GameTimeline

Release & story order

Fallout timeline

Fallout games and the TV show in release order and story order—from the Great War through the wasteland to 2296—with classic vs modern paths and where each expansion fits.

Updated June 2026

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Release order Story order

Release order

When each game was released. Fallout 76 is earliest in the story but last on this list — pick a classic or modern path below.

  • Modern path → Fallout 3 → New Vegas → Fallout 4 → TV show (Fallout 76 optional online prequel)
  • Classic path → Fallout 1 → Fallout 2 → Fallout 3 → New Vegas → Fallout 4 → TV show
  • Just finished the TV show → New Vegas or Fallout 4 for West Coast / synth callbacks
  • Expansions—play after each game's main story; see the questions below (Broken Steel, Lonesome Road, Far Harbor…)
Story order tips

When events happened in the wasteland, from the Great War (2077) through the TV series (2296). Fallout 4's opening and the Great War row both involve 2077 — read both; you don't switch games mid-scene.

  • Full story order: Great War → Fallout 76 (2102) → Fallout 1 → 2 → 3 → New Vegas → 4 → TV (2296)
  • Fallout Tactics (2197) is optional
  • Some Story order entries are hidden—click one to read it, or turn on Show all spoilers

Timeline

When each game was released. Click a game for platforms, dates, and where it fits in your playthrough.

Release order

  1. Fallout

    Fallout

    PCRPGClassic

    The original isometric RPG that defined the wasteland tone.

    Overview
    Interplay built a non-linear RPG around the SPECIAL stat system and turn-based combat with Action Points — unusual for late-1990s Western RPGs. Tim Cain led design; the 1950s retro-future art direction became the series' visual signature.
    In-game setting
    Story year 2161: you leave Vault 13 to find a water chip, then uncover the Master's FEV plot at Mariposa. Shady Sands, Junktown, and the Hub debut here and return in later games.
    Should you play it?
    Essential for classic West Coast lore, but the isometric UI feels dated — many newcomers start with Fallout 3 or New Vegas instead.
    Release date
    US PC launch: September 30, 1997 (Windows). No console version at release.
  2. Fallout 2

    Fallout 2

    PCRPGClassic

    Bigger map, sharper satire, and the Chosen One's journey across California.

    Overview
    Roughly twice the map size of Fallout 1, with deeper faction politics, companions, and a reputation system that remembers your actions town by town.
    In-game setting
    Story year 2241: the Chosen One leaves Arroyo seeking a GECK before the Enclave threatens the wasteland. Twelve distinct endings — among the highest counts in the series.
    Should you play it?
    Direct sequel in story order. Playing Fallout 1 first (or reading a short summary) makes the Enclave payoff land much harder.
    Release date
    US PC launch: September 30, 1998 — one year after Fallout 1, same developer window.
  3. Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel
    Optional

    Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel

    PCSpin-offOptional

    Squad tactics spin-off — Midwest Brotherhood, set 2197 in story time.

    Overview
    Real-time squad tactics instead of open-world RPG — a sharp departure from Fallout 1 and 2.
    In-game setting
    Story 2197–2198: a crashed Midwestern Brotherhood airship unifies settlements against mutants and robots.
    Should you play it?
    Optional — canon status is debated. Skip unless you want every Brotherhood branch; not required for 3, New Vegas, or 4.
    Release date
    US PC launch March 14, 2001.
  4. Fallout 3

    Fallout 3

    PCXbox 360PS3RPGFPS hybrid

    First-person reboot — how most modern players entered the series.

    Overview
    The series moved to 3D first-person exploration with real-time shooting plus VATS — pause-and-target bursts that keep RPG stat builds relevant.
    In-game setting
    Story year 2277: you leave Vault 101 searching for your father James in the Capital Wasteland. Project Purity and a returning Enclave drive the main plot.
    Should you play it?
    The usual modern entry point. Finish the main campaign before Broken Steel and other DLC — See the questions below.
    Release date
    US launch: October 28, 2008 on Xbox 360 and PC; PS3 followed. Gamebryo engine; first main Fallout on home consoles.
  5. Fallout: New Vegas

    Fallout: New Vegas

    PCXbox 360PS3RPGSpin-off

    Often called the best writing in the series — faction war in the Mojave.

    Overview
    Built on Fallout 3's engine but pushed faction reputation, hardcore survival options, and four major ending paths tied to NCR, Caesar's Legion, Mr. House, or independence.
    In-game setting
    Story year 2281: a courier shot in the head gets drawn into the Hoover Dam power struggle. After the main game: Dead Money → Honest Hearts → Old World Blues → Lonesome Road (recommended DLC order).
    Should you play it?
    Same generation as Fallout 3 but a separate story. Play main game first, then DLC — Lonesome Road last.
    Release date
    US launch: October 19, 2010 (PC, Xbox 360, PS3). Developed in roughly 18 months on shared Fallout 3 tech.
  6. Fallout 4

    Fallout 4

    PCPS4Xbox OneRPGSettlement

    Boston Commonwealth, voiced protagonist, and base-building.

    Overview
    Added voiced protagonist dialogue, workshop settlement building across the Commonwealth, and tighter gunplay — the first numbered Fallout on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
    In-game setting
    Story year 2287: the Sole Survivor wakes in Vault 111 after 210 years, searching for Shaun. After the main game: Far Harbor and Nuka-World add major side regions; Automatron and workshop packs are optional.
    Should you play it?
    Standalone story — fine as a first game. Play main campaign before DLC. TV series connects more cleanly after New Vegas or Fallout 1.
    Release date
    US launch: November 10, 2015 (PC, PS4, Xbox One). Creation Engine.
  7. Fallout 76

    Fallout 76

    PCPS4Xbox OneOnlinePrequel

    Always-online RPG — earliest lore setting but released last among main entries.

    Overview
    First always-online Fallout RPG. The 2018 launch had no human NPCs; the Wastelanders update (2020) added full quest givers and reframed it as a co-op RPG.
    In-game setting
    Story starts 2102 in Appalachia — 25 years after the bombs, earlier than any other main game. You are a Vault 76 resident rebuilding after Scorched Plague.
    Should you play it?
    Earliest lore, latest release — put it first in Story order or last in Release order depending on whether you prioritize chronology or single-player comfort.
    Release date
    US launch: November 14, 2018 (PC, PS4, Xbox One). Requires internet; major content arrived through seasonal updates.

FAQ

Where to begin, the gap between games, Fallout 76, and the TV show.

Release order

Story order is when events happened in the wasteland (2077–2296). Release order is what you buy and play—usually Fallout 3 → New Vegas → Fallout 4, or the classic 1 → 2 → 3 path. Fallout 76 is first on the story timeline (2102) but often last by release date. Use Release order and the paths above for playing; use Story order to follow the full plot.

Classic: Fallout 1 → 2 (top-down West Coast) → 3 → New Vegas → 4 → TV show. Modern: start at Fallout 3 or New Vegas, then 4 and the series. You do not need both 1 and 3 to understand 4 — but New Vegas and Fallout 1 deepen TV callbacks.

Story & history

Fallout 76

TV series

Optional & side content

More timelines

Other release-order and story-order guides on this site.