This week marks the arrival of Prime Video’s Fallout series, arguably the most significant video game adaptation of the year. Helmed by executive producer and director Jonathan Nolan (Westworld, The Dark Knight trilogy) and showrunners Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Graham Wagner, this new series promises to be an ambitious translation of the beloved game franchise to television. Early reviews suggest it’s a hit.
For those unfamiliar with the intricate world of Fallout, which boasts a rich history spanning over half a dozen games since its 1990s inception, the sheer depth of its lore can seem daunting. The TV show, positioned canonically as both a prequel and a sequel to many game entries, has a substantial task in establishing the universe for viewers.
However, newcomers need not be intimidated. Despite its quirky characters and bizarre locales, the universe of Fallout is surprisingly accessible, even if you’ve never picked up a controller. So, dust off your imaginary Pip-Boy and prepare your canine companion – here’s a breakdown of what Fallout is all about.
Delving into the World of Fallout
Image depicting Washington D.C. in ruins, showcasing the post-apocalyptic setting of Fallout 3.
First introduced in 1997 with Fallout: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game by Interplay Productions, Fallout plunges players into a grim, post-apocalyptic America. The initial game, set in a radiation-ravaged Southern California wasteland, casts you as a Vault Dweller. These Vault Dwellers are descendants of those who sought refuge in underground nuclear fallout shelters, known as Vaults, generations ago when the bombs fell in 2077. Your initial mission? To venture into the perilous unknown to repair your Vault’s crucial water recycling system and save your community.
While the original game is set in 2161, the Fallout universe is steeped in a retro, 1950s-inspired atompunk aesthetic. In the Fallout timeline, the United States diverged from our reality, maintaining the visual and cultural essence of the Fifties well into the 21st century. This included not only the style but also the era’s sense of American exceptionalism and jingoism.
Jonathan Nolan, in a Rolling Stone interview, described it as “kind of ‘Eisenhower America.’” He elaborated, “[It’s] America that never went through Vietnam, never went through Watergate, that retained some of its — some people would call it ‘innocence,’ some people would call it ‘naïveté.’ Changes were made, things got better and different, but they didn’t follow the same path our world followed.”
A significant divergence is the Fallout universe’s Cold War with China, a protracted conflict culminating in the nuclear devastation that shapes the game’s environment. The games often imply China’s responsibility for the nuclear attack, but the perspective is limited to the post-apocalyptic world. The truth remains ambiguous, a point the TV series might explore further.
Image of Dogmeat from Fallout 4, highlighting the loyal canine companion in the game.
Gameplay in Fallout is deeply rooted in role-playing, experienced from your character’s perspective. Information about the world beyond your immediate region is scarce, leaving much of the global landscape, even outside North America, shrouded in mystery. Some games, such as Fallout 3, delve into historical conflicts like the U.S.-China skirmishes in Anchorage, Alaska. However, the narrative focus generally remains on localized, personal stories within specific regions and communities, rather than a broad, global overview.
Despite the bleak backdrop, Fallout‘s tone leans towards satirical Mad Max rather than outright grimness. Drawing inspiration from classic Westerns, the game’s settings range from California in Fallout 1 and 2, to Washington D.C. in Fallout 3, and later to Boston and Las Vegas (“New Vegas”). The stories often revolve around comedic clashes between factions, rather than solely focusing on tragedy. Exploration uncovers remnants of pre-war political and corporate propaganda, revealing that human nature, with all its flaws and follies, persists even after nuclear annihilation.
Factions and Gameplay Dynamics
Factions are integral to the Fallout narrative. Most Fallout games allow players to encounter and align with diverse groups, often with conflicting agendas. These include raiders preying on vulnerable settlements, remnants of pre-war government and military (like the Brotherhood of Steel featured in the TV series) vying for technological dominance and ideological influence, and local militias striving for survival. Player choices in faction alignment significantly impact the storyline, often leading to branching narratives and consequences for other groups, creating a palpable sense of agency within the game world.
Which Fallout Games Should You Play First?
Image from Fallout 1, showcasing the isometric perspective and older graphics of the original game.
With nine games in the Fallout franchise, including mainline titles and spin-offs, newcomers have numerous entry points. However, choosing where to begin can be tricky.
