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Fallout: New California is the best released, total-conversion-style campaign for Fallout: New Vegas. It provides a new worldspace, an original prequel-style story, branching paths, companions and extensive voice acting, and starts from the New Game menu. Choose Fallout: The Frontier if you want the largest DLC-scale expedition with several faction campaigns and driving. Choose Tale of Two Wastelands for the clearest crossover: one playthrough that joins Fallout 3 and its downloadable content to New Vegas.
Fallout 4: New Vegas, Fallout Chicago, Fallout: Revelation Blues and Fallout Atlanta belong on a watchlist rather than an install-now list. They are a remake or in-progress projects, not finished, drop-in New Vegas overhauls.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Fallout: New Vegas - Xbox 360 (Renewed) | $24.67 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Fallout: New Vegas - Playstation 3 (Renewed) | $25.71 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Fallout: New Vegas - Xbox 360 Ultimate Edition | $141.66 | Buy on Amazon |
Quick comparison
| Project | What it is | Setting and campaign | Voice acting | Release status | Installation and risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fallout: New California | Native New Vegas campaign | New worldspace; unofficial prequel with branching narrative paths | Hours of voiced dialogue; extensive cast described by the project listing | Released; version 2.3.1, listing updated 9 April 2020 | Requires a PC New Vegas installation and the project’s stated prerequisites; check conflicts with other overhauls |
| Fallout: The Frontier | Native New Vegas DLC/new-game-scale project | Very large new expedition with multiple faction campaigns | Voiced and branching quests described by the project listing | Released project; verify current files and compatibility before installing | Demanding installation; custom driving and a large footprint increase conflict risk |
| Tale of Two Wastelands | Fallout crossover | Fallout 3 and its DLC merged with New Vegas in one playthrough | Not stated in the supplied project descriptions | Maintained community project with installation, FAQ, development, release and troubleshooting documentation | More involved than a normal New Vegas mod because two games and their files are involved |
| Fallout 4: New Vegas | Remake | Re-creates New Vegas in Fallout 4’s Creation Engine | Not stated | In development; not a drop-in New Vegas mod | Requires Fallout 4 and its own future release requirements, not just New Vegas |
| Fallout Chicago | New project | DLC-sized project listed for the Chicago setting | Not stated | In progress; check the current ModDB entry | Availability and requirements can change |
| Fallout: Revelation Blues | New project | Project listed as alpha or otherwise unfinished | Not stated | In progress | Expect incomplete content and changing compatibility |
| Fallout Atlanta | New project | New setting; scope and release details remain in development | Not stated | In progress; check its current ModDB entry | Do not treat an early build as a finished campaign |
The table separates playable releases from remakes, demos and alpha projects. A project can be ambitious without being ready for a complete playthrough, so “biggest” and “best to install today” are different questions.
What counts as a total conversion in New Vegas?
A total conversion replaces enough of the normal experience that it feels like a separate campaign rather than a collection of weapons, textures or small quests. The strongest examples add a distinct worldspace, a new opening, original questlines and a progression path that does not depend on completing the Mojave storyline. A crossover uses the same idea to connect two games or settings, usually requiring files from both.
#1 Best Overall
- Not even nuclear fallout could slow the hustle of Sin City. Explore the vast expanses of the desert wastelands
- Feuding Factions, Colorful Characters and a Host of Hostiles
- Enjoy new additions to Fallout: Special melee combat moves have been added to bring new meaning to the phrase "up close and personal"
- With double the amount of weapons found in Fallout 3
- In a huge, open world with unlimited options you can see the sights, choose sides, or go it alone
New Vegas projects use the same underlying game and therefore still depend on a correctly installed PC copy, the game’s downloadable content and a stable modding setup. “Total conversion” does not mean the original executable is irrelevant; it means the mod’s content is large enough to become the main reason for launching the game.
Fallout: New California: best native total-conversion campaign
Why it leads the list
Fallout: New California is the clearest answer to “What is the best total conversion for Fallout: New Vegas?” Its project listing describes an all-new story, a new world, hours of voiced dialogue and multiple branching narrative paths. It is framed as an unofficial prequel to New Vegas and is launched from the main game’s New Game menu, so it behaves like a separate campaign rather than a side quest hidden in the Mojave.
The new worldspace and branching structure give it the qualities players usually mean when they ask for “mods like Fallout: New California”: a fresh starting point, a campaign with its own decisions and a playthrough that can diverge instead of simply adding errands to the original map. Companions and extensive voice work are also part of the project’s stated feature set.
Release and version information
The official listing identifies version 2.3.1 and records a last update of 9 April 2020. Those are listing metadata, not a guarantee that every modern mod combination is compatible. Check the current project page for any later maintenance files, patches or installation notes before beginning a new game.
