting a priceless package deal to the glitzy, reclaimed streets of Las Vegas.
Discovered and patched up by a bunch of native settlers, the courier rises from their grave and proceeds to trace down the person who tried to kill them, unwittingly changing into the middle of an influence battle between the varied factions vying for management of the New Vegas strip. As they dig deeper into the package deal they carried and the person who stole it from them, the Courier realizes their selections have the potential to vary the Mojave Wasteland eternally.
12. Fallout: New Vegas – Lifeless Cash
The primary growth launched for Fallout: New Vegas, Lifeless Cash is ready through the occasions of the principle marketing campaign and affords a brand new locale to discover. Taking gamers to the Sierra Madre, the story sees the Courier kidnapped, fitted with an explosive collar, and compelled to rob a seemingly impenetrable pre-war on line casino with the assistance of three unlikely allies.
The duty, by all accounts, is a suicide mission. The on line casino is surrounded by a cloud of lethal poisonous gasoline, whereas a faction of ruthless survivors often known as the Ghost Folks patrol the streets eliminating any and all treasure hunters. It falls to the Courier to prepare a daring heist with the assistance of their allies to bypass the on line casino’s defenses and entry the legendary loot behind its partitions.
13. Fallout: New Vegas – Trustworthy Hearts
The second growth to hit Fallout: New Vegas, Trustworthy Hearts falls throughout the occasions of the principle marketing campaign and sees the Courier enterprise to Zion Nationwide Park. There, they stumble throughout Joshua Graham, the legendary “Burned Man” who has grow to be one thing of a bogeyman to Caesar’s Legion after surviving a seemingly deadly run-in with the faction’s ruthless chief.
Discovering themselves within the heart of a battle between the Burned Man’s military and a rival tribe often known as the White Legs, the participant should group with Graham to avoid wasting Zion and its folks.
14. Fallout: New Vegas – Previous World Blues
The third New Vegas growth, Previous World Blues takes place throughout the principle marketing campaign and begins with the Courier monitoring down a crashed satellite tv for pc projecting a mysterious message. After interacting with the satellite tv for pc, the Courier is knocked out and brought to a scientific facility contained inside Huge Mountain, the place they uncover they’ve undergone a mysterious surgical process.
Exploring the power, they meet a panel of nonsensical AI scientists, who inform them that their mind has been stolen by a nefarious robotic often known as Physician Morbius. Teaming with their new AI allies, they journey throughout the analysis facility to defeat Morbius, retrieve their mind, and study extra about Huge Mountain’s secrets and techniques.
15. Fallout: New Vegas – Lonesome Street
The fourth and last New Vegas growth, Lonesome Street takes place previous to the conclusion of the principle marketing campaign however wraps up plenty of excellent story beats established throughout the principle recreation and former DLCs.
The journey sees the Courier enterprise into a brand new space often known as The Divide seeking Ulysses, the courier initially designated the job of transporting the platinum chip earlier than it was entrusted to the lead protagonist. Promising solutions about his actual identification, Ulysses summons the Courier for one last confrontation, placing the pair on a crash course that can unveil their darkish pasts.
16. Fallout 4
Returning to the IP for the primary time since 2008’s Fallout 3, Bethesda launched Fallout 4 in 2015. Starting on the day the bombs fell, gamers tackle the position of a civilian often known as the Sole Survivor who takes refuge in Vault 111 with their partner and son. Cryogenically frozen contained in the vault, the Sole Survivor wakes up 2 hundred years later, discovering their partner useless, their son lacking, and the world destroyed.
Rising into the Commonwealth, Bethesda’s apocalyptic tackle the Larger Boston area, they start a tireless journey to trace down their son. Alongside the way in which, they lock horns with a mysterious, scientifically superior faction referred to as the Institute, which kidnaps wastelanders and replaces them with sentient robots often known as synths.
As their struggle in opposition to the Institute rages on, the Sole Survivor learns the darkish secrets and techniques behind the Institute’s plans, ultimately teaming with the varied factions of the wasteland to convey the group down.
17. Fallout 4 – Automatron
The primary story growth for Fallout 4, Automatron takes place through the occasions of the principle story and sees the Sole Survivor go up in opposition to an antagonist often known as the Mechanist.
It contains a brief chain of recent quests through which the Sole Survivor battles the Mechanist’s robots and ultimately tracks their foe all the way down to their lair. The primary objective of the add-on, nonetheless, is including the flexibility to construct and mod robots you’ll be able to take with you across the wasteland.
