Summary
- Fallout 5 isn't expected any time soon, as Bethesda continues to focus mainly on Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6.
- There are a good many other games like Fallout that fans can enjoy in the meantime, though, including The Outer Worlds, Stalker 2, and Atomfall.
- Other great Fallout-like titles to play outside the FPS RPG genres are Wasteland 3 and Mad Max.
The next Fallout probably won't be emerging into the light of day for quite some time. Though it's a sure bet that developer Bethesda will eventually officially reveal Fallout 5, the prospects for its release window put it a long ways out. The studio has also had its hands full with continuing support for Starfield since 2023 and, of course, is still working on the long-awaited and eagerly-anticipated The Elder Scrolls 6, putting Fallout mostly on the back-burner as things currently sit.
Fans of TES recently received a big gift with the previously-rumored The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered dropping. While this is certainly a welcome way to help to bide the time until TES6, the wait for Fallout 5 is set to continue until the end of the decade or even beyond. Given this, there is a good range of related titles that fit well with the franchise's recognized aspects for fans pass the time until the fifth mainline installment launches.
The Best Part Of Every Mainline Fallout Game
Fallout games have some truly memorable experiences, here are some of the absolute best moments from every mainline Fallout title.
Games to Play While Waiting for Fallout 5
The Franchise Standards
Starting with Bethesda's modern take on the IP with Fallout 3 in 2008, followed by Obsidian Entertainment's widely-beloved New Vegas, and then the latest entry in Fallout 4 ( particularly since it received a new-gen update in 2024 that added further polish and tweaks), all are good lead-offs while gearing up for FO5. Fallout 76 has also come a long way since its uneven early period. The MMO spin-off has been picking up steam, especially with its recent addition of playable ghoul characters, and is a good entry point to try or return to now.
Along with Oblivion Remastered, a potential Fallout 3 remaster in the works came to light in 2023 during Microsoft's court proceedings with the FTC.
Fallout-Like FPS RPG Hits
- Starfield
- The Outer Worlds
- Half-Life 2
- Deus Ex series
- Cyberpunk 2077
- Far Cry 5, Far Cry: New Dawn
- Terminator: Resistance
- Metro Series
- Stalker Series
- Rage Series
- Atomfall
- Chernobylite, Chernobylite 2: Exclusion Zone
For players looking for a breadth of games with post-apocalyptic settings akin to Fallout, there's no shortage of picks. Some of the highlights include last year's Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl and the Metro entries. Many also make excellent use of Fallout's depiction of alternate and dystopian futures, notably Deus Ex and Cyberpunk 2077's more futuristic takes on these aspects.
There's also a lot of crossover in terms of fans who are seeking similarly big open-worlds with deep RPG systems, complex storytelling and characters, and player-oriented design offering a variety of interesting factions to work with or against. Even before Bethesda's new franchise in Starfield, Obsidian's 2019 release, The Outer Worlds, was described as "Fallout in space", and with a sequel set to arrive later this year, both are great choices.
Finally, there are a few that might be classified as "Fallout-lites", including Atomfall, Chernobylite, and Terminator: Resistance. These offer perhaps a comparatively less complex but still satisfying mix of similar atmospheres with more streamlined mechanics like those in Fallout.
CRPGs and Other Deeper Cuts
For those who want experiences more in line with Fallout's original genre roots, there's a smaller but still solid selection of titles that can scratch that itch:
- Wasteland 3
- Desperados 3
- Broken Roads
- Frostpunk
- Mad Max
The Wasteland series is actually Fallout's ancestor with a focus on isometric and turn-based combat, and like the others listed, the third and most recent entry is an enjoyable ride.
Outside CRGs, 2015's Mad Max by Avalanche Studios (known for Just Cause) is an intense third-person open-world action-adventure that is further fitting given that the original films served as inspiration for Fallout as a whole. And Frostpunk's city-sim survival management channels Fallout Shelter's. Overall, depending on fans' preference for genres and styles, there are a broad bunch of titles covering many of FO's bases that make for sound choices to dive into while passing the time until Fallout 5.
Fallout 4
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 89%
