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For a first playthrough, follow release order: Fallout (1997), Fallout 2 (1998), Fallout 3 (2008), Fallout: New Vegas (2010), Fallout 4 (2015), then Fallout 76 (2018). That path shows how the series evolved. If you prefer the events in story order, begin with Fallout 76 and finish with Fallout 4. Neither order is mandatory: Bethesda says any Fallout game can be a first entry.
Not sure where to begin? Choose by the kind of game you want, the setting that interests you, and the platform you own. The first two games are classic turn-based RPGs; later entries take a different approach, and Fallout 76 is online multiplayer. You do not have to complete every game—or start with the oldest one—to get into the series.
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Fallout games in release order
Release order is the clearest default for newcomers: it preserves the franchise’s development history and moves from the original classic RPGs through the later console-era entries to online multiplayer. Bethesda’s 2022 timeline gives these release years and settings; its 2024 guide describes the games’ different styles. This is a practical recommendation, not an official prerequisite. The games span centuries in the story, and Bethesda says any entry can be a first one.
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|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fallout | 1997 | The original California-set RPG introduces S.P.E.C.I.A.L., companions, and the franchise’s core factions. |
| 2 | Fallout 2 | 1998 | A direct sequel that continues the world and its factions in a new story. |
| 3 | Fallout 3 | 2008 | The series shifts to a first-person/third-person console-era RPG approach in the Capital Wasteland, with a reimagined V.A.T.S. |
| 4 | Fallout: New Vegas | 2010 | A separate Mojave story centered on competing regional powers. |
| 5 | Fallout 4 | 2015 | The Commonwealth entry adds crafting and settlement construction. |
| 6 | Fallout 76 | 2018 | An online multiplayer game set in Appalachia; its story takes place first in the mainline chronology. |
There is a long gap between Fallout 2 and Fallout 3, but you do not need to treat that gap as a missing chapter. The later games introduce different protagonists and regions; playing the older titles first gives context, not a prerequisite for understanding every later story. The release-order path is especially useful if you want to see the format change rather than jump straight to the game whose setting sounds most appealing.
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![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.
In this sequence, the first two entries establish the classic turn-based RPG side of the franchise. Fallout 3 marks a major shift: Bethesda identifies it as the first mainline entry on consoles and notes its reimagined V.A.T.S. New Vegas then moves to a distinct Mojave conflict, while Fallout 4 adds greater emphasis on crafting and settlement building. Fallout 76 is the online multiplayer entry. These contrasts explain why release order feels like a tour through different eras, not six mechanically identical chapters.
Fallout games in chronological story order
For the mainline games in Bethesda’s timeline, the in-universe sequence is Fallout 76, Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, and Fallout 4. The dates below are settings, not release years. Bethesda’s timeline, published October 17, 2022, places the events across centuries.
| Story order | Game | Setting date in Bethesda’s timeline | Story starting point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fallout 76 | 2102, 25 years after the Great War of 2077 | Vault residents emerge into Appalachia. |
| 2 | Fallout | 2161 | The Vault Dweller searches Southern California for a water chip. |
| 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 in search of their father. |
| 5 | Fallout: New Vegas | 2281 | The Courier becomes entangled in a Mojave power struggle. |
| 6 | Fallout 4 | 2287 | The Sole Survivor searches the Commonwealth for family. |
Chronological order places Fallout 76 first even though it was released after the other five games. It is a prequel in setting, not the original game in release history. If you start here, expect an online multiplayer entry rather than the classic single-player format of the first games. The sequence then jumps from Appalachia in 2102 to Southern California in 2161, and continues through the later dates listed above.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThe two lists answer different questions. Release order answers, “How did the games arrive, and how did the series’ style change?” Chronological order answers, “When do the mainline stories happen in the fictional timeline?” Bethesda’s timeline provides dates for the settings, but it does not make chronological play a requirement. For most newcomers, chronological play is best treated as an alternate route for players who especially want the earliest setting first.
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- 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.
Which order should you choose?
Choose release order for a first tour
Start with Fallout and move through the six mainline releases if you want to see the series’ changes in context. This route lets the original turn-based RPGs come first, then shows how Fallout 3 reworked the formula for consoles, how New Vegas tells a distinct regional story, and how Fallout 4 and Fallout 76 add crafting, settlement building, and online play. It is a good fit for completion-minded players who want a clear, historically grounded path.
Choose chronology if the timeline matters most
Start with Fallout 76 if you want the earliest mainline setting, then continue by date. This is a valid way to follow the broad timeline, but it is not Bethesda’s required order, and the shift in game style between entries remains substantial. In particular, the first game in that route is not the first game released: the 2018 online entry is set in 2102, while the original Fallout was released in 1997 and is set in 2161.
Choose by gameplay instead of completionism
Bethesda’s guidance is that any game can be a starting point. If the classic turn-based RPG format appeals to you, try Fallout and then Fallout 2. If you are more interested in the later console-era style, begin with Fallout 3, then continue to New Vegas and Fallout 4. If you want an online multiplayer entry, choose Fallout 76 without feeling obliged to finish the earlier titles first.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallYou can also choose by setting. The original game is set in California; the timeline places Fallout 3 in the Capital Wasteland, New Vegas in the Mojave, Fallout 4 in the Commonwealth, and Fallout 76 in Appalachia. If a particular region or story premise draws you in, that is a reasonable starting point. The games use different protagonists and settings, so following release order is about seeing the franchise evolve, not unlocking a mandatory sequence of stories.
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- 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
How the games differ
The series is not one continuous set of mechanically identical installments. The choice of starting point is mostly a choice of gameplay format and setting. Think of the categories below as broad orientation rather than a ranking: a player who likes turn-based tactics may want something different from a newcomer looking for online multiplayer or settlement construction.