18. Fallout 4 – Far Harbour
The second story growth for Fallout 4, Far Harbour is ready through the occasions of Fallout 4’s essential marketing campaign, and sees the Sole Survivor sail to the eerie titular island seeking a lacking woman. There they discover a secret neighborhood of unbiased synths led by superior AI often known as DiMA.
As DiMA reveals new details about his neighborhood and Far Harbour, it turns into clear that the island is caught in a battle between the locals and a radiation-worshipping cult often known as the Kids of Atom, who’re trying to cowl the island in radioactive fog. It doesn’t take lengthy for the Sole Survivor to get caught up on this dispute, giving them the facility to make selections that can irreversibly change the spooky locale and its residents.
19. Fallout 4 – Vault-Tec Workshop
A small growth launched after Far Harbour, Vault-Tec Workshop takes place through the marketing campaign and sees the Sole Survivor tackle the duty of constructing their very personal vault. After liberating Vault 88 from raiders, the Sole Survivor meets an overseer trapped throughout the ruins who intends to revamp the deserted bomb shelter.
Helping her, the participant is ready to construct their dream vault, recruit dwellers to stay inside it and enhance the shelter to most effectivity.
20. Fallout 4 – Nuka World
The ultimate story growth for Fallout 4, Nuka World is ready through the occasions of the principle marketing campaign and fingers the Sole Survivor the keys to an all-new space containing a large, Nuka-Cola-themed amusement park.
After arriving and instantly being pitted in opposition to a sequence of ruthless raiders, lure rooms and robotic enemies, the participant is granted the title of Nuka-World overboss. Nevertheless, the place is hardly the dream job it is cracked as much as be. Their new-found management requires that they cope with three raider factions dwelling within the park, forcing the Sole Survivor to resolve whether or not to appease them and develop their territory or eradicate them altogether.
All Fallout Video games and Expansions in Order of Launch
1. Fallout (1997)
2. Fallout 2 (1998)
3. Fallout Ways (2001)
4. Fallout: Brotherhood of Metal (2004)
5. Fallout 3 (2008)
6. Fallout 3 – Operation Anchorage (2009)
7. Fallout 3 – The Pitt (2009)
8. Fallout 3 – Damaged Metal (2009)
9. Fallout 3 – Level Lookout (2009)
10. Fallout 3 – Mothership Zeta (2009)
11. Fallout: New Vegas (2010)
12. Fallout: New Vegas – Lifeless Cash (2010)
13. Fallout: New Vegas – Trustworthy Hearts (2011)
14. Fallout: New Vegas – Previous World Blues (2011)
15. Fallout: New Vegas – Lonesome Street (2011)
16. Fallout Shelter (2015)
17. Fallout 4 (2015)
18. Fallout 4 – Automatron (2016)
19. Fallout 4 – Far Harbour (2016)
20. Fallout 4 – Vault-Tec Workshop (2016)
21. Fallout 4 – Nuka-World (2016)
22. Fallout 76 (2018)
What’s Subsequent for Fallout?
The most recent addition to the Fallout universe is the Fallout TV present, which is about to enter its second season on Prime Video. Telling a brand new story, the sequence takes place within the ruins of Los Angeles with a vault dweller performed by Ella Purnell venturing out into the Wasteland alongside The Ghoul, performed by Walton Goggins, and Maximus, a Brotherhood of Metal recruit performed by Aaron Moten. The present has a stacked roster of expertise behind it, together with Westworld creator Jonathan Nolan.
The primary season rapidly grew to become one among Prime Video’s most profitable sequence ever. Season 2 will convey us to New Vegas, although is taking a “fog of battle” strategy to the a number of endings from the unique recreation. New forged members embody Macaulay Culkin in an unknown position and Justin Theroux as none aside from Mr. Home. Be at liberty to take a look at our recap of Season 1 if you cannot squeeze within the time for a rewatch.
As for video video games, Bethesda has made it clear Fallout 5 is on the way in which, thought it received’t be anytime quickly. Chatting with IGN again in 2022, Fallout director Todd Howard confirmed Fallout 5 will come after The Elder Scrolls 6. Howard has additionally teased extra tasks, which can embody a Fallout 3 Remaster.
Callum Williams is a freelance media author with years of expertise as a recreation critic, information reporter, guides author and options author.