Who should choose it
- Choose it when you want a self-contained, original campaign that feels like a prequel.
- Choose it when a new worldspace and branching choices matter more than preserving a single Mojave save.
- Choose it when you prefer a released project over an alpha or development build.
Plan on a dedicated profile or separate mod setup. A large campaign can alter records, scripts and worldspaces that other overhauls also need, and the project’s age means current mod lists should be checked rather than assumed safe.
Fallout: The Frontier: the biggest DLC-scale expedition
What makes it different
Fallout: The Frontier is described as a gigantic DLC/new-game project rather than a short quest expansion. Its scale comes from multiple faction campaigns, voiced and branching quests and a custom driving system. That combination makes it the strongest choice for a player asking for the biggest New Vegas overhaul in terms of breadth and expedition-style content.
It is still a native New Vegas project, not a merger with Fallout 3 or a remake in another engine. Treat it as a separate campaign: start with a clean profile, follow the project’s own load-order instructions and avoid adding other large gameplay overhauls until the campaign is stable.
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Installation and compatibility expectations
The project is demanding because it adds a large amount of content and custom systems. Verify the current download, required DLC, supported game edition and compatibility notes immediately before installation. Do not infer that a guide written for an earlier release applies to the current files. The project’s listing should be the authority for prerequisites and known conflicts.
Driving systems and extensive scripted quests can be especially sensitive to changes from other mods. If you encounter crashes or broken progression, reproduce the problem in the project’s recommended load order before attempting to combine it with texture packs, combat overhauls or alternate quest frameworks.
Rank #2
- Feel the Heat in New Vegas: Not even nuclear fallout could slow the hustle of Sin City. Explore the vast expanses of the desert wastelands from the small towns dotting the Mojave Wasteland to the bright lights of the New Vegas strip
- Feuding Factions, Colorful Characters and a Host of Hostiles : A war is brewing between rival factions with consequences that will change the lives of all the inhabitants of New Vegas
- New Systems : Enjoy new additions to Fallout: Special melee combat moves have been added to bring new meaning to the phrase "up close and personal"
- An Arsenal of Shiny New Guns : With double the amount of weapons found in Fallout 3, you'll have more than enough new and exciting ways to deal with the threats of the wasteland and the locals
- Let it Ride : In a huge, open world with unlimited options you can see the sights, choose sides, or go it alone. Peacemaker or Hard Case, House Rules, or the Wild Card, it's all in how you play the game
Tale of Two Wastelands: the definitive Fallout crossover
How the crossover works
Tale of Two Wastelands merges Fallout 3 and its downloadable content with Fallout: New Vegas into one playthrough. That makes it the clearest answer to “Which New Vegas mod adds Fallout 3?” Rather than replacing New Vegas with a new campaign, it connects the two games so a single character can move between their content under the project’s supported progression model.
Community documentation provides installation, frequently asked questions, development, release and troubleshooting sections. Read those documents before touching a mod manager: this is a conversion process involving two game installations and their assets, not a normal drag-and-drop New Vegas plug-in.
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What you need to plan
- A PC copy of Fallout: New Vegas and a compatible PC copy of Fallout 3.
- The downloadable content required by the project’s current instructions for both games.
- Sufficient disk space for the files and any temporary installation data specified by the guide.
- A clean, separately managed game setup so failed conversion attempts do not damage an existing load order.
Edition and storefront details matter. Confirm that your copies are supported before beginning; the project’s documentation should determine the exact versions and files rather than a generic New Vegas mod guide.
Projects to watch instead of installing as finished campaigns
Fallout 4: New Vegas
Fallout 4: New Vegas is a remake of New Vegas in Fallout 4’s Creation Engine. It is therefore not a drop-in New Vegas mod and cannot be installed into a standard New Vegas profile. It belongs on a watchlist for players interested in a modern engine recreation, but its eventual requirements, scope and release state must be checked through the project’s current channels.
Fallout Chicago
ModDB lists Fallout Chicago as a DLC-sized project. “DLC-sized” describes ambition and scope, not a completed release. Check the current entry for whether a playable build exists, what portion of the campaign is available and which game it targets before treating it as an alternative to New California or The Frontier.
Fallout: Revelation Blues
Revelation Blues is listed as alpha or otherwise in progress. An alpha can be useful for previewing a setting or supporting the developers, but it should not be selected when your goal is a reliable, complete campaign. Expect missing content, changed saves and compatibility requirements that may shift between builds.
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Fallout Atlanta is also an in-progress project listed on ModDB. Confirm its current release status, playable scope and prerequisites before downloading. Until a stable, clearly documented release is available, classify it as a watchlist project rather than a finished total conversion.
