I still look back somewhat fondly on my four years of high school. I wasn’t the most popular or successful person, but it was where I discovered precisely what I wanted to do with my life: write about video games. More specifically, I wanted to become involved with Fallout in some capacity. You see, Fallout 3 launched approximately halfway through my time in high school, and it positively consumed my every waking hour. Before Fallout, I still played video games daily. Oblivion was a favorite before Fallout 3. But something about the Fallout games captivates me, unlike any other video game.
I always wanted to write for a living. Before Fallout, I wanted to write novels. But the post-apocalyptic wasteland of Washington D.C., strolling through the streets of Megaton pre-detonation and traversing the often-terrifying tunnels of the Metro, remains embedded in my most coveted memories all these years later. It truly shaped who I am today, and I’m ever thankful for that.
To some, it’s pathetic. Why let a video game influence so much of your life? To that, I say, why not? I’ve covered Fallout and other Bethesda Game Studios titles, such as Starfield, for high-profile publications such as Prima Games. I wouldn’t be where I am today without Fallout kickstarting my everlasting love of the post-apocalyptic landscape.
Fallout 3
If you couldn’t tell by the lengthy intro, Fallout 3 was my introduction to the franchise. Like many others, a fully realized 3D world set in the Fallout universe was simply too exciting to pass up. Before this, I’d watched older family members play the isometric CRPG Fallout games, and the stories were what enticed me most. But at the time, the graphics were a major drawback.
Then, Bethesda Game Studios unveiled Fallout 3. I still remember the iconic trailer, the one from E3, with its live-action commercial before pulling back to show the Capital Wasteland and the player engaging in shootouts while exploring the world.
I must have spent nearly 1,400 hours playing Fallout 3 on the Xbox 360 back in the day, followed by 1-200 more on more modern systems. To this day, it remains one of my most-played video games of all time.
But to me and many others, Fallout 3 offered much more than entertainment. It was a world of thrilling possibilities. It instilled a deep desire to write about video games for a living. It’s one of the key reasons I pursued freelance writing, inevitably winding up writing for IGN, Prima Games, DualShockers, Insider Gaming, and many more. It all starts with Fallout 3.
Fallout: New Vegas
To many, Fallout: New Vegas is the epitome of the 3D open-world Fallout games following the CRPG classics. It’s a more thorough role-playing experience, with dialogue choices that matter, a branching storyline, and multiple endings. It took the same formula from Fallout 3, with a few downgrades and upgrades here and there, and pushed the franchise further to new heights.
I won’t lie and say that Fallout: New Vegas is my favorite entry. It’s not. But I appreciate its innovations and reach.
While I played New Vegas on launch and in the years following, it wasn’t until I bought a Steam Deck that I genuinely began to appreciate the game. It’s so smooth on the Steam Deck, allowing me to hop into my latest playthrough, once more siding with Mr. House, in my limited spare time.
Where Fallout 3 helped me to realize my career goals, Fallout: New Vegas helped me through the tumultuous time following my daughter’s birth.
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Fallout 4
Following the announcement of Fallout 4, I found myself uprooting my entire life and moving across the country to be with my wife in her hometown. It was a massive cultural and personal change, leaving my childhood hometown for the unknown. However, like exploring the Boston Commonwealth, it was an adventure that I had to experience firsthand to understand its importance.
I know that many find Fallout 4 to be a dumbed-down experience overall. It removes many role-playing elements from Fallout: New Vegas and simplifies the overall experience for the mainstream audience. Despite this simplicity, Fallout 4 remains one of my favorite games—easily in my top five—of all time.
A big reason why I’m still playing Fallout 4 is partially because of the comfort aspect. Times were rough, but Fallout 4 and my then-fiancee were always there in the most challenging times. Nowadays, I return to Fallout 4 because of the community—the modding community, the excitable players still uncovering new locations and mysteries, and the hard-working developers at BGS.
Fallout 76
Let’s dive into the controversial! Yes, Fallout 76 launched so poorly that it earned its reputation. But since then, instead of abandoning the game and running away with the money, Bethesda turned the overall experience around. Today, I recommend Fallout 76 to anyone interested in the series.
It’s our first chance as long-time fans to enjoy the post-apocalyptic wasteland with a partner. In this case, many partners. I long dreamt of a cooperative Fallout, and this wasn’t precisely what I had in mind, but it’s close.
I’ve spent hundreds of hours grinding levels, exploring points of interest, and tackling public events with others. I don’t follow the meta, and I never looked up a build guide, but I’ve enjoyed my time with Fallout 76 wholeheartedly.
On a personal level, Fallout 76 is one of the few multiplayer games I remain connected to. I’m nearly level 100, having played in my spare time over the past few years, and I still find myself returning to participate in new content with other survivors from Vault 76.
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