Putting together a list of the best Fallout games is not an easy job. Since there have been so many great books in the series, everyone will have a different opinion about which post-apocalyptic story is the best.
The Fallout series started with Interplay, then Bethesda took over, and then Obsidian Entertainment took over. It’s safe to say that the Fallout series has a long and interesting history.
With the freedom to make your own story in wildly changing settings and so many memorable situations, it’s no wonder that people are already so excited about Fallout 5, one of the new Bethesda games that has been confirmed.
Since it will be a while before the series comes back, why don’t you grab a Nuka-Cola and come with us as we rank the best Fallout games?
10. Fallout: Pinball
Late in 2016, a small table pack called Bethesda Pinball came out. One of the three tables was a Fallout table that was mostly inspired by Fallout 4, but also had parts from older games.
It’s pretty low on this list, but that’s more because it’s a pinball game than because it’s a bad game in general. In fact, a lot of Pinball FX fans say that this table is good, especially for how cheap it is.
There are a lot of nods to the games on the Fallout table, such as rollovers that spell out VATS and Nuka Cola-themed kickbacks and perks.
9. Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel
Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel didn’t get the best reviews, but that would be a bit of an understatement.
Fans of the series have strong opinions about a lot of the things on this list, but they pretty much all agree that this game is the worst Fallout game ever made.
People have trouble with the game because it doesn’t even feel like an RPG. The biggest problem is that none of its parts really stand out.
The missions can get boring, the fighting isn’t at all interesting, and if you’re not a huge fan of Fallout, there’s no story that would make you want to see it through to the end.
The game’s co-op mode lets you play the story with a friend. This may be the best thing about it. There are still some interesting figures in Fallout that have made people love it.
Overall, though, it’s a story most people would rather forget.
8. Fallout 76
In theory, the idea of being able to play Fallout with other people online is very attractive. Fallout 76 doesn’t quite have the same fun and wonder as its predecessors, though.
At launch, the lack of NPCs and bugs made the lonely world even more stressful.
Since then, it has gotten better, and the new NPCs have made it feel more alive than it did before. And if you have some good friends to mess around with, it can be fun to jump in and out of it.
But unfortunately, the latest book in the series doesn’t have the same appeal as the others.
7. Fallout Shelter
Have you ever wanted to be an Overseer? Fallout Shelter is a spin-off game that takes place in the world of the Wastelands.
It is a great free-to-play management simulation game with a sense of progress that will keep you coming back for more.
As one of the best free games, it doesn’t try to get you to spend real money very often, and it gives you a lot of in-game money.
Basically, it’s a more complicated Tamagotchi where you build your own vault and take care of the people who live there by adding to the vault to make their lives better.
It was first made for mobile devices before coming to PC and platforms. Its simple but addicting gameplay makes it fun for all types of players.
Even though it’s a lot smaller than the other songs on this list, it deserves to be here because it’s a cute little Fallout song with the style and graphics that make the Vault boy so well-known.
6. Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel
What’s up? Who could forget how Paladin Ryczek, also known as Sarge, gave you a hard time when you first joined the Brotherhood of Steel?
The offshoot is a turn-based tactics RPG that is a very well-done change from the main series.
It brings a slightly different type of game to the Wastelands. Since it doesn’t continue the story of 1 and 2, Fallout Tactics is really on its own road, but the story is good enough.
The turn-based strategy part might not be everyone’s cup of Nuka-Cola, but the fact that you have different ways to play and choices to make makes the game hard and interesting.
The voice acting is great, and honestly, Ryczek’s first line is one of the most memorable in any Fallout game: “The Elders have told me to turn you flabby, hip-slapping, berry-picking, rat-rubbing, Brahman-kissing Brahmans into strong warriors.”
So, that’s one way to get you going! Even though joining the Brotherhood of Steel doesn’t give you as much freedom as living in a vault, it’s still worth looking into.
5. Fallout 1
What’s up? Who could forget how Paladin Ryczek, also known as Sarge, gave you a hard time when you first joined the Brotherhood of Steel?
