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For a first playthrough, play the six mainline Fallout games in release order: Fallout (1997), Fallout 2 (1998), Fallout 3 (2008), Fallout: New Vegas (2010), Fallout 4 (2015), and Fallout 76 (2018). That path shows how the series developed over time. It is a recommendation, not a requirement: Bethesda says any Fallout game can be a first entry.
If you specifically want the story in chronological order, start with Fallout 76, then play Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, and Fallout 4. The right starting game ultimately depends on whether you prefer classic turn-based role-playing, later console-era RPGs, or online multiplayer.
Fallout games in release order
Release order is the easiest route for a newcomer who wants to experience the franchise as players encountered it. The original games establish the setting and role-playing foundations; the later entries shift the format and introduce new regions and systems. Bethesda’s 2022 timeline and 2024 game guide identify these six as the core path. This route also avoids treating the earlier story setting of Fallout 76 as if it were the franchise’s starting point: it came out last among these six, so it makes sense to play it last if you want to follow the series’ release-era evolution.
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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →| Order | Game | Release year | Developer named by Bethesda | What it adds to the series |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fallout | 1997 | Interplay Entertainment | The original California-set RPG introduces S.P.E.C.I.A.L., companions, and major factions. |
| 2 | Fallout 2 | 1998 | Interplay Entertainment | A direct sequel that expands the setting and its factions. |
| 3 | Fallout 3 | 2008 | Bethesda Game Studios | The first mainline entry on consoles, with a reimagined V.A.T.S. system and a new setting. |
| 4 | Fallout: New Vegas | 2010 | Obsidian Entertainment | A separate Mojave story shaped by competing regional powers. |
| 5 | Fallout 4 | 2015 | Bethesda Game Studios | A Commonwealth adventure that adds crafting and settlement construction. |
| 6 | Fallout 76 | 2018 | Bethesda Game Studios | An online multiplayer entry set in Appalachia, despite being first in the mainline story chronology. |
The gap between Fallout 2 and Fallout 3 also marks a major shift in how the mainline games play. The first two are classic turn-based RPGs; the later console-era games take a different approach. Bethesda describes Fallout 4 as emphasizing crafting and settlement building, while Fallout 76 is built around online multiplayer. Fallout 3 was the first mainline console entry and introduced V.A.T.S. in its reimagined form. Release order lets you see those changes in context without requiring you to finish one game before understanding the next.
#1 Best Overall
![Fallout 4 | Anniversary Edition | Nintendo Switch 2 [Code in Box]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41nB7eUArSL._SL160_.jpg)
- ANNIVERSARY EDITION — Celebrate ten years of Fallout 4 with the complete post‑nuclear RPG experience, winner of over 200 Best Of awards including DICE and BAFTA Game of the Year.
- COMPLETE BASE GAME INCLUDED — Experience the full Fallout 4 main campaign as the Sole Survivor of Vault 111, shaping the fate of the Commonwealth through meaningful choices, factions, and exploration.
- ALL 6 OFFICIAL EXPANSIONS — Includes Automatron, Wasteland Workshop, Far Harbor, Contraptions Workshop, Vault‑Tec Workshop, and Nuka‑World for massive story, settlement, and gameplay additions.
- 150+ CREATION CLUB ITEMS — Expand your adventure with curated Creation Club content featuring unique weapons, power armor sets, building packs, paint jobs, player homes, and Dogmeat cosmetic variants.
- OPEN‑WORLD FREEDOM — Explore hundreds of locations, craft weapons and armor, build and manage settlements, and customize your playstyle using the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. system and perk progression.
There is no need to treat this list as a checklist. The games span centuries and use distinct settings and protagonists, so a newcomer can choose an entry based on its style or region instead. The release list is a practical recommendation for experiencing the franchise’s progression, not an official prerequisite imposed by Bethesda.
