Since the first game hit stores back in the late 90s, the Fallout franchise has been a dominant force in both the post-apocalyptic and RPG genres. As one would expect, the games have evolved and expanded over time, though the core themes of post-apocalyptic survival have remained throughout the decades.
The future of the Fallout series has been the subject of great interest within the gaming industry recently, as Microsoft's acquisition of Bethesda has gamers curious as to what direction the IP will be going in the future. Moreover, the Bethesda acquisition and subsequent release of numerous Fallout games on Game Pass have made many people eager to try some of the series' games for themselves. To help those looking to get into the series, or for those looking for which game to play next, we've ranked every Fallout game according to their Main Story completion time on howlongtobeat.com.
9 Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel - 8 Hours
Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel was released in 2004 on PlayStation 2 and Xbox. It was the last game to be released by Interplay Entertainment (formerly Interplay Productions) before the rights were passed to Bethesda.
Brotherhood of Steel is a spin-off to the main Fallout series and consequently plays very differently. The most jarring difference is that the game doesn't feature one of the series' iconic open-worlds; it instead offers a linear playing experience. As well as being the shortest game in the franchise, Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel is also the worst received critically, exemplified by its Metascores of 64 and 66 on PS2 and Xbox, respectively.
8 Fallout Shelter - 15 Hours
Fallout Shelter was initially released on iOS and Android in 2015 before coming to PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch in the years that followed.
The game performed even worse with critics than Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel in terms of its console and PC Metascores, though it was far better received on mobile, hence why it doesn't hold the title of the series' most poorly received entry. Along with its iOS Metascore of 71, Fallout Shelter won the Golden Joystick Award for Best Mobile Game in 2015.
7 Fallout - 16.5 Hours
The one that started it all, the original Fallout was released in 1997 by Interplay Entertainment, under their former name Interplay Productions. The game introduced many of the features that are still apparent in the latest Fallout titles, such as the S.P.E.C.I.A.L system and open-world.
One key difference between the original game and the recent Bethesda titles is that Fallout (1997) has turn-based combat instead of real-time combat. The game's turn-based combat mechanic utilized an action-point system, wherein players can perform a certain number of actions in their turn before the meter runs out, adding strategic depth.
6 Fallout 3 - 22.5 Hours
When it was announced that Bethesda would be releasing the next entry into the Fallout series, a ton of pressure was suddenly planted on the upcoming game's shoulders. Bethesda had released The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion in March 2006, so many people were expecting the same high quality when the latest Fallout title hit stores in 2008. Thankfully, the game didn't disappoint and quickly became recognized as one of the best open-world RPGs at the time.
It may not seem like much today, but leaving Fallout 3's vault was an incredible moment back in 2008. The sudden level of freedom and impressive view of the huge open-world was a groundbreaking moment for mainstream audiences at the time and was instrumental in the rise of the open-world genre.
5 Fallout 4 - 27 Hours
Impressively, Fallout 4 had an even larger weight of expectations than Fallout 3 when it was announced. Not only did the game have to follow the success of Fallout 3, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and Obsidian Entertainment's Fallout: New Vegas, but it was also released on the next generation of the consoles after those that hosted the aforementioned games.
Positive initial reviews from critics came as expected, and the game was a big commercial success upon release. However, once fans got a few hours into the game, a few issues began to surface. Along with some technical issues, many fans were disappointed at the lack of true choice in the game, especially compared to New Vegas. The game wasn't dismissed as bad by any means, though many people felt that it could have been improved if their decisions had more impactful consequences.
4 Fallout: New Vegas - 27.5 Hours
Fallout: New Vegas is essentially the opposite of Fallout 4 in the sense that the game's initial hype wasn't anywhere near as big as Fallout 3, but once players spent a few hours in its post-apocalyptic wasteland, they realized that it was something truly special.
The game isn't the most flashy open-world game, and many people describe the visuals as flat-out ugly today, though it massively succeeds in the most important factor: its role-playing gameplay. Fallout New: Vegas offers players a level of freedom that is almost unparalleled, consequently making it one of the best modern RPGs of all time.
3 Fallout 2 - 30.5 Hours
The sequel to the groundbreaking original Fallout was once again released by Interplay Entertainment, under their former name as Interplay Productions. The game's development was handled by a subsidiary of theirs, Black Isle Studios. The studio has since been dissolved, with many of the key employees creating Obsidian Entertainment, the aforementioned team behind Fallout: New Vegas.
Much like its predecessor, Fallout 2 differentiates itself from the Fallout games that would follow with its turn-based combat and 2D isometric graphics.
2 Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel - 31 Hours
Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel was developed by Micro Forté and released in 2001, making it the third entry in the series. As the name suggests, the game focuses on the turn-based tactics combat from the first two Fallout games. Extra emphasis is put on the strategic depth of the combat, most notably by offering three different modes of combat: Individual Turn-Based, Continuous Turn-Based, and Squad Turn-Based.
Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel's impressive runtime of over 30 hours is one of the many factors behind its impressive Metascore of 82.
1 Fallout 76 - 34 Hours
The Fallout series has always seemed like an ideal candidate for an online multiplayer game, so there was little surprise when Bethesda first announced Fallout 76. Like many games on this list, expectations for the final product were high, making it all the more disappointing when the final product was plagued with technical issues and a lack of expected features.
Thankfully, the game has significantly improved since its day one release, and its inclusion on Game Pass means that many people can try the game without having to make a significant financial commitment.