Summary

• Start with Fallout: New Vegas for a beginner-friendly introduction to the series with a compelling narrative.
• Follow up with Fallout 4 and Fallout 3 to stick to the modern gameplay experience before exploring the classics.
• Fallout 76 and Tactics are both worth trying, while Brotherhood of Steel may not be.

The Fallout series has a long history and a complex chronology, and figuring out where to jump in for the first time can be difficult. Since its debut in 1997, Fallout has undergone some major evolutions while retaining a unique flavor that helps secure its enduring appeal. The wasteland presented in the games mixes harsh realities of a radioactive post-apocalyptic world with a creative and often humorous personality, and it's hard not to be entertained by the sheer variety of things to do.

There's not necessarily a wrong way to play the Fallout games, as any series entry that seems appealing is likely to prove a reasonable introduction to the franchise. Even so, there are some that could be harder to ease into than others, and major changes in gameplay could make some approaches to progressing through the games feel disted. Among a few strong candidates for the best order, there's one that stands out as the easiest to recommend.

What The Best Order To Play The Fallout Games Is

Do You Need To Play Old Fallout Games Before Fallout 3 & Fallout 4?

Although there's something to be said for both chronological and release orders, neither necessarily make for the best way to experience Fallout. If any game is the most surefire starter, it's Fallout: New Vegas, which is easy to get into from a gameplay standpoint and provides an exceptionally compelling narrative that many view as the franchise peak. From there, it's worth playing through the other modern games and then jumping back to the classics, which are still great experiences but present tougher learning curves for newcomers.

Fallout Shelter and Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel are both games worth mentioning, but neither have much of a place in any definitive play order for the series. Fallout Shelter is a mobile game (later made available on consoles) that offers a more casual experience, and Brotherhood of Steel is a flawed take on the franchise that isn't particularly essential.

Fallout: New Vegas Is A Great Fallout Starter

New Vegas Has One Of The Best Narratives

Fallout: New Vegas has come to define the series for many fans, and there's good reason for its iconic status. Developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Bethesda, this entry returns to the desert wasteland model of the first two games to deliver a story with an enormous amount of compelling complexity. Although a good amount of time has ed since its release, the gameplay is still fairly modern in its basic approach, and it's easy to jump into and get the hang of for newcomers.

New Vegas was originally released in a fairly buggy state, but at this point, it's easy to call it the one must-play of the Fallout series. There are arguments to be made to start elsewhere — opting for Fallout 3 is also a good choice, and stepping out of the Vault at its beginning is the perfect introduction to the open world — but there's no other game as essential. The West Coast setting also connects it more directly to the Amazon Prime Fallout series, so it's a good transition from the show into the games.

Fallout 4's Next-Gen Update Gives It Fresh Appeal

A Modern Fallout Experience

Fallout 4 isn't as much of a must-play, but there's good reason to check it out in the near future. As the most recent mainline entry, it boasts improvements better gunplay and more robust character creation than its predecessors, and a new "next-gen" update for Fallout 4 is souping it up for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. If there's ever been a time to play Fallout 4, it's now.

At the same time as it takes strides forward, Fallout 4 loses some elements that make New Vegas and other games special. Its worst crime may be simplifying the display for dialogue options to vague prompts instead of complete sentences, minimizing something that has always been a series staple. If the game doesn't seem appealing, it's always possible to skip it, although that will mean missing out on canine companion Dogmeat's starring role.

It's possible to mod Fallout 4 to restore traditional dialogue options, although the actual choices still don't compete with the franchise's best.

Fallout 3 Defines The Modern Template

Reinventing The Franchise

The years haven't been quite as kind to Fallout 3 as they have been to Fallout: New Vegas, but it's still an impressive game in its own right and well worth playing. Despite a less standout narrative overall, Fallout 3's Capital Wasteland is chock-full of interesting characters, quests, and lore, and it's easy to sink countless hours into exploring every nook and cranny.

It's also neat to see the origin of gameplay elements that define New Vegas and, to a lesser degree, Fallout 4. Translating the series to the first-person focus that defines Bethesda's Elder Scrolls series was no small task, and Fallout 3 generally pulls it off irably. There's a lot to love here, and an expansive modding scene opens up even more possibilities for entertainment.

The Original Fallout Started The Series Right

An Isometric Top-Down Experience

After finishing up the more modern Fallout games, it's worth taking the plunge and checking out the classic entries. The original Fallout has a higher learning curve than modern entries, but it's well worth adjusting to, as it's obvious that everything fans love about the world of the games starts here. Although the series chronology isn't all that important, Fallout was also the first chapter in the story until the release of Fallout 76.

Fallout plays out in an isometric style, a classic standard for computer RPGs that Baldur's Gate 3 has helped to bring back into the limelight. It might not immediately seem as immersive as the 3D games, but it doesn't take long to get lost in its detailed world. Referencing the original manual or some online tips might be necessary, however, as there's no tutorial to be found for this particular wasteland adventure.

Fallout 2 Builds Off Of The First Game In The Franchise

A Challenging Classic

Fallout 2 takes place decades after Fallout, but it's still the most direct approach to a sequel that the series has ever taken, so it makes sense to play it right after the first. It's also worth building up to, as getting started in the game can be even more challenging than the first. The early hours don't make many concessions to the protagonist's lack of resources, conveying the idea of wasteland survival in a brutally effective way.

Fallout Tactics Is Non-Canon But Fun

A Fun Detour

Fallout Tactics, which confusingly shares the Brotherhood of Steel subtitle with the less revered spin-off, does what it promises in taking the Fallout series to a strategic combat focus. This comes with certain major concessions, like a lack of freedom compared to the mainline games, but Fallout Tactics pulls off its distinct goal well.

Fallout Tactics isn't considered canon in the modern era, but that doesn't mean it's out of place with the overall flavor of the series. Some of its ideas have also filtered into other games despite this, which can make it interesting to play after playing through most of the franchise.

The Multiplayer Fallout 76 Can Be Played Forever

Poor Initial Reception, But Updates Make It Better

If any Fallout game has ever had a disastrous launch, it's the multiplayer-oriented Fallout 76, which received a storm of criticism for its lack of content and broken features when it was first released. In the time since, however, Bethesda has significantly improved the game through a long line of updates, and it's worth taking a second look at Fallout 76 today.

If the older Fallout games don't seem appealing, there's nothing wrong with picking up Fallout 76 before playing them. In general, however, they're worth exploring, and Fallout 76 isn't necessarily something that everyone will want to prioritize. It might not have enough content to stay fresh forever, but the lack of a finite endgame also makes it a good thing to play after finishing all the games that do have distinct conclusions.

The best order to play the Fallout games in is definitely more of a guideline than a hard rule, and it's possible to get a lot out of the series with essentially any approach. Starting with New Vegas and playing the modern games first is generally a safer bet, however, so it's worth considering for anyone unsure of where to start. Almost every Fallout game is worth playing, and one great adventure in the wasteland tends to be the gateway to many more.