The 1997 original Fallout, while historically significant, might not be the most welcoming starting point. Conceived by Interplay as a spiritual successor to Wasteland (1988), the first Fallout (and its sequel) utilize an isometric, point-and-click style reminiscent of older adventure games. While they introduced core elements like branching dialogues and the V.A.T.S. turn-based combat system, their dated mechanics can feel cumbersome for players unfamiliar with mouse-and-keyboard-centric, text-heavy gameplay of that era.
The landscape shifted dramatically in 2008 with Bethesda Softworks’ Fallout 3, marking the series’ transition to the first-person shooter/exploration format now synonymous with Fallout. This pivotal release catapulted Fallout from a cult classic to a mainstream gaming phenomenon.
Fallout 3 remains highly playable today. Following the Bethesda template popularized by The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, it offers a seamless first-person open-world experience accessible to anyone familiar with modern open-world games. However, accessing Fallout 3 can be slightly challenging unless you’re on PC or Xbox, where backward compatibility and digital storefronts like Steam and Xbox Game Pass make older titles readily available. PlayStation users can stream it via PlayStation Plus, but internet reliability can impact visual quality and input lag.
Image from Fallout 3, demonstrating the V.A.T.S. combat system in first-person perspective.
Fallout: New Vegas (2010) presents similar accessibility hurdles. Yet, for those seeking the most hardcore Fallout experience, it’s worth the effort. Technically a spin-off, it mirrors Fallout 3‘s gameplay but with a darker tone and heightened survival mechanics, such as managing dehydration in the wasteland. Favored by many fans as the series’ pinnacle, New Vegas was developed by Obsidian Entertainment, founded by former Interplay and Black Isle Studios members – the creators of Fallout 1 and 2. This lineage lends New Vegas a feel closer to the original duology, appealing to purists, while remaining a superb standalone entry.
For complete newcomers, Fallout 4 (2015) or Fallout 76 (2018) are the most user-friendly starting points. Fallout 4 refines the Fallout 3 and New Vegas formula with smoother controls, emphasizing first-person shooting and crafting over deep RPG mechanics. This makes it ideal for players accustomed to franchises like Call of Duty or Halo, while retaining the core Fallout essence. Fallout 4 is widely available on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation 4, with a next-gen upgrade for Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 on the horizon.
Fallout 76 is a more unconventional recommendation. Diverging from the single-player RPG roots, it’s an online multiplayer live service game. For fans of MMORPGs like World of Warcraft or squad-based shooters like Fortnite and Helldivers 2, it offers a social entry into the Fallout world, mitigating the solitary wasteland experience.
With Fallout 5 in development but years away, Fallout 4 and Fallout 76 stand as the most accessible current options for experiencing Fallout games.
The Fallout TV Show: A New Chapter
Key art from Fallout 4 featuring the iconic quote “War. War never changes.”
Prime Video’s Fallout series distinguishes itself by being more than a mere adaptation. It’s a canonical addition to the Fallout narrative. Setting up its own storyline with three distinct protagonists – a Vault Dweller (Lucy played by Ella Purnell), a Brotherhood of Steel soldier, and a Ghoul – it transforms the games’ open-ended gameplay into a linear narrative from diverse perspectives. Prior game knowledge isn’t essential for enjoying the show.
However, as detailed in a recent behind-the-scenes report, the show’s creators have deeply integrated Fallout lore, going beyond simple Easter eggs. Familiarity with the intricate world and dynamics of Fallout enhances the viewing experience, creating a sense of watching the video games unfold on screen.
The series begins by showcasing pre-war life, expanding on the context previously hinted at in Fallout 4, delving into the “how” and “why” of the apocalypse. The main timeline is set in 2296, placing it after all existing games – nine years after Fallout 4 and over 130 years after the original Fallout, which established California and key locations featured in the show.
The show features familiar Fallout factions, notably the Enclave, a paramilitary group claiming to be the U.S. government’s continuation, and the Brotherhood of Steel, a technology-obsessed quasi-religious order. These are factions players can encounter and align with throughout the games.
The series also includes nods and teases that will excite long-time fans and likely fuel online discussions about future storylines, particularly given the high probability of a second season.
For now, the Fallout universe offers rich content for exploration. Whether diving into the game series’ history or watching the TV show, there’s never been a better time to venture into the wasteland and discover what Fallout is all about.
