The Fallout series has been around for decades. And though it’s known for more recent releases, like Fallout 4 and Fallout 76, the earliest titles featured a very different style of gameplay. The likes of Fallout and Fallout 2 presented players with an isometric view of the game world. The combat was also turn-based, with characters relying on a mix of their stats and RNG to land hits on enemy units.
Despite the very different, admittedly clunky mechanics, Fallout and Fallout 2 still get love from the community, with some fans even hoping for remasters or remakes sometime down the line. However, that may prove difficult considering that the original Fallout games were made by Interplay and Black Isle Studios, not Bethesda. Given this, perhaps the developer should consider a Fallout spin-off with gameplay similar to the original titles, especially since Fallout 5 won’t be coming until the next decade or so.
What Made the Original Fallout Titles So Memorable
The first-ever Fallout kickstarted the franchise with a strong RPG that introduced players to the post-apocalyptic world of ghouls, super mutants, and deathclaws. It starts off simple, with the player – simply known as the “Vault Dweller” – venturing out into the wasteland to find a water chip for Vault 13. As the story progresses, however, they learn of a nefarious plan, with the local super mutants at the root of the chaos. Despite having a more straightforward narrative when compared to later entries, Fallout still holds up for its RPG elements. It’s also interesting to note that the original Fallout has arguably the most depressing ending in the franchise.
Fallout 2 was released a year later. Similar to its predecessor, the game highlighted RPG mechanics, but also improved on the overall interface. Here, players take on the role of the “Chosen One” and must leave the village of Arroyo to retrieve a Garden of Eden Creation Kit (or simply a G.E.C.K.). However, when the player returns with the device, they find that the people of Arroyo have been captured by an organization known as the Enclave. The player must then find a way to free the people of their village.
Fallout and Fallout 2 still have plenty of fans within the community, primarily because of their excellent storytelling and world-building. The foundational elements of Fallout’s post-apocalyptic world were born out of the initial games, after all. Players could choose to go about quests in different ways, solving problems with violence or through some clever dialogue. Such variety was what made the straightforward tasks so fun to do, and the fact that the player’s decisions ultimately affected the ending of each game made the choices count for much more.
All that said, however, it’s hard to deny that the gameplay and especially the UI don’t hold up to modern standards. Fallout and Fallout 2 suffer from awkward menus and unintuitive interfaces. Players have also criticized the game’s RNG as it’s all too common to miss an attack despite the supposed 95% chance of hitting. When newer Fallout fans decide to try out the original games, they’re directed to character and skill allocation guides because starting out with the wrong set of stats makes for an extremely frustrating playthrough.
What A New Isometric Fallout Spin-off Could Bring
If Bethesda isn’t too keen on releasing remakes or remasters of the original Fallout titles, then perhaps an all-new spin-off would work. This is where a new isometric Fallout title could come in. It would have the RPG elements of the original Fallout games, just without the clunky gameplay. If anything, it’d be a treat to Fallout fans who are patiently waiting for the next entry. Fallout 5 has been confirmed by Bethesda, but that confirmation is just that it's an idea, not something actively in the works.
Of course, a top-down Fallout spin-off wouldn’t be received as well as the series’ more recent releases. Isometric games cater to a specific niche, and many Fallout fans prefer the open-world exploration and real-time combat. Still, it’d be like a love letter to the titles that jumpstarted the franchise. Moreover, games like the Wasteland series and even indie releases like Weird West prove that there’s still a market for isometric RPGs.
So, if Bethesda were to release a new Fallout spin-off with turn-based, isometric-view gameplay, it has to nail a few directions. First and foremost, it should highlight player choice and consequences in its overarching narrative as that’s a key factor in the first two games. It could also delve into the events that took place in Fallout 1 and 2, showcasing the effects of the Vault Dweller and the Chosen One’s actions in post-apocalyptic California (and maybe, to a certain extent, the Courier’s actions too).
Aside from the emphasis on RPG elements, some fans have expressed that maybe it would work better with party-based combat. This would be a smart move since the single-player experience is already vastly dominated by FPS games with real-time combat. However, making a Fallout game that emphasized party mechanics would be like introducing a new Fallout Tactics game rather than a spin-off of the original mainline series. This could turn off Fallout fans who were partial to the gameplay of Fallout 1 and 2.
Still, if the gameplay and story were done right, then a party-based isometric Fallout title could do the early games justice. This would mean drifting away from Fallout Tactics’ level-based progression and linear storyline then adopting something more akin to the Wasteland series’ gameplay. Interestingly enough, that franchise was produced by talent from the original Fallout team, which is why the two series are often compared.
Overall, a top-down Fallout game can sate fans who are hungry for more content. It’d be a welcome release, especially given that Fallout 5 is still years from completion. Whether Bethesda opts to pursue an isometric spin-off remains to be seen, but the developer has yet to announce anything, likely because the team is hard at work with Starfield as well as pre-production for The Elder Scrolls 6. Still, Fallout fans are hopeful.
Fallout 5 is not in active development.