The Fallout series is big, and it can be daunting to find the right place to jump in. Thankfully, with the right guide, you can get caught up with the series, and you’ll be more than ready to set out in the Wasteland.

If you’re interested in giving the Fallout series a try, here’s everything you need to know.

The History of Fallout

The Fallout series is old, really old. The first Fallout game launched all the way back in 1997 and was quickly followed by a sequel in 1998. From there, the series went on hiatus for about 10 years, releasing a few spin-offs, but no major titles.

During that time, gaming giant Bethesda took the reins of the franchise. In 2008, Fallout reappeared on the global stage with Fallout 3. Released on the PS3/Xbox 360 generation of consoles, Fallout 3 took the series from a top-down, old-school RPG, to a fully realized, 3D open-world game.

Capitalizing on that success, Bethesda soon after released the incredibly popular follow-up, Fallout: New Vegas, which further improved on Fallout 3’s formula.

As gaming moved to the next generation, so did Fallout. Fallout’s first entry in the PS4/Xbox One generation was Fallout 4, which was then followed up with the franchise’s most recent title, Fallout 76.

Where Do the Fallout Games Take Place?

Welcome to the Wasteland.

That’s post-apocalyptic America after a nuclear war has ended life as we know it. In most of the Fallout games you play as a vault dweller, someone who survived the nuclear apocalypse in the relative safety of a shelter built deep underground. When you emerge from the vault, your story begins.

When you start your journey, you’ll notice the former USA has definitely seen some better days. After a nuclear war wiped the slate clean, the survivors banded together to rebuild society as best they could. As you’d expect, life in post-apocalyptic America isn’t without its challenges. The Wasteland is littered with ghouls (Fallout’s version of zombies), killer robots, bandits, and all other types of foes.

The Wasteland is also home to several groups and factions. You might encounter the Brotherhood of Steel, a paramilitary order obsessed with collecting remnants of technology from the old world. Or you might stumble upon the Enclave, descendants of the pre-war US government who believe they are the rightful rulers of the Wasteland.

The Wasteland is even home to entirely new countries like the New California Republic, a small slice of civilization in the middle of a brutal world.

Gameplay in Fallout

In the Fallout games, you have the freedom to be who you want to be.

You’ll start out by picking your character’s gender, appearance, and skills. You might want to create a character who’s a mechanical whiz that can hack into anything, or maybe you want to play as a character with tons of charisma who can talk their way out of any situation. In Fallout, the sky’s the limit.

The modern Fallout games are first-person shooter RPGs. That means you’ll spend most of your time viewing the world from the eyes of your character. Collecting gear and leveling up your character is a big part of Fallout. While you’ll emerge from your vault with little more than the clothes on your back, you’ll soon be scavenging and collecting new armor, weapons, and abilities.

Fallout isn’t just about combat though. Throughout your journey, you’ll meet a host of characters with their own backstories and motivations. Fallout also lets you make choices that affect how the story plays out. As you play through the game you’ll make decisions, settle disputes, and even shape the Wasteland itself.

Games in the Fallout Series

The Fallout series has been around for a while, and it’s had more than its fair share of spin-offs. There’s even a mobile game available, Fallout Shelter. But when it comes to mainline Fallout games, there’s been six major entries in the series.

Fallout (1997)

The game that started it all. The original Fallout is a top-down RPG with turn-based combat. As a resident of Vault 13, you’re tasked with venturing into the Wasteland to fix a water chip to save the inhabitants of your vault.

Fallout 2 (1998)

In the follow-up to the original, you’ll start your adventure in the Wasteland. Stepping into the shoes of a descendant of the protagonist from the first game, you’re sent on a mission to find a piece of pre-war technology to save your village.

Fallout 3 (2008)

Fallout 3 was the first modern Fallout game. Revamped for the 21st century, the series shifted from a top-down perspective to a first-person RPG. In Fallout 3, you step in the shoes of a resident of Vault 101, located in Washington D.C. After leaving the safety of the vault, you embark on a quest deep into the Wasteland to find your missing father.

Fallout: New Vegas (2010)

Fallout: New Vegas kept many of the gameplay elements introduced in Fallout 3, but took the series westward. This time you play as the Courier. After a deal goes bad and you end up shot and left for dead in the middle of the Mojave Desert, you embark on a quest of discovery and revenge.

Fallout 4 (2015)

Fallout 4 was the first Fallout game on the PS4/Xbox One generation of consoles, and new technology brought improved graphics and animations to the series. You’ll start by witnessing the beginning of the end as you catch a glimpse of a nuclear blast while you flee into the safety of a vault. After spending 200 years in stasis, you emerge on a quest to find your missing son.

Fallout 76 (2018)

Fallout 76 was Bethesda’s first multiplayer game. Instead of taking on the Wasteland solo like in previous Fallout titles, in Fallout 76, you have the option of having up to three other players alongside you. Unlike other Fallout games, the game’s focus isn’t on quests. Instead, the game gives you and your partners the ability to create your own narratives.

Which Fallout Game Should You Start With?

If you’re interested in checking out the Fallout series, there’s never been a better time to do it. If you love old-school RPGs and want to experience the franchise from the very beginning, the original Fallout and Fallout 2 are great places to start.

But if you want to dive into a more modern experience, check out Fallout 3 or Fallout: New Vegas. Although these games are a few years old now, they really put the Fallout Series on the map, and diehard fans are still debating on which of the two is the best Fallout game.

If you want to experience a newer Fallout game with better visuals and more refined gameplay, check out Fallout 4. Or if you love multiplayer games, Fallout 76 will be right up your alley. Although it’s not the most popular Fallout game, it’s the only title in the series where you can bring your friends along.

Ready for Your Wasteland Adventure?

Although it started from humble beginnings, the Fallout series has become one of gaming’s biggest franchises. If you mix the setting of Mad Max, the gameplay of the Elder Scrolls, and throw in some wacky humor, you’ll get Fallout.

If your idea of a good time is a visit to a weird, future-past, post-apocalyptic version of America, the Fallout games might be right up your alley.