Fallout games in chronological order
If your priority is the dates of the stories rather than the games’ release history, use this sequence. The years below are in-universe settings given in Bethesda’s 2022 timeline, not release dates. The chronology begins with Fallout 76, even though it is the most recently released mainline game.
| Order | Game | Setting year | Story context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fallout 76 | 2102 | Twenty-five years after the Great War of 2077, Vault residents emerge in Appalachia. |
| 2 | Fallout | 2161 | The Vault Dweller searches for a water chip in Southern California. |
| 3 | Fallout 2 | 2241 | The Chosen One seeks a G.E.C.K. for Arroyo. |
| 4 | Fallout 3 | 2277 | The Lone Wanderer leaves Vault 101 to search for their father. |
| 5 | Fallout: New Vegas | 2281 | The Courier becomes caught in a Mojave power struggle. |
| 6 | Fallout 4 | 2287 | The Sole Survivor searches the Commonwealth for family. |
Chronological order starts with the newest game by release date and places Fallout 76 before the original. That makes it useful if you want the world’s timeline first, but it is not an order Bethesda requires. Bethesda notes that the games span centuries and that any entry can serve as a starting point. The chronology also does not mean that you need to play every title to follow the next one. In particular, Fallout 4 is the latest mainline setting in Bethesda’s 2022 timeline, set in 2287, six years after New Vegas.
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When choosing, compare four things: whether you care more about release history or story chronology, whether you want classic turn-based play or a later console-era RPG, which setting interests you, and which platforms you can access. The series does not have one mandatory entry point, so the best starting game is the one whose format and setting sound appealing.
Start with Fallout if you want the classic RPG foundation
The 1997 original is the natural starting point if you want to see where the franchise began and are comfortable with the classic turn-based format. It introduces the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. system, companions, and major factions in a California setting. If you enjoy it, continue directly to Fallout 2, which follows the same broad world and carries its story forward. Bethesda’s timeline places Fallout 2 in 2241, after the original’s 2161 setting.
Rank #2
- ANNIVERSARY EDITION — Get Fallout 4, all six official expansions, and more than 150 Creation Club items in one package.
- EXPLORE THE COMMONWEALTH — Play as the Sole Survivor of Vault 111 and shape the Commonwealth through choices, factions, and exploration.
- SIX EXPANSIONS — Explore Automatron, Wasteland Workshop, Far Harbor, Contraptions Workshop, Vault-Tec Workshop, and Nuka-World.
- CREATION CLUB ITEMS — Enrich your adventure with more than 150 items, including unique weapons, power armor sets, building packs, paint jobs, homes, and Dogmeat appearance options.
- OPEN-WORLD RPG — Explore the post-nuclear world, craft weapons and armor, and build and manage settlements.
This is the most direct path for someone who wants the older role-playing style and its early world-building. It is not a required warm-up for the later games, however. If the classic format is not what you want to play, you can skip ahead without needing to complete both games first.
Start with Fallout 3 if you want the later console-era format
You do not have to play the first two games before starting Fallout 3. Bethesda identifies it as the first mainline console entry and highlights its reworked V.A.T.S. approach. If its format and setting suit you, a practical continuation is New Vegas, then Fallout 4. These games tell distinct regional stories; this path is a way to follow the release-era evolution, not a promise that choices carry over between every title.
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Fallout 3 takes place in Washington in 2277. It is a good fit if you want to begin with the transition to the later console-era RPG approach rather than the classic turn-based games. New Vegas follows in release order but moves the story to the Mojave, then Fallout 4 moves on to the Commonwealth.
Start with Fallout: New Vegas if the Mojave appeals to you
New Vegas takes place in a region where competing powers shape the conflict. It is a reasonable entry if that setting sounds more appealing than beginning in California, Washington, or the Commonwealth. Playing Fallout 3 first follows release order, but Bethesda’s official guidance does not make it a prerequisite. Bethesda dates the game to 2281, between Fallout 3 in 2277 and Fallout 4 in 2287.
Start with Fallout 4 if crafting and settlement building are your draw
Bethesda describes Fallout 4 as adding crafting and settlement construction. Choose it if those systems and the Commonwealth setting are your main interests; you do not need to complete older games first. Set in 2287, it is the latest mainline setting on Bethesda’s timeline, though it is not the last game released.