How to choose the right project
- Decide whether you want a new campaign or a crossover. Pick New California or The Frontier for a native New Vegas campaign; pick Tale of Two Wastelands when connecting Fallout 3 and New Vegas is the main goal.
- Set a release-status threshold. For a complete first playthrough, use a released project. Alpha, demo and remake projects are better suited to testing or following development.
- Match the desired scale. New California emphasizes a new prequel-style world and branching story. The Frontier emphasizes a huge expedition, several faction campaigns and driving. Tale of Two Wastelands emphasizes two games in one journey.
- Budget installation time. A native campaign still needs a clean profile and compatibility checks. A crossover requires two games and a conversion procedure, so allow substantially more preparation.
- Protect your existing saves. Keep large projects in separate profiles and never assume a save made with one total conversion can be safely loaded after removing it.
Safe installation workflow
1. Start with the supported PC edition
Install Fallout: New Vegas on PC and confirm the edition includes whatever downloadable content the selected project requires. The most practical base package for many mod users is Fallout: New Vegas Ultimate Edition for PC, but marketplace availability and the exact supported edition should be checked when you buy or reinstall it.
2. Create a clean baseline
Launch the unmodified game once, let it create its configuration files, then exit. Keep a backup of saves and configuration data. Do not begin by layering a total conversion over an old, heavily modded profile.
Rank #3
- Beyond the Wasteland: The world of New Vegas is more expansive than ever. Each new distinct area presents a fresh set of branching-quests, remarkable personalities and more chances to play the Savior or the Pariah to the natives of New Vegas.
- Dead Money: Lured into a trap masquerading as the Sierra Madre Casino, you are thrown into a high stakes game where you'll have to work with three other lost souls if you want to survive.
- Honest Hearts: An expedition into Utah's Zion National Park goes horribly wrong and you become embroiled in a war between tribes and put into a conflict between a New Canaanite missionary and the mysterious Burning Man.
- Old World Blues: Transported to the Big MT research crater, you are enlisted by the Think Tank to save them from their own science experiments that have gone horribly out of control.
- Lonesome Road: Ulysses, the original Courier Six, contacts you and promises to answer why he refused to deliver the Platinum Chip at the start of Fallout: New Vegas, but only if you make one last journey into the treacherous canyons of the Divide.
3. Use a current mod manager and the project’s instructions
Install the manager recommended by the project or by a current New Vegas modding guide. Download only the files identified by the project’s own documentation, read required-DLC notes and follow the stated installation order. Large projects often include patches or optional components whose order matters.
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Activate the total conversion in its own profile. Add only prerequisites first, then launch a test game. If the project starts correctly, add visual or quality-of-life mods one at a time, testing after each change. Avoid combining two large quest overhauls unless both projects explicitly document support for the combination.
5. Test the opening sequence
Start a new game and play far enough to confirm that the opening, menus, dialogue, scripts and first transition work. Do not import an old save to bypass the intended start. A clean test identifies missing masters and script conflicts before dozens of hours are invested.
6. Record the working setup
Save the profile or export its load order. Note the game edition, project version and any patches used. If an update breaks the campaign, you can return to the known-good configuration instead of rebuilding it from memory.
Common failure modes and fixes
The game crashes before the menu
Check missing masters, incorrect game files and load-order requirements first. Disable newly added mods and reproduce the crash with only the project and its prerequisites. If the clean profile works, reintroduce other mods individually.
The project does not appear in New Game
For New California, confirm that its files are enabled and that you installed the version intended to launch from the main menu. A missing prerequisite, wrong game directory or an incompatible edition can prevent the entry from appearing.
Dialogue, quests or scripted scenes stop
Do not immediately reload an old save after changing the load order. Reproduce the problem in the documented setup, check for known patches and use the project’s troubleshooting documentation. Script-heavy campaigns can retain broken state in a save even after a conflicting plug-in is removed.
A crossover installation fails midway
Recheck both game installations, DLC ownership and the exact versions requested by Tale of Two Wastelands’ current guide. Keep the conversion in a separate directory or profile and start again from clean files if the installer reports missing or altered assets.
Bottom line
Install Fallout: New California for the best released, native total-conversion-style story. Choose Fallout: The Frontier for the largest DLC-scale expedition and custom driving. Choose Tale of Two Wastelands when your priority is a genuine Fallout 3–New Vegas crossover. Keep Fallout 4: New Vegas, Fallout Chicago, Fallout: Revelation Blues and Fallout Atlanta on a watchlist until their current release status and requirements justify treating them as finished campaigns.
Quick Recap
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