For a first playthrough, follow release order: Fallout (1997), Fallout 2 (1998), Fallout 3 (2008), Fallout: New Vegas (2010), then Fallout 4 (2015). If you mean the order of events in the fictional world, start with Fallout 76, set in 2102. That chronology is an alternative, not a required prologue: Bethesda says any Fallout game can be a first entry. Bethesda’s official timeline provides both release and setting dates.
Recommended order: release date
Release order is the clearest route for a first complete playthrough. It follows how the series introduced its setting and mechanics, while not requiring you to treat every spin-off as part of a single continuous story.
- Fallout — released in 1997; set in 2161. The Vault Dweller searches Southern California for a working water chip to save their Vault.
- Fallout 2 — released in 1998; set in 2241. The Chosen One seeks a G.E.C.K. to help drought-stricken Arroyo.
- Fallout 3 — released in 2008; set in 2277. The Lone Wanderer leaves Vault 101 to search for their father.
- Fallout: New Vegas — released in 2010; set in 2281. The Courier is drawn into a struggle for power in the Mojave.
- Fallout 4 — released in 2015; set in 2287. The Sole Survivor searches the Commonwealth for their missing child.
The dates above distinguish publication from fictional chronology: a game’s release year is not the year in which its story takes place. Bethesda’s 2022 timeline identifies these five as the mainline release sequence.
Chronological order: by in-world setting
To follow the dates of the stories instead, Bethesda’s timeline lists the games in this order:
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- Fallout 76 — set in 2102, 25 years after the Great War of 2077; released in 2018. It is an online multiplayer entry.
- Fallout — set in 2161; released in 1997.
- Fallout 2 — set in 2241; released in 1998.
- Fallout 3 — set in 2277; released in 2008.
- Fallout: New Vegas — set in 2281; released in 2010.
- Fallout 4 — set in 2287; released in 2015.
Fallout 76 comes first only when sorting by story date. Its earlier setting does not make it a prerequisite for the later games, and its multiplayer format makes it a different starting experience from the solo mainline adventures.
Which game should a newcomer start with?
There is no required entry point. Bethesda’s timeline says any Fallout game can be a first game, so choose by the kind of setting and play experience you want rather than worrying about missing a mandatory story setup.
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- Want the series’ original approach? Start with Fallout, then Fallout 2. Their stories center on the Vault Dweller and Chosen One in California and Arroyo.
- Prefer a newer open-world solo adventure? Consider Fallout 3, New Vegas, or Fallout 4, choosing among the Capital Wasteland, Mojave, and Commonwealth settings. Bethesda’s guide to choosing a Fallout game offers preference cues rather than an objective ranking.
- Looking for online multiplayer? Bethesda recommends Fallout 76 for that preference. Its chronological position is a separate question from whether its format suits you.
- Interested in building settlements? Bethesda’s current guide presents Fallout 4 Anniversary Edition as a settlement-building-focused option.
Before buying, check the edition and platform available in your region. Current storefront availability, editions, prices, and platform support can change; the official franchise page is Bethesda’s Fallout page.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Do you need to play the spin-offs?
No. Bethesda’s timeline distinguishes the five-game release-order mainline sequence from additional franchise entries. It also includes Fallout 76 in its broader mainline chronology, while identifying two other games as further entries:
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- Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel (2001) focuses on squad combat, combining real-time and turn-based play.
- Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel (2004) is a more action-oriented console title.
These are optional if your goal is to follow the mainline sequence above. Bethesda’s 2024 Fallout S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Anthology announcement listed seven PC games: Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout Tactics, Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition, Fallout: New Vegas – Ultimate Edition, Fallout 4: Game of the Year Edition, and Fallout 76. That list describes the anthology’s contents, not a requirement to play all those games or proof that its codes remain available. Bethesda’s announcement described a collectible package with seven S.P.E.C.I.A.L. cards and a PC game code for each; it announced an April 11 release date in 2024. Check current availability and code terms rather than assuming the product or codes are still offered.
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