Rank #3
- Freedom and Liberty Do whatever you want in a massive open world with hundreds of locations, characters, and quests. Join multiple factions vying for power or go it alone, the choices are all yours
- Be Whoever You Want With the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Character System. From a Power Armored Soldier to the Charismatic Smooth Talker, You Can Choose From Hundreds of Perks and Develop Your Own Playstyle
- New Next Generation Graphics & Lighting Engine Brings to Life the World of Fallout. From the Blasted Forests of the Commonwealth to the Ruins of Boston, Every Location Is Packed With Dynamic Detail
- Intense first or third person combat can also be slowed down with the new dynamic Vault Tec Assisted Targeting System (V.A.T.S) that lets you choose your attacks and enjoy cinematic carnage
If you are shopping for a version that bundles the major add-ons, Bethesda’s Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition page says it includes the base game, all six official expansions, and more than 150 Creation Club items. Check the current platform listing, regional availability, and included content before paying; no current price or guarantee of availability in every store is established here.
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Fallout 76 is the online multiplayer game in the core lineup. It is also first in story chronology, set in Appalachia in 2102, but starting there is a preference rather than a chronology-based requirement. Choose it if the online format is the main draw; if you instead want to watch the series change from its earliest releases onward, save it for last.
Optional Fallout games and side paths
The numbered and named core path is not the entire franchise. Bethesda distinguishes these spin-offs and companion games from the mainline sequence; none is necessary to complete the six-game route. Consider them after deciding which kind of Fallout play you enjoy, rather than inserting them into the main chronology as required chapters.
- Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel (2001): A squad-focused entry that combines real-time and turn-based combat. Try it if tactical squad play interests you more than a conventional role-playing campaign. Bethesda’s timeline and 2024 guide give differing developer credits, so the play style is the useful distinction here.
- Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel (2004): An action-oriented console spin-off. It is a different game from Fallout Tactics, despite the similar subtitle.
- Fallout Shelter (2015): A Vault-management game. Bethesda’s April 2024 guide lists it for mobile, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and PC, and describes it as free on those platforms; check local store listings because platform availability and free-to-play details can change.
- Fallout Pinball (2016): A virtual pinball board in the Pinball FX series, developed with Zen Studios. It is a side activity rather than another mainline role-playing chapter.
Platforms and edition details to check
Bethesda’s April 2024 guide lists the platforms below. It is a dated guide, not a guarantee that a game is currently sold in every region or remains available on every listed storefront. Check the store for your platform and location before buying. These platform notes are not a price comparison: they do not provide current prices, discounts, or purchasing terms.
| Game or group | Platforms listed by Bethesda in April 2024 |
|---|---|
| Fallout and Fallout 2 | PC |
| Fallout Tactics | PC |
| Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas | Xbox, PlayStation, and PC |
| Fallout Shelter | Mobile, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and PC |
| Fallout 4 and Fallout 76 | Xbox, PlayStation, and PC |
Use this list as a starting point, not as a promise about a specific console generation, regional store, or current edition. Availability and edition details can change. Confirm the exact platform and version before purchasing, especially if you are buying an older game or a bundle.
Rank #4
![Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition - Nintendo Switch 2 [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/310WxA2gTgL._SL160_.jpg)
- Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition brings the complete post-nuclear epic together in one definitive package.
- Includes the full base game and the 6 official expansions: Automatron, Wasteland Workshop, Far Harbor, Contraptions Workshop, Vault-Tec Workshop, and Nuka-World.
- Plus, over 150 Creation Club items, featuring unique weapons, power armor sets, building packs, paint jobs, one of a kind homes, and even have Dogmeat take on the appearance of another breed, to enrich your journey through the Commonwealth.
- Celebrate a decade of adventure, survival, and choice in a world forever changed.
- The wasteland is yours to explore again.