The offshoot is a turn-based tactics RPG that is a very well-done change from the main series. It brings a slightly different type of game to the Wastelands.
Since it doesn’t continue the story of 1 and 2, Fallout Tactics is really on its own road, but the story is good enough.
The turn-based strategy part might not be everyone’s cup of Nuka-Cola, but the fact that you have different ways to play and choices to make makes the game hard and interesting.
The voice acting is great, and honestly, Ryczek’s first line is one of the most memorable in any Fallout game:
“The Elders have told me to turn you flabby, hip-slapping, berry-picking, rat-rubbing, Brahman-kissing Brahmans into strong warriors.”
So, that’s one way to get you going! Even though joining the Brotherhood of Steel doesn’t give you as much freedom as living in a vault, it’s still worth looking into.
4. Fallout 2
Fallout 2 didn’t change much from the first game, but it built on what the first one had done and made it bigger and better.
Many people see the sequel as the best way to start the series, and in some ways it is easier to get into.
Set 80 years after the events of Fallout 1, you play as the child of the person who lived in the Vault before you.
As the “Chosen One,” you go to Vault 13 to get the “Garden of Eden Creation Kit” (GECK). But, as usual, things don’t go as planned.
There are a lot of things that are the same as in Fallout 1, but some of the things that were annoying in Fallout 1 are gone.
For example, you no longer have to finish tasks in a certain amount of time. Before Fallout turned into what it is now, this was the best thing in the Wastelands.
3. Fallout 4
The newest single-player game made it into our list of the best Xbox One games, which isn’t surprising given how much it has to offer.
There are lots of things to do, like making your own settlements, going on interesting side quests, and finding a creepy Ghoul-controlled town.
But even after playing Fallout 4 for hours and hours and having a good time, it can still feel weirdly empty.
Some of the most important parts of the previous games aren’t there, like the Karma system. The main storyline is fine, but it feels more forced than any other major questline in the whole series.
One of the best things about Fallout is how much choice you have to make your own character and choose your own path.
And yes, you get to make your character, but their fate is already set. You need to be a mom and find your lost son.
There is still plenty of room to go off the beaten path, but this one thing makes it feel like you’re tied down.
Still, it’s a great game, and it has the best fighting of any Fallout game, but for some reason, it feels like it’s missing something.
2. Fallout 3
Fallout 1 to Fallout 2 wasn’t that big of a jump, but Fallout 3 really changed the game.
Bethesda’s spearheaded installment changed the series from a 2D RPG to a 3D open-world experience unlike any other. It did this by opening up the huge Wasteland and giving us a first-person view.
A lot of the game’s signature features, like Special skills, Karma, and dialogue choices, stayed the same, but we also got to see the first appearances of new ones, like the VATS system that helps you aim.
Fallout’s world is based on a post-apocalyptic version of Washington, DC, and is very detailed. The different groups and political divisions in the setting give the world a lot of depth and make it feel more real.
It’s been out for more than 10 years, but it still works very well, which shows how good Fallout 3 is.
1. Fallout: New Vegas
The truth is that the game was set up from the beginning. Fallout: New Vegas is a great example of how an RPG should work. It’s easily one of the best RPGs ever made.
You play as a Mojave Express courier who is sent to deliver a mystery package.
The beginning of the game is one of the best in the history of video games. You get caught in a trap and left for dead on the way.
Isn’t that a real pain in the neck? Before you know it, you’re a part of something much bigger than yourself.
From the very beginning, you decide how everything will go. As you move through the landscapes of New Vegas, you’ll meet all kinds of shady characters, rival groups, choices with real-world effects, and a great main story.
The New California Republic (NCR), Caesar’s Legion, and the mysterious Mr. House are all trying to gain control of the Mojave Wasteland, and it’s up to you if you want to help them.
It’s one of the most memorable parts of Fallout, and some of the NPCs are the best in the whole series.
If you want to join the debate of which one is the best fallout game read here.
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