Game · in order
Fallout Games in Order
The six mainline Fallout games in release order, plus a chronological run through the shared post-apocalyptic timeline from Fallout 76 (2102) to Fallout 4 (2287).
Fallout Games in Order โ complete list
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Why this order?
Fallout is unusual for a long-running RPG series: the mainline games are mostly standalone, yet they all share one continuous post-nuclear timeline. That gives you two sensible ways to play, and neither is wrong. The release order below is the default because it tracks how the series actually evolved, from the isometric originals by Interplay to Bethesda's first-person open worlds.
Release order runs Fallout (1997), Fallout 2 (1998), Fallout 3 (2008), Fallout: New Vegas (2010), Fallout 4 (2015), and Fallout 76 (2018). Playing this way lets you watch the design language change in real time. The first two are turn-based and top-down; Fallout 3 reinvented the series in 3D with the VATS targeting system; New Vegas (built by Obsidian, with several original Fallout developers) is widely considered the writing high point; Fallout 4 streamlined the RPG into a shooter-with-settlements; and Fallout 76 went online and multiplayer.
Chronological order sorts by in-game year instead: Fallout 76 (2102) is the earliest, set just decades after the bombs fell, followed by Fallout (2161), Fallout 2 (2241), Fallout 3 (2277), Fallout: New Vegas (2281), and Fallout 4 (2287). Because the stories rarely reference each other directly, this order is fine for newcomers too, though you'll be jumping between very different gameplay eras.
The one gotcha: spin-offs sit off this main list. Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel and the console game Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel are side stories, not mainline entries. Amazon's 2024 Fallout TV series fits the timeline after Fallout 4. If you enjoy this kind of branching-choice RPG, the studio behind New Vegas also made The Elder Scrolls-adjacent worlds and Bethesda's Skyrim shares the same engine lineage.
Timeline 1997โ2018
Every entry plotted by release year โ see the gaps, clusters and revivals at a glance.
Where to play it today
Affiliate links (Bookshop.org for books, store links for games/films) slot in here.
Frequently asked questions
How many Fallout games are there?
There are six mainline Fallout games: Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout 4, and Fallout 76. Spin-offs like Fallout Tactics and Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel sit outside the main list.
What order should I watch Fallout in?
For games, release order is the easiest start: Fallout (1997), Fallout 2, Fallout 3, New Vegas, Fallout 4, then Fallout 76. If you prefer the in-universe timeline, play Fallout 76 (2102) first, then 1, 2, 3, New Vegas, and 4. The 2024 TV series fits after Fallout 4.
Do I need to play the Fallout games in order?
No. Each mainline game tells a mostly standalone story, so you can jump in anywhere. Release or chronological order just adds context and lets you appreciate how the series evolved.
Which Fallout game should I play first?
Newcomers often start with Fallout 3 or Fallout: New Vegas, the first 3D entries. New Vegas is the most praised for writing, while Fallout 4 is the most beginner-friendly in combat. The originals are great but feel dated.
Is Fallout 76 canon and where does it fit?
Yes, Fallout 76 is canon and is the earliest game on the timeline, set in 2102, only decades after the Great War. It's also the only fully online, multiplayer entry in the series.
Where does the Fallout TV show fit?
Amazon's 2024 Fallout series is set in 2296, after the events of Fallout 4, making it the latest point on the timeline. It's a separate story but shares the games' world and lore.
Last updated · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, Wikidata
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