The second season of Prime Video's critically acclaimed live-action Fallout adaptation has captivated audiences, sparking renewed interest in the iconic video game franchise that inspired it. As viewers spot familiar characters and plot threads, many are asking: just how expansive is the Fallout gaming universe?
The Complete Fallout Gaming Legacy
To date, there are nine distinct Fallout titles that form the core of the series. This collection encompasses mainline entries developed by the original creators and subsequent studios, alongside various spin-offs released for PC, consoles, and mobile platforms. The franchise's evolution mirrors the technological and narrative shifts in gaming over nearly three decades.
The Original Classics: Fallout 1 & 2
The saga began with Interplay Entertainment, which launched Fallout in 1997 and its sequel in 1998. These foundational titles were isometric, turn-based role-playing games set in a post-nuclear California. The first game cast players as the Vault Dweller, on a desperate quest for a water chip to save Vault 13. Fallout 2 advanced the timeline 80 years, with players becoming the Chosen One, descendant of the original hero.
Spin-offs and Experimental Titles
The franchise soon branched out. Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel (2001, PC) shifted focus to squad-based tactics, following a Brotherhood of Steel chapter. Notably, Bethesda has since stated this game is not considered official series canon. The console-exclusive Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel (2004) for PlayStation 2 and Xbox adopted a top-down action perspective, though its departure from the series' tone was poorly received by fans.
The Bethesda Era and Modern Hits
The franchise's landscape changed dramatically when Bethesda Softworks acquired the rights. Fallout 3 (2008) revolutionised the series as a first/third-person open-world action RPG set in the Capital Wasteland around Washington, D.C. Its story of a Vault 101 dweller searching for their father, voiced by Liam Neeson, shares clear DNA with the Prime series.
Fallout: New Vegas (2010), developed by Obsidian Entertainment—founded by original Fallout team members—is often hailed as a pinnacle. Set in the Mojave Wasteland, it introduced deep faction politics where player choices directly shaped who controlled New Vegas.
Fallout 4 (2015) brought a voiced protagonist and a gripping personal narrative: a parent from Vault 111 searching for their kidnapped son Shaun in The Commonwealth (Boston), amidst warring factions like the Institute and the Railroad.
The series' foray into online multiplayer came with Fallout 76 (2018), set in West Virginia. It has evolved significantly since launch, even adding Walton Goggins' Ghoul character from the TV show as an NPC. The management sim Fallout Shelter (2015) started on mobile before expanding to consoles, tasking players with building and overseeing their own vault.
What's Next for the Wasteland?
Fallout 5 has been officially confirmed as 'fully greenlit' by Bethesda's Executive Producer, Todd Howard. However, concrete details on setting or story remain under wraps. Development is expected to follow Bethesda's work on The Elder Scrolls VI and ongoing support for Starfield, meaning fans will likely face a substantial wait before stepping into a new single-player Wasteland.
For now, the entire legendary game series offers a deep well of stories for new fans discovering the universe through Prime Video's hit adaptation, which is currently streaming.
