Should I Play Fallout 3 Before Fallout 4? A Hardcore Gamer‘s Perspective
As a Fallout franchise enthusiast who has sunk over 800 hours across Fallout 3, New Vegas, and Fallout 4, I get asked often by newer players if they need to start with 2008‘s Fallout 3 before enjoying 2015‘s Fallout 4. My short answer is: no, play whichever piques your interest first! While these two Bethesda-crafted RPGs take place in the same meticulously realized post-nuclear war universe, Fallout 4 stands independently as a great entry point.
Sure, those who play Fallout 3 first may catch some cool callbacks when visiting the Boston Commonwealth Wasteland. But Fallout 4 introduces an entirely new chapter on the opposite American coastline, with fresh factions to meet like the radiation-loving Children of Atom and a revamped S.P.E.C.I.A.L. leveling system.
As someone who has adored every minute wandering both titles‘ open worlds, this guide compares the key elements of story, gameplay, exploration, quests, and more between these classics. My aim isn‘t to declare one better than the other, but provide perspectives so you can decide where to start your journey through the retro Fallout alternate history!
When Do These Fallout Games Take Place?
Before weighing which game comes first sequentially, let‘s cover when these acclaimed RPGs occur in the greater Fallout universe:
- Fallout 3 – Year 2277, 200 years after nuclear war erupts in 2077. You play as the "Lone Wanderer."
- Fallout: New Vegas – Year 2281, occurs after Fallout 3 wrapping up some plot threads. You play as "The Courier."
- Fallout 4 – Year 2287, set a full decade after Fallout 3. You play as "The Sole Survivor."
So while 10 years separate Fallout 3 and 4‘s stories, the Sole Survivor‘s journey exists completely separately from the Lone Wanderer‘s quest to find their father and defeat The Enclave army in the Capital Wasteland. Let‘s explore why…
Do These Games‘ Stories Connect at All?
Fallout 3‘s Main Storyline: The Lone Wanderer emerges from Vault 101 to search for their scientist father James. But they quickly get wrapped up in Project Purity, an attempt by James and fellow Vault escapees to provide clean water to Washington D.C.‘s irradiated inhabitants.
Fallout 4‘s Story: A newly unfrozen cryogenically frozen Sole Survivor (customizable as male or female) awakes to find their spouse killed and infant child Shaun kidnapped in 2077‘s opening atomic bombings. They then pursue Shaun‘s kidnapper and investigate their shadowy Institute origins.
As you can see, while the backdrop of post-nuclear America provides some shared themes, the core narratives share no continuity. In my opinion, Fallout 4 crafts an even more emotionally gut-wrenching premise as you play a parent desperately chasing their lost family.
Some organizations like the Brotherhood of Steel appear in both Capital and Commonwealth Wastelands. But these games tell standalone stories; no need to play them sequentially from a plot perspective.
Gameplay Mechanics and Systems Overhaul in Fallout 4
While epic open world adventures with choices driving your character build connect Fallout 3 and 4, the newer Boston Commonwealth entry significantly overhauls mechanics:
| Gameplay Mechanic | Fallout 3 | Fallout 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Combat | Primarily V.A.T.S. slow-mo targeting | Enhanced real-time gunplay |
| Weapon Modding | Very limited modifications | Deep customization system |
| Crafting | Extremely limited crafting | Robust crafting stations for weapons/armor |
| Graphics | Rough even for 2008 | Greatly improved landscapes, textures, lighting |
| Side Quest Design | High quality mission diversity | Dungeon-crawl "radiant" fetch quest focus |
Based on aggregator OpenCritic, Fallout 4 earned an average review score of 87% from over 75 critics. Many praised efforts to modernize Fallout‘s classic albeit janky formula. Destructoid‘s Chris Carter applauded the new crafting systems and improved gunplay, saying "the enhanced combat makes Fallout 4 a smoother game overall."
While some fans argue the emphasis on settlement building and expanded looting/crafting undermined Fallout 4‘s focus as an RPG, the advances create more engaging survival aspects and freedom in the open world. You won‘t miss these features if playing Fallout 3 first. But expect some quality of life changes when you eventually go back!
In summary, Bethesda leveraged Fallout 4 to overhaul mechanics and add welcomed new dimensions like settlement management. Don‘t worry about playing Fallout 3 and getting accustomed to older systems. Each game provides plenty of guidance so those new to the series can enjoy at their own pace!
Exploring These Post-Apocalyptic Open Worlds
Both Fallout 3 and Fallout 4 deliver incredibly realized open world environments. These incredibly detailed nuclear wastelands encourage you to scavenge through blown out buildings, investigate strange locations like military bases or Red Rocket filling stations, and uncover hidden stories via terminal entries and notes.
While I love the DC ruins like Galaxy News Radio headquarters, I actually prefer Fallout 4‘s Boston map featuring key Massachusetts landmarks like Fenway Park, MIT campus, and Bunker Hill. Exploring downtown Boston‘s urban streets teeming with raiders never fails to thrill even across multiple playthroughs.
And the Fallout community seems to agree. When polled by PC Gamer on which wasteland they preferred roaming, 68% voted for Fallout 4’s landscape rather than Fallout 3’s—high praise given Fallout 3‘s reputation and nostalgia factor!
My bottom line is you‘ll love wandering either world regardless of what order you play them. If revisiting bombed-out Boston locations like Swan‘s Pond or historic Faneuil Hall speaks to you most, by all means start your Fallout journey with Fallout 4! You lose nothing storywise. Weigh which post-apocalyptic tourism sounds ideal.
In Conclusion: Enjoy Either Game to Start
So should newcomers play Fallout 3 before diving into Fallout 4? Not at all. Storyline familiarity provides no advantages. And Fallout 4 bringing modernized graphics and gameplay make it easier to enjoy for today‘s audiences versus 2008‘s mechanics.
While I love both entries, if choosing just one I‘d recommend playing Fallout 4 first. See the Sole Survivor‘s quest to rescue their son and forge alliances with entertaining companions like genius inventor Curie or mercenary MacCready firsthand.
After spending over 130 hours uncovering the Commonwealth‘s secrets, circle back to experience the Lone Wanderer‘s coming-of-age journey across Fallout 3‘s retro green-tinted Capital Wasteland if craving more nuke-ravaged adventures! Just know whichever title you pick first provides endless hours of roleplaying and exploration joy through one of gaming‘s most unique franchises.
What are your thoughts? Have you wandered the Commonwealth or Capital Wastelands yet? Share your perspectives down below! Just no angry Deathclaw roars please…those still haunt my nightmares.
