Whether jumping on straight after finishing up Amazon's incredible Fallout TV show or finally hitting the "F" section of the "acclaimed video game series to play" list, potential newcomers out there may be asking themselves: "Which game is the best to start with?" Each game tells a standalone story in a semi-connected anthology, which means that a new player could go with any of them. However, there are a few factors to consider to get the best experience.

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For the most part, it will come down to gaming experience and personal preference. As an aside, two games (Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel and Fallout Tactics) have not been included on this list and, needless to say, are not recommended for a first-time Fallout experience. Fallout Shelter, the free-to-play management sim spinoff, while an enjoyable diversion, isn't the best entry point for the series and has similarly been omitted.

Fallout 76

Not Recommended For First-Timers

• Upsides: something to try with friends (later)
• Downsides: a foundational lack of features indicative of the rest of the series

Contrary to the title, Fallout 76 isn't, in fact, the 76th game in the series. The "76" refers to the vault number that players emerge from at the start of the game, which is notable for being the first to open in the lore after the bombs fell and making 76the first game in the series, chronologically. As a massively multiplayer online game designed to cater to existing fans, 76 probably isn't the best game to get started in the Fallout universe, especially for those looking to get hooked on a good story.

While there is still a lot to love, newcomers will miss out on many of the staples that make a Fallout game so unique. That includes a narrative tailored for a single-player experience, permanent consequences for player decisions, and an immersive world brimming with interesting characters. Fallout 76 was built as a multiplayer playground where interactions with other people are meant to provide the bulk of the fun. Those looking for the quintessential Fallout experience may wish to put this one off until later.

Fallout

Recommended For: Purists, Old-School RPG Fans

• Upsides: Although dated, it still holds up and still feels distinctly "Fallout"
• Downsides: Outdated designs, older graphics, steeper difficulty curve

It may seem logical to start with the very first game in the series (especially as long-time fans correctly hold Fallout in high regard), but there are plenty of pros and cons to weigh up. While it still holds up in terms of atmosphere, gameplay, and storytelling, Fallout is still a computer roleplaying game released in the 90s. For fans of the show, the game's look and feel will be eerily familiar, from the 50s bops to the ultra-gore. However, Fallout's user interface can be a little unforgiving for the uninitiated, and some of its conventions may be bewildering to those unfamiliar with tabletop roleplaying games. While it isn't the most complicated game to get to grips with relative to its contemporaries, some features (or lack thereof) might be a dealbreaker.

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While fitting for a post-nuclear setting, combat can be brutal for those unfamiliar with old-school gaming, especially with the lack of an autosave feature that is ubiquitous in most games today. Some basic, taken-for-granted conveniences are absent; for example, when moving items from a container to the inventory, there is no "take all" button. Finally, Fallout is a PC-only game that can only be played while hunched over a mouse and keyboard. For hardline purists, the first Fallout is still a viable place to begin, so long as expectations are appropriately set. If the experience doesn't resonate, consider moving on to one of the more modern titles.

Fallout 3

Recommended For: Explorers, Vault Dweller Enthusiasts

• Upsides: a vault-centric storyline, excellent worldbuilding and exploration
• Downsides: outclassed in terms of systems, story, and graphics by other games, few ties to the other games or TV show

Fans of the Fallout TV show who were intrigued by the vaults and their dwellers may be interested to know that Fallout 3 offers the most extensive depiction of "life underground." From a first-person perspective, players experience growing up in Vault 101, located just below one of the most destroyed parts of the post-nuclear United States: Washington, DC. A hitch that may disappoint fans of the show is that DC is far from the West Coast, and while there are connecting elements and factions, there's nothing really connecting the two places story-wise.

