Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout Tactics, Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout 4,andFallout 76are all on at least one gaming subscription service. While PC and Xbox players will be looking to Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation owners can get in on the fun with PS Plus Extra’s game catalog. We’ve combed through what’s available on PC Game Pass, Xbox Game Pass, and PS Plus Extra, and there’s no shortage of options. Here are the best starting points on each service.
PC Game Pass
That list includesFallout,Fallout 2,andFallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel,which Interplay made before Bethesda obtained the rights to the franchise. Of those three, your best option isFallout 2as it refines everything that made the first game special and is one of the best old-school CRPGs you can play today. Playing throughFallout 2will reconnect you with the roots of these series and give you a greater appreciation for Bethesda and Amazon’s reinterpretations of this world.
Xbox Game Pass
Although Interplay’s Fallout games haven’t made their way to consoles, all of Bethesda’s entries are included in the console version of Xbox Game Pass. I recommend checking outFallout: New Vegasfirst. Developed by Obsidian Entertainment (which Microsoftcoincidentally owns) and released in 2010,Fallout: New Vegasfollows a courier looking for revenge in the Mojave Desert after being ambushed and left for dead. Considered the peak of Bethesda’s Fallout tenure,Fallout: New Vegasfeatures excellent writing as players navigate power struggles between three major factions.
Fallout: New Vegasis fondly remembered because the experience emphasizes player choice in a way that makes each playthrough feel unique. Although it’s a bit glitchy and rough around the edges, it looks and runs great on Xbox Series X thanks to features like FPS Boost, and is still enjoyable to play in 2024. After watching the TV show and playing this game, you’ll understand what all the hype behind Fallout as a franchise is really about, and a few of the show’s Easter eggs will be more meaningful to you.
PS Plus Extra
Although Microsoft owns Bethesda,Fallout 4andFallout 76are still included in PS Plus Extra’s game catalog. The former is the last single-player RPG entry in the series, while the latter is a multiplayer game that emphasizes survival and base-building. AlthoughFallout 76has improved a lot since its rocky launch in 2018, I’d still recommend checking outFallout 4first.
Fallout 4feels slightly different from the older Fallout entries because of its more streamlined dialogue system, emphasis on crafting and building structures, and Boston setting. Still, the game’s premise about a parent searching for their lost child is inherently compelling, and the show borrowed quite a bit of iconography from this game. PlayFallout 4and you’ll understand where the TV show got the idea for its harrowing opening and its German Shepherd dog companion.
It’s getting aPS5 next-gen update soon too, so you might as well get that new save file started now.