- Classic role-playing: Fallout and Fallout 2 are the early turn-based RPGs, rooted in California and its evolving factions. They are the natural pair for players who want to explore the series’ classic format.
- Squad combat: Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel emphasizes squad-based combat and mixes real-time and turn-based play. It is a side path, not an extra mainline story chapter.
- Later console-era RPG: Fallout 3 was the first mainline entry on consoles and introduced V.A.T.S. in its reimagined form. New Vegas and Fallout 4 continue in this later era while offering different settings and features.
- Crafting and settlements: Fallout 4 places more emphasis on crafting and building settlements. That focus can make it a useful choice for someone drawn to construction as well as the setting and role-playing.
- Online multiplayer: Fallout 76 is the series’ online multiplayer entry, set in Appalachia. Choose it for that format, not simply because its story date is the earliest.
These are broad distinctions, not a guarantee that every game in a category plays the same way. Pick the entry whose format and setting sound appealing rather than assuming you must complete the franchise in order. The same is true of platform access: the format you want only helps narrow the choice if the game is available on a platform you can use.
Optional Fallout games and spin-offs
The six-game path above covers the mainline sequence in Bethesda’s timeline. Other releases are separate options, not required chapters between those games. Bethesda distinguishes these spin-offs from the mainline sequence, so do not add them to the middle of a newcomer’s required order.
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- Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel (2001): An optional squad-focused game with a mix of real-time and turn-based combat. It is distinct from the later console spin-off with a similar name. If squad combat is the reason you are exploring the series, this is the side entry to investigate.
- Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel (2004): An optional action-oriented console spin-off, separate from Fallout Tactics. The similar names can be confusing, but these are different games with different approaches.
- Fallout Shelter (2015): A Vault management game. Bethesda’s April 2024 guide listed it as free on mobile, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and PC; platform availability and free-to-play details can change by store and region. Check the current listing before assuming it is offered on your device or remains free in your region.
- Fallout Pinball (2016): A virtual pinball board in the Pinball FX series, rather than a role-playing chapter in the main story.
If squad tactics, action combat, Vault management, or pinball is what interests you, these spin-offs can be played on their own. They do not need to be slotted into the six-game release or chronology lists. The series also has no need for a completionist detour before you start a mainline RPG.
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![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.
Platforms and edition details to check
Platform listings are a practical filter before choosing where to begin. Bethesda’s April 9, 2024 guide listed the platforms below; that list is a dated guide, not a guarantee of current availability in every region or storefront. Check the current store page for the platform and edition you plan to buy or download, especially if you are following an older platform list.
| 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 |
The table gives the platforms Bethesda listed, not a promise that every edition is available on every generation of console, in every country, or through every storefront. If you are choosing a starting game based on what you already own, verify the exact title and edition on your platform’s store before planning a purchase. No price comparison is available here, and prices or store availability can change.
For Fallout 4, Bethesda’s Anniversary Edition 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. The edition includes the base game, all six official expansions—Automatron, Wasteland Workshop, Far Harbor, Contraptions Workshop, Vault-Tec Workshop, and Nuka-World—plus more than 150 Creation Club items. If you are comparing editions, those are the included contents stated on Bethesda’s page; check the page and your regional store for present availability and the contents of the edition offered to you. Do not assume the listed future platform release is already available.
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 does not establish current sales availability, so treat it as a possible used or collector search rather than a current way to buy the series. Confirm the contents and condition with a seller if you find a secondhand copy; the page is a contents reference, not evidence that it is currently sold.
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- 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.
Sources and dates
- Bethesda’s Fallout timeline, published October 17, 2022, for the mainline chronology, settings, release years, and spin-offs.
- Bethesda’s guide to Fallout games, published April 9, 2024, for game styles and platform listings.
- Bethesda’s Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition page for the listed platforms and included content.
- Bethesda Support’s Fallout Anthology contents page for the compilation’s listed contents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have 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 see how the series changed, but you do not have to finish earlier games before starting a later one.
What is the best Fallout game to start with?
For a first tour through the franchise, start with Fallout (1997) and follow release order. If you prefer classic turn-based RPGs, Fallout and Fallout 2 make a natural pair; if you want the later console-era style, you can start with Fallout 3. Choose Fallout 76 if online multiplayer is what you want.
Should I play Fallout 76 before Fallout?
Only if you want in-universe chronology. Fallout 76 is set in 2102, making it earliest in Bethesda’s mainline story timeline, but it was released in 2018 and is an online multiplayer game. The original Fallout was released in 1997 and is set in 2161.
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The six-game mainline path is Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout 4, and Fallout 76. Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel, Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel, Fallout Shelter, and Fallout Pinball are optional side entries.
What platforms are the Fallout games on?
Bethesda’s April 2024 guide listed Fallout and Fallout 2 on PC; Fallout Tactics on PC; Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC; Fallout Shelter on mobile, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and PC; and Fallout 4 and Fallout 76 on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC. Store and regional availability can change, so confirm the current listing for your platform.
Does Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition include the expansions?
Bethesda’s Anniversary Edition page says it includes the base game, six official expansions—Automatron, Wasteland Workshop, Far Harbor, Contraptions Workshop, Vault-Tec Workshop, and Nuka-World—and more than 150 Creation Club items. Check the edition page and your regional store for current availability and contents.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Play Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout 4, then Fallout 76 if you want the release-history tour. Follow Fallout 76 through Fallout 4 if you care most about story chronology. Either way, there is no required starting point: choose the game style, setting, and platform that fit you, and check current store listings before buying.
Quick Recap
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