Fallout 76 is the latest in a long line of titles that preceded it, with greater Fallout franchise widely considered to be one of the greatest series’ of RPGs ever created. Brought into the modern gaming industry when Bethesda took the reins and released Fallout 3 in 2008, Fallout has since seen a resurgence that has placed its modern and original titles among favorites for many fans of the genre. Single-player titles released before Fallout 76 rose to fame through the branching storylines and developed characters the series is famous for, but the signature post-apocalyptic setting lies at the core of Fallout.
Throughout the course of the franchise, nearly every mainline Fallout entry has introduced an entirely new location into its post-war nuclear wasteland of a world. The first few entries may have taken place in relatively similar zones, but the number of locations would expand accordingly with the growth of the series of retro-futuristic RPGs. Between the original titles and modern first-person shooter style games, Fallout has taken place across a plethora of locales that each made their own unique mark. With titles like Fallout: New Vegas setting such a high bar, however, it’s only logical that some of the series’ settings prove to be better than others for most players.
S Tier
- Mojave Wasteland (Fallout: New Vegas) - A wasteland and the ruins of Las Vegas, the Mojave is home to the spectacle of New Vegas. A remarkably preserved and maintained bastion relative to the rest of the destruction the nation has endured, New Vegas is a marvel of the post-war Fallout world. Beyond the city, the prolific Fallout Mojave Wasteland offers engaging questlines from various factions as it creates a more hopeful tone than its predecessor. It's still contentious whether the Mojave or Capital wastelands are the best of the series, but the live service nature of Fallout 76 means there's still time for the current era of the franchise to catch up to the glory days.
A Tier
- Far Harbor (Fallout 4) - The setting of Fallout 4's expansion, a Maine location known as "The Island" is the primary location of Far Harbor's dark narrative. An interesting dynamic arises from the conflict between various factions, with a radioactive fog looming over the bombed island. The Island is a highly thematic environment, and the expansion's improvement on every aspect of Fallout 4's base game makes Far Harbor more memorable than the base game for many.
- The Pitt (Fallout 3) - The aptly named ruins of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the subject of Fallout 3's The Pitt DLC is a tough and disturbing place. Overrun by hostile raiders and filled with deformed inhabitants, The Pitt offers one of the most authentic Fallout experiences with its bleak city that is infiltrated by the player under the guise of a slave. A memorable addition on top of the base Capital Wasteland, there's a reason The Pitt was added to Fallout 76.
- Point Lookout (Fallout 3) - Based on the Maryland state park of the same name, Point Lookout is one of the few places to be unharmed by the bombs that destroyed civilization in the Fallout world. Instead, a radioactive water supply has degenerated its population into dangerous mutants. Feeling like a proper continuation to Fallout 3, Point Lookout explores psychological themes and is considered to be one of the greatest DLCs Fallout has ever received likely due in large part to its titular location.
- Capital Wasteland (Fallout 3) - The remnants of part of the United States' East Coast surrounding the capital of Washington D.C., Fallout 3's setting was a bold departure from the original that marked the emergence of the series under Bethesda. Forever legendary for its dark, depressing atmosphere, the Capital Wasteland is nothing short of famous among fans of the series and general RPG players alike. This expanse of ruin evokes a sense of hollowness and death, and its sometimes barren nature works to its overall benefit.
B Tier
- Appalachia (Fallout 76) - Located in West Virginia, the more lively setting of Fallout 76 is the most recent of the series despite the game taking place the earliest in terms of series chronology. While features like its mutated fauna offer some unique charm, Appalachia lacked the character that other wastelands receive through their population of NPCs until nearly two years after its initial release when its Wastelanders DLC launched.
- The Commonwealth (Fallout 4) - The setting of 2015's Fallout 4, The Commonwealth is another northeastern region in the vein of the third game. Home to the technologically advanced faction known as The Institute, The Commonwealth is characterized by the presence of the life-like androids known as Synths. The Commonwealth provides a more realistic iteration on what a post-apocalyptic world could look like, but it ultimately lacks the strong atmosphere from earlier games.
- Nuka World (Fallout 4) - A pre-war theme park based around the popular Nuka Cola beverage, Nuka World has been turned into a massive fortress for hostile raiders. Nuka World may be similar to Fallout 4 with its more linear storytelling, but the setting of the amusement park pays tribute to the past of the series to great effect.
- New California (Fallout 1 and Fallout 2) - The setting of the original Fallout games, New California was the first look at the series' signature nuclear wasteland. The place where it all started, New California established the strong character of the entire franchise in the first Fallout entry. Fallout 2 expanded upon the first with more settlements, and New Reno is still considered one of the best Fallout areas despite being from the more limited isometric era.
C Tier
- Mothership Zeta (Fallout 3) - The final DLC of the series' third entry sees the player abducted by aliens and trapped in the titular spacecraft. A unique setting that leans into the ridiculousness of the franchise, Mothership Zeta is quite a departure from the typical tone. Often criticized for its ridiculous additions to the lore, the Mothership is hardly representative of the Fallout series.
- Zion Canyon (Fallout: New Vegas) - The setting of New Vegas' Honest Hearts expansion, this part of Utah is uniquely lively in terms of its flora and fauna. With its resources, Zion Canyon is the subject of a land-based conflict between different settlers. Honest Hearts has a powerful narrative at its core, but the actual location where it takes place can be less interesting.
Fallout 76 is available for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.