The Fallout series on Prime Video is a hit. Many new fans may also want to play the video games. These are the Fallout games ranked.
The Fallout series on Amazon Prime Video has been out for a few weeks now. And with many rave reviews online and a 93% Rotten Tomatoes rating, it is safe to say that the Prime Video series has become a real hit.
With the hype about the Fallout series fresh in the minds of viewers, more and more people want to play the games as well. For some fans, the series was their introduction to the franchise, and other fans may just want to replay the games. But no matter which group you belong to, we’re here to help.
The best Fallout games
Here we have a list of the best Fallout games in the franchise. They are ranked by their Metacritic score, as well as recent popularity online.
#9 Fallout 76 (2018)
At the very bottom of the list is one of the newest games, Fallout 76. This game came out in 2018 and was a massive flop from the start. It had to deal with a lot of bugs and glitches in the beginning and the game just doesn’t quite feel like Fallout.
One advantage to the game is that it is a multiplayer game, you can play it with friends. But this very thing takes away from the Fallout feeling a bit. There are no NPCs in the game and there is no clear story. The game is not mega-bad, but it is not Fallout. Consequently, the Metascore is a low 52. You can play Fallout 76 on PC, PlayStation and the Xbox.
#8 Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel (2004)
For the eighth spot, we go to fourteen years before the release of 76, 2004. Indeed, this year saw the release of Brotherhood of Steel, not to be confused with 2001’s Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel.
Brotherhood of Steel is very different from the main-line games. For example, the story is linear and there is no open world to explore. Once you pass a place, you can’t just go back. The game is received very mixed, but is generally a bit empty. Not much happens. Brotherhood of Steel has a Metacritic score of 66. You can play Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel on the PlayStation 2 and Xbox.
(Image: Bethesda)
#7 Fallout: Shelter (2015) / Fallout: Shelter Online (2019)
The seventh spot in the list is shared by two games that are more or less the same. In 2015, Fallout: Shelter was released. In this mobile game, you have to protect people from the atomic bombs and the resulting radiation.
2019 came along and Shelter Online was dropped, also a mobile game. The games have the same principle and goal. However, there are a few minor differences in gameplay, but mostly in payment. The 2015 version is free with ads and micro-transactions, and the 2019 version costs $5 but has no ads or micro-transactions. You can play both Fallout: Shelter and Shelter Online on any cell phone.
#6 Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel (2001)
In the sixth spot is Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel from 2001. This one should not be confused with the 2004 game Brotherhood of Steel; they are two completely different games. Still, the older of the two games turns out to be better.
Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel is a turn-based real-time tactical role-playing game where you play as the Brotherhood of Steel. In the game, the Brotherhood is caught up in a fierce war and it is up to you to win it. The game otherwise has no deeper story. You can play the 2001 game only on PC.
(Image: Bethesda)
#5 Fallout 2 (1998)
The first member of the top 5 is Fallout 2 from 1998. In the second game of the franchise, the player can move freely until they enter a battle. During this fight, you have action points that allow you to move, shoot, reload or perform some other action. When all your action points are depleted, it is your opponent’s turn.
Part 2 is not very different from the original. It builds on the foundation that Fallout had laid. This can also be seen in the story. You play in the second part as The Chosen One, this is the grandson of the character from the original game. It is up to The Chosen One to save the underground Vault. You can play Fallout 2 only on PC.
(Image: Bethesda)
4. Fallout (1997)
For the fourth spot in the list, we go back to the beginning of the entire franchise, the original Fallout. The game has much of the same atmosphere as part 2 if you look at the gameplay, but the original’s story is still a little better.
In Fallout, you must leave Vault 13 when it is in danger. Your character goes to the upper world to protect the Vault. In the first game, you have diverse storylines that are affected by the choices you make. The original game also introduces the karma system. Fallout is playable on PC.
(Image: Bethesda)
3. Fallout 4 (2015)
In spot three is the newest of the main-line games: Fallout 4. The 2015 game is a super good game if you are just starting out in the franchise. It is one of the newest games with good graphics, especially after the recent update. Also, unlike 76, it has a very well-written story.
Following the hype for the Fallout series, Fallout 4 is selling extremely well. In the game, you can personalize a character. In the story, you gain access to a Vault where you are put into cryo sleep. But at some point, your baby is stolen and your partner is murdered. Several years later, you awaken from sleep and have a new goal; find your son. You can play Fallout 4 on PlayStation, Xbox and the PC.
2. Fallout 3 (2008)
Then we come to the second best game in the franchise, and this spot goes to the third and therefore best main-line game; Fallout 3. It was a giant step from part 2 to 3, including the introduction of first-person perspective and a 3D world.
The character in Fallout 3 is called The Lone Wanderer and he is in the story looking for his father. The player comes from Vault 101. The story of part 3 is quite a few years after the first two main-line games. Over 200 years after the bombs fell. You can play Fallout 3 on PlayStation, Xbox and the PC.
1. Fallout: New Vegas (2010)
In the first spot is 2010’s Fallout: New Vegas. This game is perhaps the best example of what an RPG game should look like. With a good story, great gameplay and plenty of challenge, it is easily the best game in the franchise.
New Vegas has one big difference from many other games in the franchise. The player does not come from a Vault, but is already living on the upper world. The Courier, as the character is called, is delivering a package when he is mugged. Therefore, the goal of the story is to get revenge on the people who mugged you, slightly less noble than looking for your father. You can play Fallout: New Vegas on PlayStation, Xbox and the PC.
By no means all Fallout games are worth playing, but the top five are definitely recommended. If you’re just getting started with the games, the fourth installment might be the best one to start with. But if you are already familiar with the franchise or a similar genre then New Vegas is easily the best game.
