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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fallout is a post-nuclear science-fiction series about people trying to survive and shape society after a devastating war. Its setting contrasts an optimistic, mid-century vision of the future with the ruined world left behind by nuclear destruction. The games share a universe, but each follows a different protagonist and regional conflict.
What is Fallout about?
The Great War destroys civilization in 2077. In the decades and centuries that follow, survivors emerge from underground Vaults into a dangerous landscape and confront the question of what should replace the old world: communities rebuild, factions seek power, and others exploit the chaos. Bethesda describes the setting as a dark look at an “Atomic-era retro future” in its official Fallout timeline.
The series’ distinctive tone comes from the gap between that bright, mid-century image of technological progress and the brutality of life after nuclear devastation. A 2025 academic analysis discusses how this imagery and Bethesda’s public retrospectives frame the franchise’s history; that is interpretation of the series, rather than an official ruling on its canon (academic analysis).
What order do the main Fallout games take place in?
The games’ in-world chronology differs from their release order. Here are the dates, regions, protagonists, and central story hooks listed in Bethesda’s timeline. These are different entry points into one setting, not chapters of a single continuous protagonist’s story.
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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 special 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 and lighting engine brings to life the world of fallout. From the blasted forests of the common wealth 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
| In-world year | Game and region | Protagonist and central goal |
|---|---|---|
| 2102 | Fallout 76 — Appalachia | Vault residents emerge 25 years after the Great War into a dangerous new world. |
| 2161 | Fallout — Southern California | The Vault Dweller searches for a working water chip before the Vault’s supply runs out. |
| 2241 | Fallout 2 — Arroyo and the surrounding wasteland | The Chosen One seeks a G.E.C.K., a terraforming tool, as drought threatens their village. The Enclave, a remnant of the pre-war American government, is a major threat. |
| 2277 | Fallout 3 — the Capital Wasteland | The Lone Wanderer leaves Vault 101 to search for their missing father. |
| 2281 | Fallout: New Vegas — the Mojave Wasteland | The Courier, shot and left for dead over a mysterious package, pursues the truth amid a struggle for power. |
| 2287 | Fallout 4 — the Commonwealth, centered on Boston | A pre-war person survives cryogenic stasis and searches for their missing family. |
The dates and story premises in this table come from Bethesda’s official timeline. It identifies Fallout 76 as the earliest setting among these games; the original Fallout takes place in 2161.
What carries across the games?
Each entry changes its location, protagonist, and immediate goals, while returning to a shared world and familiar elements. Bethesda’s timeline credits the original game with establishing the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats system, companions, and recurring creatures and factions including the Brotherhood of Steel, ghouls, deathclaws, radscorpions, and Super Mutants.
Rank #2
- 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 special 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 and lighting engine brings to life the world of fallout. From the blasted forests of the common wealth 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
Player decisions also shape events, so the shared setting does not mean that every game has one outcome that defines the whole franchise. The timeline is an overview, not an exhaustive account of every plot branch or ending.
How does the Fallout TV series fit in?
Bethesda describes the Prime Video adaptation as set in the same universe as its role-playing games. Its official series overview introduces Lucy, an optimistic resident of Vault 33 who leaves home after it fails to protect her family. The overview presents a new protagonist and plot, not a retelling of a specific game.
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Rank #3
- Fallout 3 Game of the Year Edition PS3
- console-video-games
The cited official overview does not give a precise in-world year or resolve how the show aligns with every player-dependent game ending. Its confirmed connection is the shared universe; a more exact placement or definitive reconciliation of game outcomes is not established by that source.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where can you start?
You do not need to play the games in chronological order to follow the premise. Bethesda says any Fallout game can be a first entry in its timeline. Choose based on the story and setting that interest you: the Vault-and-water-chip quest of the original, the Mojave power struggle in New Vegas, or the Commonwealth search in Fallout 4 are distinct ways into the same post-war world.
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Best Value
- 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
Rank #4
![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.
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