5 Best Fallout Games of All Time, Ranked

Dystopic post-apocalyptic genres are a massive hit in the gaming world. A lot of games have been successfully done in the post-apocalyptic landscape whether it be from zombies, robots, or extreme conditions. But not one game has captured the post-nuclear apocalypse quite like Fallout.

The Fallout series is widely deemed as one of the greats when it comes to open-world role-playing games. The success of the series has helped compare it alongside great titles like Skyrim, GTA, and The Witcher series. There just seems to be something about single-player role-playing games that when done successfully, leave players with an undying attachment to them. Being fully immersed in a game's story and the atmosphere is one of the great facets of gaming. It's the type of feeling that makes us fall in love with a game.

I think it's safe to say that Fallout captured this feeling more than once. With every Fallout game in the series, came record-breaking sales, especially from the ones included in this list. So many great titles in this series make the debate for the top five of all time very difficult. Every fan will have their personal favorite, but a decision needs to be made for who takes the podium.

Well the results are in, here are the five best Fallout games of all time, ranked.

5. Fallout Shelter

Fallout Shelter may not have been in the typical style as its siblings on console and PC, but the game really did offer a unique perspective to the series. The free-to-play mobile game (also available on all platforms) takes a new perspective to the story by allowing you to be your very own Vault-Overseer. This time around instead of adding chaos to the already bare wasteland, you will be looking to make the world a better place. Your main goal is to attract, recruit, and obtain Vault-Dwellers who can help advance your Vault. This is done by maintaining and upgrading your Vault's food, water, and power.

You didn't think it was that easy, did you? This is an apocalyptic wasteland after all!

Random attacks will come from radroaches and raiders who are constantly trying to steal your loot and even kill your Vault-Dwellers. The game constantly has you on edge by forcing difficult decisions to keep your Vault flourishing, and in that lies all the fun. I will say as the game progresses the easier it gets and then loses some of its original appeals. With that being said, it is a great game that takes a unique perspective to the Fallout series. It is unlike any other installment in the series and is sure to be fun for new and avid Fallout players.

4.  Fallout 2

Fallout 2 was originally released back in 1998. The second installment in the series came out just a year after the original Fallout. The main goals were focused on improving and fixing the feedback received from the original game but it ended up offering more.

Fallout 2 had really stood out in the way players could go about the game with the immense amount of quests and side quests available. This provided a unique experience for every playthrough and really expanded on the possibilities players had to finish the story. Fallout 2 also had greatly increased the map size, allowing for more exploration than the original. You can give commands to NPC teammates, and evens specify their guns and armor.

Fallout 2 didn't greatly change the playstyle, enhance the graphics or even the storyline. What it did great was add on and improve an already impressive game in Fallout. It seems the saying, “if it ain't broke, don't fix it” was the motto for Fallout 2, and I can confidently say the game exceeded its expectations with that in mind.

3. Fallout 4

Taking a third podium finish is Fallout 4. The game was the highest selling in the series, with a whopping 13.51 million copies sold worldwide. It even won Game of the Year at the D.I.C.E Awards in 2015, which opted for a Game of the Year Edition.  Of course, Fallout 4 had to push the limits for map exploration and side quests, offering the most expansive version in the series so far. Overall, the game offered an extensive amount of variety when it came to weapons, loot, and enemies.

Another aspect that stood out substantially in Fallout 4 is the storyline. Decision-making has never felt more important in a Fallout game as your choices could, later on, bite you. Not only does this create a great conflict of interest, but it makes for an overly tense and invoking atmosphere. On top of this, the game easily offers over 100 hours of gameplay for players who are looking to get the most out of the game.

2. Fallout 3

Fallout 3 received many awards for its impressive role-playing game released back in 2008. It was nominated for Game of the Year by Game Developers Choice Awards but ultimately lost to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, a worthy adversary might I say. On top of that, the game was the winner for “Best of E3” in 2008, alongside Best of Show and Best Role-playing game.

This game in the series was developed by Bethesda and was far ahead of competing games at the time. One of the best takeaways from Fallout 3 is the writing, and in that, the character script. NPCs are just a delight to talk to, often being funny and quite disturbing at times. This added with an impressive storyline that still allowed players the freedom to go about as they pleased. Overall, it holds one of the best atmospheres out of the Fallout series, explaining why it is a favorite.

1. Fallout: New Vegas

Taking the number one spot for the greatest Fallout games is Fallout: New Vegas. Easily a fan favorite and personal favorite, the game is unquestionably the best in the Fallout series. Even though the storyline in Fallout 3 was impressive, Fallout: New Vegas took it to another level. The story was much richer and filled with even more immersive lore than any other game. You really had no choice but to feel bound to the game for its captivating story and environment.

A huge part of this immersion came with the factions and the story that unfolds between them. As you complete tasks for each faction you are drawn to their backstory and inevitably left to choose how you want the story to play out. Finally, to top off this expertly written story is an outstanding soundtrack. It goe's without saying that it is the best soundtrack included amongst all of the Fallout games.

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