What the Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition includes
Bethesda’s Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition page says the edition includes the base game, all six official expansions, and more than 150 Creation Club items. The expansions named on the page are Automatron, Wasteland Workshop, Far Harbor, Contraptions Workshop, Vault-Tec Workshop, and Nuka-World. That bundle detail may help if you already know you want the game and its expansions; it does not mean you need this edition to start the series.
The page lists Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4 from November 10, 2025, and says Nintendo Switch 2 is due in 2026. Since platform launches and regional availability can change, verify the current store listing and edition contents before purchasing.
Fallout Anthology for collectors
Bethesda Support describes the Fallout Anthology as a collectible Fat Man mini-nuke containing Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout Tactics, Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition, and Fallout: New Vegas: Ultimate Edition, with space reserved for a Fallout 4 disc. The support page documents its contents but does not establish that it is currently sold, so treat it as a possible used or collector search rather than a current purchase option. Check the listing carefully if you find one; the page is not evidence of current stock or condition.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A simple decision guide
- Want to follow how the franchise developed? Play the six mainline games in release order.
- Want the story settings in date order? Start with Fallout 76, then follow the chronological table.
- Prefer classic turn-based RPGs? Begin with Fallout and move to Fallout 2.
- Prefer the later console-era format? Start with Fallout 3; continue to New Vegas and Fallout 4 if you want the release-order path.
- Want settlement building or online multiplayer? Choose Fallout 4 or Fallout 76, respectively.
- Want squad tactics, action, Vault management, or pinball? Look at Fallout Tactics, Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel, Fallout Shelter, or Fallout Pinball as optional side paths.
- Choosing based on what you own? Use Bethesda’s platform list as a starting point, then confirm availability and the exact edition in your regional store.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to play the Fallout games in order?
No. Bethesda says any Fallout game can be a first entry. Release order is a useful way to experience the mainline series’ progression, but the games span centuries and do not require you to finish earlier titles to start a later one.
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What is the best order for a first playthrough?
A practical first-playthrough order is release order: Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout 4, then Fallout 76. It follows the six mainline games as they were released.
Best Value
- GOTY edition, includes original game on disc and all available DLC as download codes
- Freedom and Liberty! - Do whatever you want in a massive open world with hundreds of locations, characters, and quests. Join multiple factions vying for power or go it alone, the choices are all yours.
- Game of the Year Edition - Includes all the fully updated original game along with all six add-ons: Automatron, Wasteland Workshop, Far Harbor, Contraptions Workshop, Vault-Tec Workshop, and Nuka-World..
- Violence and V.A.T.S.! - Intense first or third person combat can also be slowed down with the new dynamic Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System (V.A.T.S) that lets you choose your attacks and enjoy cinematic carnage.
- You’re S.P.E.C.I.A.L! - Be whoever you want with the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. character system. From a Power Armored soldier to the charismatic smooth talker, you can choose from hundreds of Perks and develop your own playstyle.
What is the chronological order of the Fallout games?
For the mainline games, follow Fallout 76 (2102), Fallout (2161), Fallout 2 (2241), Fallout 3 (2277), Fallout: New Vegas (2281), and Fallout 4 (2287). These are in-universe setting years, not release years.
Can I start with Fallout: New Vegas or Fallout 4?
Yes. Bethesda’s guidance allows any game to be a starting point. Start with New Vegas if the Mojave setting and its competing regional powers appeal to you, or Fallout 4 if you prefer the Commonwealth, crafting, and settlement construction.
Are the Fallout spin-offs required?
No. Fallout Tactics, Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel, Fallout Shelter, and Fallout Pinball are optional side paths, not prerequisites for the six-game mainline order.
Where can I play the Fallout games, and what should I check before buying?
Bethesda’s April 2024 guide lists platforms by title, but availability can change by region and storefront. Check the current local listing for the exact game and edition before purchasing. Current prices are not listed in Bethesda’s April 2024 guide.
The Bottom Line
For most newcomers, start with Fallout and follow release order through Fallout 76. Choose chronological order only if you specifically want the in-universe timeline, or begin with a later game whose setting and play style suit you. There is no mandatory starting point; confirm current platform availability and edition contents before buying.
Quick Recap
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