Fallout 3was released in 2008, nearly 17 years ago. SinceFallout 3’s release, theFalloutfranchise has had something of a renaissance, withFallout 4and Amazon Prime’sFalloutseries putting the series into the view of more people than ever before. Set in a dystopian post-nuclear wasteland, theFalloutfranchise has a compelling setting that blends sci-fi with a retrofuturist aesthetic.
2025 is a great year to revisit bothFallout 3andFallout: New Vegas. While both games are over a decade old, they haven’t aged out of being playable, and include features that are better implemented than some modern games. Its storytelling, lore, and combat remain a core part of the experience, alongside the experience of exploring a wasteland teeming with the unexpected around every corner.Fallout 3’s DLCs, particularlyBroken Steel,The Pitt, andPoint Lookout, are optional but great additions toFallout 3’s base game and should be considered in any playthrough.
Revisiting Fallout 3 While Bethesda Shifts Focus to The Elder Scrolls
Because of the long gap between its release and 2025, it’s the perfect time to revisitFallout 3. Players who haven’t had a chance to playFallout 3sinceFallout 4’s release may be surprised to find it’s aged well considering how old it is, with its mechanics, open-world features, and combat system not only functional, but enjoyable to use in 2025.Fallout 3also has a wealth of mods available to players, allowing them to customize their experience almost any way they want.
Players who have never playedFallout 3should take the chance to experience a new part of theFalloutsetting, especially one with so much lore. Fans of theFalloutfranchise, whether it’s the games or the Amazon series, who want to know ’s lore, will get the most out of playingFallout 3for the first time. One of the most important parts ofFallout’s lore thatFallout 3establishes concerns ghouls, which became particularly relevant inFallout 76and Amazon’sFalloutseries.
Bethesda often only develops one game at a time, and has shifted focus fromFalloutandStarfieldtoThe Elder Scrolls 6. Because of this strategy, there likelywon’t be anotherFalloutgame in developmentat least untilThe Elder Scrolls 6has been released. Without a release window forThe Elder Scrolls 6, it’s difficult to predict when the nextFalloutgame will enter development. Revisiting past games in the series is a great way to remember some of the best moments ofFallout,and is especially worthwhile for new players.
Fallout 3’s Setting and Story
Fallout 3’s Capital Wastelandis considered one ofFallout’s best settings. As an open-world game, it excels in striking a balance between environmental storytelling and RPG mechanics that few other modern open-world games do. Every location incorporates environmental storytelling, incorporating things to discover and clues to put together that tell a story, giving the impression of stumbling across a world that is alive and moves beyond the player’s sphere of influence. Beyond its environmental storytelling, the Capital Wasteland has been noted for its accuracy in depicting Washington, DC, particularly DC’s metro system.
Returning to Bethesda at its Height
Fallout 3uses this to create an immersive atmosphere for players, one that Bethesda has arguably struggled to capture in the years sinceFallout 3’s release. At its core,Fallout 3is an immersive open-world game with deep RPG elements that didn’t translate toFallout 4. WhileFallout 4is a good game in its own right,Fallout 3offers something differentand unique to players that isn’t often seen in 2025.
