What Fallout Game Should I Start With

What Fallout Game Should I Start With?

So, you’re thinking about jumping into the wasteland? Awesome! The Fallout series is a super fun place to spend some time, but with so many games, it can feel a little overwhelming trying to figure out where to begin. Don’t worry, we’re here to help! We will go through each game and help you decide which one is the perfect starting point for you, based on what you’re looking for in a game.

Understanding the Fallout Universe

Before we dive into individual titles, let’s quickly talk about what makes Fallout, Fallout. The games are set in a post-apocalyptic world after a nuclear war. You’ll explore ruined cities, meet strange people, and battle all sorts of mutated creatures. There are often tough choices to make, and those choices will affect your story. The look of the world, the 1950s retro-futuristic style mixed with the grime of the apocalypse, is a big part of the charm.

Key Elements in Fallout Games

• S.P.E.C.I.A.L. System: This is your character’s core, which includes Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility, and Luck. These influence your skills and how your character interacts with the world.
• V.A.T.S (Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System): This lets you slow down time during combat to target specific body parts of your enemies, making fights more strategic.
• Exploration: Wandering the wasteland, finding hidden locations, and scavenging for resources is a HUGE part of the Fallout experience.
• Story and Choices: Your decisions impact the game world and how other characters react to you.
• Factions: You will often interact with different groups, each with their own goals and moral codes. Picking a side, or playing them off each other, is part of the game.

Fallout 1: The Grandaddy of the Wasteland

Okay, let’s start at the very beginning, with Fallout 1. This is where it all started! It’s a classic, but it’s also quite old, which means it can feel pretty different from the newer games. Fallout 1 has isometric view like you are watching from above, turn-based combat where you take turns with the enemies, and an old-school interface. Because it’s a older game, it may feel dated in some areas, especially when you compare it with the newer Fallout games. But it is definitely a big part of the history of the series.

Why You Might Want to Start with Fallout 1:

• The Original Story: You get to experience the origins of the Fallout universe. The story is very good.
• Learn the Lore: You will understand the lore of the game.
• Hardcore RPG Experience: Fallout 1 offers one of the most old-school and deep role-playing experiences in the series.

Why You Might NOT Want to Start with Fallout 1:

• Old Graphics: It is visually dated when compared to modern games.
• Can be Difficult: It’s unforgiving, especially for new players.
• Clunky Controls: The gameplay will feel very different from the recent Fallout game.

Fallout 2: Expanding the Wasteland

Fallout 2 is a direct sequel to the first game and builds on everything that made it great. It’s still played from an isometric viewpoint like you’re looking down, turn-based combat and more of the old-school design. It’s much bigger and has a richer world compared to the original and a much more detailed storyline. The world is much more open for exploration.

Why You Might Want to Start with Fallout 2:

• A Bigger World: The world is massive and has tons of side quests and places to see.
• Deep Story: Many players say the story is much better than Fallout 1.
• More Options: You have more options for character customization and ways to deal with situations.

Why You Might NOT Want to Start with Fallout 2:

• Very Similar to Fallout 1: It shares many of the same downsides as the first game, like the older graphics and gameplay.
• Steep Learning Curve: Can be very hard for beginners to the series.

Fallout 3: The Wasteland in 3D

Now we’re getting into the 3D era! Fallout 3 took the series from a top-down perspective to a fully 3D world. You can now move the camera around freely and really feel like you are walking through the wasteland. It also introduced the V.A.T.S. system, which allows for strategic combat. This made combat very different from the first two games. It’s the first game in the series that has a proper feeling of a first-person shooter.

Why You Might Want to Start with Fallout 3:

• Modern Gameplay: The first 3D Fallout game. If you’re a fan of modern RPGs, this one will feel more like your comfort zone.
• Emotional Story: Many fans say that this has one of the most memorable stories in the entire Fallout series.
• Atmospheric Wasteland: The feeling of loneliness and exploration is well done in this game.

Why You Might NOT Want to Start with Fallout 3:

• Some Clunkiness: The movement and controls still feel a bit clunky compared to newer titles.
• Less Customization: It is not as customizable as the original Fallout games.
• Graphics Are Showing Age: It doesn’t look as great as newer games.

Fallout: New Vegas: The Cult Classic

Fallout: New Vegas is often considered a favorite by many long-time Fallout fans. It uses the same engine as Fallout 3 but is a different game made by a different development company. The story is much more morally gray, with more choices and consequences. The game is very famous for its many different factions and their very deep and developed storylines. You play as a courier, and your journey takes you through a very detailed, unique, desert wasteland.

Why You Might Want to Start with Fallout: New Vegas:

• Complex Story: The narrative is really well written and gives a wide variety of choices.
• Best Factions: The factions and their internal stories are very well-written.
• Lots of replayability: There are many different ways to play, depending on what decisions you make.

Why You Might NOT Want to Start with Fallout: New Vegas:

• Buggy on Release: The game was a little bit buggy when it was first released.
• Dated Graphics: The game does not have good graphics.
• Can Feel Old: Movement and controls are not as smooth as newer games.

Fallout 4: Building a Better World

Fallout 4 is where the series became much more focused on building and settlement management. It also has the most refined combat mechanics compared to the previous games. It is also the first game where the main character has a voice. The world of Fallout 4 is full of hidden secrets and places to explore. It looks and feels a lot more modern.

Why You Might Want to Start with Fallout 4:

• Modern Graphics and Gameplay: If you want a more modern looking and feeling game, Fallout 4 is a good start.
• Building is Fun: If you like building and settlement management, this game is for you.
• Good Combat: The combat is improved from older games.

Why You Might NOT Want to Start with Fallout 4:

• Less RPG Focused: It’s not as focused on traditional role-playing compared to New Vegas.
• Main Story is Sometimes Weak: Some gamers do not enjoy the story.
• Less Choice and Consequence: The choices you make in the story do not always have the same big impact as in older games.

Fallout 76: The Online Wasteland

Fallout 76 is the online multiplayer experience of the Fallout universe. You are exploring and surviving in a shared world with other players. You will get to build, complete quests, and experience the story of the wasteland of West Virginia. It’s quite different from the other games in the series, which are single-player games.

Why You Might Want to Start with Fallout 76:

• Play with Friends: If you want to explore the wasteland with your friends, this is the best option.
• Always New Content: The game gets updates and new content often.
• Building is Improved: Base building is a bigger focus in this game, and it’s improved in terms of customization.

Why You Might NOT Want to Start with Fallout 76:

• Not a Traditional Fallout Experience: It plays differently than most of the other games, which are single player.
• Can be Buggy: Still, the game has some bugs even after many updates.
• Story is Not as Strong: The storytelling is not as good as it is in the single-player Fallout games.

So, What’s the Best Starting Point for You?

Alright, let’s sum up! If you’re a fan of old school games, the first two games are fantastic starting points. If you prefer a more modern experience, then start with Fallout 3 or Fallout New Vegas. If you are more into exploring and building, then start with Fallout 4. If you want a multiplayer experience, then Fallout 76 is for you!

Here’s a quick guide to help you choose:

No matter which game you choose to start with, you’re in for a treat. The Fallout series offers so much fun and is a great place to spend some time. Just go with the game that sounds the most interesting to you, and you can explore the other ones later. Enjoy your journey to the wasteland!