The Fallout franchise is one of the most long-standing high-profile franchises in gaming history, and it is easy to see why. The dystopian RPGs have understandably altered core details of the IP over time in a bid to keep things fresh, but there is one factor of the games that has remained constant: the gripping locations in which they are set.
Across the mainline Fallout titles, their respective DLCs, and several spin-off titles under the franchise, there are numerous locations that the games have explored over the series' 25 year existence. Despite all being afflicted by nuclear warfare, these different locations all have their own unique charms and intricacies. Although Fallout Tactics and Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel feature unique locations including Colorado, Illinois, and Texas, their lack of canonicity means they don't appear here.
Fallout - New California
The first ever setting featured within the Fallout franchise was the contested area of New California. Considering that the United States is practically unrecognizable in the Fallout universe due to nuclear war, many of the settings in the games are loosely defined enclave areas that have developed out of the ruins of pre-war locations, and New California is no different.
New California was the primary setting of the original Fallout, which released in 1997. A relatively ambiguously-defined area that shifts with the politics of the land, New California spans over most of pre-war California, Nevada, Oregon, and parts of Mexico.
The area is perhaps most well known for being the center of the New California Republic faction. One of the largest post-war factions, the NCR is a federal republic spanning well across New California, with the aim of restoring pre-war democratic values and order. New California was additionally the primary setting of Fallout 2, which saw the NCR expand significantly in power and influence over the area.
Fallout 3 - Capital Wasteland
Fallout 3 was the first mainline title to explore a new core location, opting to move over to the East Coast's Capital Wasteland. Like New California, the Capital Wasteland is the term for a post-war area that consists of many pre-war locations, such as Virginia, Pennsylvania, and the District of Colombia.
The area got its name from being the location of the historical U.S capital; the area received heavy damage during the cataclysmic Great War as a result of its prior importance. Many of the once-verdant rivers that ran through the region dried up as a result of the nuclear war, subjecting the land to intense and prolonged desertification within the post-war period. However, the core cities of the Capital Wasteland have somewhat retained their urban presence, despite many of the buildings being reduced to rubble.
Fallout 3 - Anchorage
One of the most ambitious Fallout DLCs came with Fallout 3's Operation Anchorage, which saw players experience the tundra of Alaska. Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska, and was the stage of a momentous historical battle in Fallout lore which saw the USA push back invading Chinese forces from the snow-covered city.
While not directly visitable in the DLC, the player is forced to re-live the battle via an in-depth simulation. The simulation features Anchorage overrun by Chinese soldiers, portraying its icy cliff faces and built-up fortifications.
Fallout 3 - The Pitt
A new location was introduced to Fallout 3 with The Pitt DLC. The Pitt is a city built upon the remains of Pittsburgh, from which the location gets its name. The Pitt is predominantly inhabited by raiders, made up of mostly hostile and chem-addicted individuals.
Due to Chinese warheads targeting Pittsburgh in the Great War, much of The Pitt's population suffers from serious deformities, with the effects being felt for generations. Recently, it was announced that Fallout 76 will be receiving its own Pitt expansion, opening up a whole new area for players to explore.
Fallout 3 - Point Lookout
Another expansion for Fallout 3 saw players able to explore a brand-new area called Point Lookout. This location is very much based on Point Lookout State Park in Maryland, and is a mostly overgrown and swampy area.
While not directly impacted by bombs during the war, the flow of contaminated water through the rivers of this marshy location have spread the impacts of radiation. For example, Point Lookout is infested with deranged "swampfolk," a highly hostile and deformed inhabiting population.
Fallout 3 - Mothership Zeta
Fallout and aliens have always had a strange if humorous relationship, and Fallout 3 made a point of showcasing that. The game's last DLC was Mothership Zeta, which involved the Lone Wanderer getting abducted, forcing them to battle through a spaceship in order to secure freedom for themselves and other abductees.
Fallout: New Vegas - New Vegas and the Mojave Desert
Next to the aforementioned New California is the eccentric New Vegas, which of course featured heavily within Fallout: New Vegas. Built in the Mojave Desert amidst the ruins of Las Vegas, New Vegas offers the same vices and entertainment as its pre-war counterpart. The Mojave is also home to The Divide, a stretch of arid land afflicted by earthquakes and storms.
The surrounding areas of New Vegas were quite damaged by bombing and are resultantly destitute and impoverished, but the city itself is one of the biggest post-war spectacles across the entire Wasteland. The city is owned and managed by Robert House, who successfully predicted that nuclear war would take place and poured resources into protecting and maintaining the city. The crown jewel of New Vegas is the New Vegas Strip, which has been remodeled since the war to mimic the glory and excess of the original Las Vegas Strip.
Fallout New Vegas: Zion Canyon
Zion Canyon featured within the Honest Hearts add-on for New Vegas, being based off of Zion National Park in Utah. Like it's real-world inspiration, Zion Canyon is known for its steep red cliffs and winding forest trails.
Originally inhibited only slightly by the direct fallout of the nuclear war, Zion Canyon is unique in that it regained a relatively healthy level of flora and fauna after the war in comparison to other locations. Due to its comparative flourish, Zion Canyon has housed various settler groups over the years, often leading to conflicts over the land.
Fallout 4 - The Commonwealth
The most recent mainline installment of the Fallout games stays on the East Coast, with Fallout 4 predominantly being set within an area known as The Commonwealth. The Commonwealth is more easily identifiable with pre-war geography, primarily including the former state of Massachusetts.
Especially during Fallout 4, The Commonwealth is perhaps most known for being the main headquarters of a technologically advanced faction called The Institute. Within The Commonwealth, The Institute is based under the ruined Commonwealth Institute of Technology, the nation's brightest minds took refuge under the institution during the war, and passed their knowledge down through generations. The Institute famously developed synthetic robots, or "synths" which strikingly resemble humans, with synths being found across The Commonwealth as a result.
Fallout 4 - Far Harbor
Far Harbor is the primary location of the Fallout 4 add-on of the same name, and is set largely on 'The Island'. The island in question is inspired by the real Mount Desert Island, which is off the coast of Maine.
The Island was deeply changed by the bombings, causing a thick cloud of radioactive fog to constantly linger over it. Understandably disgruntled, the wildly different factions that inhabit The Island, which include synth refugees and religious fanatics, are embroiled in a constant conflict.
Fallout 4 - Nuka World
The final DLC of Fallout 4 sees players travel to Nuka World, a pre-war amusement park. Located within the city of Boston, the long-dormant theme park is now dominated by hostile and unpredictable raiders.
Being themed around the successful and iconic Nuka Cola drink, the park was extremely popular in its pre-war days, making it a truly expansive area. Despite being a peaceful trading outpost for a brief time in the post-war period, the natural defensive layout of the park meant that brutal raiders were quick to conquer the park.
Fallout 76 - Appalachia
The most recent Fallout title came with Fallout 76, which is set within the entirely unique location of Appalachia. The area of Appalachia is composed of the pre-war state of West Virginia, being one of the least devastated primary settings of any Fallout title due to its lack of strategic importance.
Because of this, Appalachia is perhaps the most bio-diverse of any main Fallout location, sporting thriving greenery and diversely-populated wooded areas. This is not to say that the area is unaffected from the horrors of nuclear fallout, with mutated fauna and toxic valleys also littering the wide-spanning area.