That said, while it may not be as graphically impressive as its successor, the Capital Wasteland is still compelling to explore and packed with great post-apocalyptic moments and characters. Fallout 3 isn't known for having the best narrative, lore contributions, or game mechanics (especially in terms of gunplay, which can often feel clunky), but it delivers a great atmosphere, especially during the tense moments in the underground caves, vaults, and subway tunnels. Fallout 3 might scratch an itch for wanderers looking for a grand adventure across a truly blighted landscape.

Fallout 2

Recommended For: Challenge Seekers, Retro Game Fans

• Upsides: Fallout 2 is more newcomer-friendly than the original, and fans of the TV show will feel right at home
• Drawbacks: the isometric perspective and old-school conventions take a little getting used to

Taking place 100 years after the events of the original game, Fallout 2 thrusts the player into the dusty shoes of the first game's descendant. It was released one short year after the publication of the original, but despite its extremely short turnaround, Fallout 2 improved on its predecessor in many ways. There is a quick tutorial segment at the top to help ease players in before their journey begins and an overall gentler difficulty curve. Fallout 2 is also known for having some of the best storytelling and branching choices in the series, with much of the plot taking place around Shady Sands in its golden age.

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Fans of the TV show who can handle the retro feel and isometric perspective will enjoy sinking their teeth into some familiar environments and the lore. There are no vital plot threads or details that will prevent the player from enjoying Fallout 2 after skipping the first game, but there are a few fun connections for those who have played it. As with the original, there's still a learning curve for gamers of a modern sensibility, and there is no console version of Fallout 2 to enjoy from the comfort of a couch.

Fallout 4

Recommended For: Casual Gamers Or Base Builders

• Upsides: Well produced, looks great on a big TV, uses streamlined storytelling, has extensive base-building mechanics
• Drawbacks: a lack of player agency and a lack of connection with the TV show and earlier games

Long-term fans of the series will likely turn those looking to get into the Fallout series away from Fallout 4, and they aren't necessarily wrong. There are much fewer narrative branches and interesting choices on offer, the setting (like its predecessor, Fallout 3) is far away from the core setting of the West Coast, and the writing doesn't quite meet the high standards established by earlier games. That all being said, Fallout 4 is a decent entry point because of its fantastic presentation and player onboarding. As well as being playable on a console, it is easily the best-looking of all the games in the series.

The non-playable characters in previous games could appear stiff, robotic, and uncannily creepy, even for the unfortunate souls living in an irradiated wasteland, but Fallout 4 delivers a level of fidelity and polish with instant appeal. In most Fallout games, the player is free to create their own character and story. However, in Fallout 4, players may find themselves restricted by the pre-written personality of the protagonist, thanks, in part, to the fully-voiced player dialogue and lack of story options. On the other hand, this may be an upside for those typically overwhelmed by freedom of choice. Conversely, Fallout 4 comes with an engaging base-building system that can quickly suck creatively-minded players in with endless design possibilities.

Fallout: New Vegas

Highly Recommended For All Newcomers

• Upsides: The perfect entry point for newcomers, follows the story of the other games (and the TV show) and perfectly captures the Fallout spirit
• Downsides: looks a little dated, graphically

Ring-a-ding-ding! Fallout: New Vegas has it all: ties to the original two Fallout games, charm, meaningful story choices, memorable and fleshed-out characters, serviceable graphics and controls, a console port, and a gentle landing during the introduction for those who have never picked up a controller before in their life. Although New Vegas takes place in Nevada, the look and feel will be more familiar to fans of the TV show than the other two console releases.

New Vegas also includes many of the TV show's main players, such as the Brotherhood of Steel, the NCR, and a few other surprise faces, and the events depicted in New Vegas will likely have a much greater impact on the future of the TV show than those seen in Fallout 3 or Fallout 4. New Vegas may look a little dated when compared to next-generation games like Fallout 4, as it was built on top of the same game engine that Fallout 3 used, but it isn't that hard of a bridge to cross. Fans consider it the true successor to the original PC games for good reason, as it follows up on so many classic story threads while also managing to stand alone with high-quality writing and inspired game design.

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