What Fallout Game Should You Play First? A Tired Gamer’s Honest Take

on a day ago

What Fallout Game Should I Play First?

Okay, so quick story — I was at a GameStop like... I dunno, maybe 10 years ago? And this kid, probably like 14 or 15, was asking the cashier: “Hey, what Fallout game should I start with?” And the poor dude behind the counter just kind of froze. I felt that. It’s not an easy question. Like, at all.

Anyway, that moment stuck with me. Mostly ‘cause I remember I had the same question back in the day. My first real Fallout was 3, back in 2008 (wait—yeah, it was 2008, I almost said 2007). And that moment stepping out of Vault 101 into the blinding sunlight? Bro. I legit just stood there. Didn’t move. I think I even got shot because I was just soaking it in.

So yeah. You’re wondering where to start. Lemme try to help.

Fallout Isn't Just a Game, It's a... Vibe?

Okay look, the Fallout series is a weird beast. It started as this top-down, isometric, turn-based thing in the ‘90s — Fallout 1 and 2 — with deep roleplaying systems, dark humor, and honestly? Brutal difficulty. Like, I died to rats in the first 10 minutes.

Then Bethesda came in with Fallout 3 and turned it into a first-person RPG-shooter hybrid. Some people still haven’t forgiven them for that. And then New Vegas came along, made by Obsidian, and now there's this whole civil war in the fandom. (We'll get there.)

But here’s the thing: Fallout is about making choices in a broken world. Doesn’t matter if it's turn-based or VATS-assisted slow-mo headshots — it’s the vibe that counts.

The Best Fallout Game for Beginners (Don’t @ Me)

Alright. Deep breath.

If you're totally new, start with Fallout: New Vegas.

Yup. Not Fallout 4. Not even 3. I know, I know. New Vegas is clunky. The graphics are... not great, especially now. And it will crash on you. Probably more than once. But tbh? It’s got the best writing, the best choices, the most satisfying RPG systems, and — ngl — some of the funniest dialogue trees I’ve ever seen.

You want meaningful consequences? New Vegas has quests that spiral into complete chaos based on a single speech check. You want factions? Boom. NCR, Legion, Yes Man, Mr. House — pick your poison. You want to roleplay as a science nerd who sweet-talks robots? Done.

The only reason I wouldn’t recommend it is if you literally can't deal with jank. But even then... mod it. Nexus has your back.

Fallout 4: It's Easy to Like, But...

Okay so let’s talk Fallout 4.

It’s super accessible. Smooth gunplay, beautiful (well... kind of) world, and probably the easiest to just pick up and do stuff. Like I spent 6 hours customizing my settlement in Sanctuary before even touching the main quest. And don’t get me started on mods — the modding scene is still bananas.

But — and here’s where people get mad — it kinda... dumbed down the RPG stuff. Dialogue options became yes, no, sarcastic yes, and maybe. Perks replaced skills. You don’t feel like you're roleplaying as much. It’s more “shoot bad guys and collect junk.”

Not bad, just... different.

I’d say Fallout 4 is great if you want a smoother ride. But if you're here for choices and gray morality? It’s not the one. Still, it’s a solid intro if you're worried about getting overwhelmed.

Other Starting Points (That Might Surprise You)

If you're feeling adventurous or just... weird (respect), here are a couple other starting points:

Fallout 3: My first love. It’s kinda like Fallout 4 but with more atmosphere and a darker tone. The writing isn’t as sharp as New Vegas, but it feels like the end of the world. The intro in Vault 101? Iconic. Also: Liam Neeson voices your dad. No joke.
Fallout 1: Okay this is gonna sound weird, but… lowkey, if you’re into CRPGs like Baldur’s Gate or Disco Elysium, try Fallout 1. It’s short, punchy, and absolutely brutal. You’ll die a lot. But it’s pure.
Fallout 76: I can already hear the groans. Look, it launched in shambles, no denying that. But today? It’s actually kind of fun. They added story stuff, human NPCs, factions... it’s like Fallout 4 online with events and weird costumes. Just... don’t go in expecting New Vegas.

What You Should Expect (From Someone Who’s Been There)

Here's the thing. Fallout games aren’t just about the main quest. They’re about wandering into a random shack and finding a skeleton holding a teddy bear and a bottle of scotch, and then making up your own story about what happened.

Expect bugs. Expect long load screens (especially on consoles). Expect to not know what you're doing sometimes. That’s the point. Getting lost is part of the fun.

And honestly? Don’t min-max your perks on your first run. I did that, and I ended up with a boring character who could kill everything but had zero charisma. Play a weird build. Be a speech god or a dumb brute. It’s more fun that way.

Oh! And save often. Like, really often. Trust me.

TL;DR (But Also Not Really Because You Should’ve Read It)

If you’re asking “what Fallout game should I play first?” — my real answer is:

Fallout: New Vegas if you want the best roleplaying.

Fallout 4 if you want the easiest entry point.

Fallout 3 if you want the classic Bethesda wasteland vibe.

Fallout 1 if you're old-school and kind of a masochist (respect).

Honestly, any of them are worth playing. Just... don’t expect perfection. Expect stories. The ones the game gives you, and the ones you make yourself.

Still Can’t Decide?

Okay, so — if you’re still torn, I actually found this random picker tool that helped a buddy of mine: Random Game Generator. It’s like, click a button and boom — your fate is sealed. Super fun, low stakes.

Anyway, I should probably go to bed. It’s like... 11:47 PM now? Crap. Time flies when you’re talking Fallout.

Let me know what you pick. Seriously. I love hearing people’s first Fallout stories. They're always wild.

Good luck out there in the wasteland. Watch out for Deathclaws. And never trust a smiling Mister Handy.

—Marcus