Fallout series Fallout is a series of post - apocalyptic computer role - playing games originally produced and published by Interplay . Although set in and after the 22nd century , its story and artwork are heavily influenced by the post - World War II nuclear paranoia of the 1950s . The series is lightly based on the " Mad Max " film series , and is sometimes considered to be an unofficial sequel to " Wasteland " , but it could not use that title as Electronic Arts held the rights to it . In particular , Brian Fargo , one of the original developers of " Wasteland " , is noted in the intros of " Fallout " , " Fallout 2 " , and " " , with the caption " Brian Fargo Presents " , despite him not actually working on any of the games . Even though the " Fallout " series contains many references to items , persons , and scenarios found in " Wasteland " , the games are set in separate universes and are distinct from one another . There have been five full role - playing titles in the series ( " Fallout " , " Fallout 2 " , " Fallout 3 " , " " and " Fallout 4 " ) , one squad - based tactical RPG combat spin - off ( " " ) , one action RPG dungeon - crawler spin - off for PlayStation 2 and Xbox ( " " ) and one simulation game for Android and iOS ( " Fallout Shelter " ) . There was also an online MMORPG , " Project V13 " , that was being developed at Interplay . However , after legal disputes , Bethesda removed the rights Interplay had , and the game production was completely halted . Storyline . The background story of " Fallout " involves a " what - if " scenario in which the United States tries to devise fusion power resulting in the whole country becoming hegemonic and having less reliance on petroleum . However , this is not achieved until 2077 , shortly after an oil drilling conflict off the Pacific Coast pits the United States against China . It ends with a nuclear exchange resulting in the post - apocalyptic world in which the game takes place . Before the nuclear exchange took place , great underground Vault s were constructed across America , supposedly to protect the populace from the dangers of radiation . Although only 122 were constructed , over 400 , 000 would be needed to protect the entire nation . This is because the Vaults were not intended to save humanity ; rather , they were social experiments being conducted by the United States government . Most vaults featured some variable to test how certain things influence people ( and presumably the personal characteristics of the vault ' s occupants ) such as Vault 69 , which reportedly contained 999 women and one man . Each installment of the series takes these facts as the context to the subsequent adventures : much of the landscape the player travels through is scarred with wreckage as well as radiation . These effects are not limited to the environment . Mutated survivors - those who lived through the attack outside a vault - are often physically unrecognizable as human . Even livestock - mostly represented by cows - are rarely if ever seen with fewer than two heads or an udder the size of their head . Published games . Main games . The original two games were developed by Interplay ' s RPG division ( named Black Isle Studios during the development of " Fallout 2 " ) and published by Interplay between 1997 and 1998 . In 2004 , Bethesda Softworks licensed the rights to develop three " Fallout " games from Interplay . In 2007 , they acquired the " Fallout " franchise entirely . In 2008 , Bethesda released " Fallout 3 " . " Fallout " . Released in 1997 for DOS , Windows and Macintosh , " Fallout " is the spiritual successor to the 1988 hit " Wasteland " . The protagonist of the game is tasked with recovering a water chip to replace the chip that broke in his home , Vault 13 . The game takes place in a post - apocalyptic southern California , beginning in the year 2161 . It was originally intended to run under the GURPS role - playing game system , but a disagreement with Steve Jackson , creator of GURPS , over the game ' s violent content required the development of a new system , the SPECIAL System . The atmosphere and artwork of " Fallout " are reminiscent of post - WWII America and the nuclear paranoia that was widespread at that time . Some key people who worked on " Fallout " later left Interplay and formed Troika Games . " Fallout 2 " . " Fallout 2 " was released in 1998 for Windows and in 2002 for Mac , using a slightly - modified form of the engine used in the original " Fallout " . Taking place in 2241 , 80 years after the original game , " Fallout 2 " centers around a descendant of the Vault Dweller , the protagonist of " Fallout " . The player assumes the role of the Chosen One as he tries to save Arroyo , his village , after several years of drought . The game featured several improvements over the first game , including the ability to set attitudes of non - player character party members and the ability to push people who are blocking doors . However , it also included several changes to the game world and a more focus on humor , including significantly more pop culture jokes and parodies . " Fallout 3 " . " Fallout 3 " is a post - apocalyptic computer and console role - playing game developed and published by Bethesda Softworks as a sequel to Interplay ' s " Fallout " and " Fallout 2 " . It was released on October 28 , 2008 in North America and was released on October 31 , 2008 in Europe for Windows , PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 . The game takes place in the year 2277 on the East Coast of what used to be the United States , mostly in Washington , D . C . , Maryland and Virginia and is not a direct continuation of the previous games ' story . The gameplay features include real - time combat and first or third person perspective , in contrast to the previous games , which were turn - based and isometric . " Fallout : New Vegas " . " " is a " Fallout " game built upon the same game engine used by " Fallout 3 " , it was developed by Obsidian Entertainment which was announced by Bethesda . " " was released on October 19 , 2010 in North America for the PC , PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 . The game takes place in a post - apocalyptic Las Vegas in the year 2281 , four years after " Fallout 3 " . The protagonist is dug out of a shallow grave by a robot after being shot in the head . The game ' s plot centers around finding the main character ' s supposed assassin , and a three - way war between NCR , Caesar ' s Legion , and the citizens of New Vegas over Hoover Dam . " Fallout 4 " . " Fallout 4 " is a " Fallout " game developed and published by Bethesda Softworks . It was released on PC , PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on 10th November 2015 . The game takes place in the year 2287 , 10 years after the events of " Fallout 3 " ( and six after " New Vegas " ) , in a post - apocalyptic Boston renamed " The Commonwealth " . The story centers around the protagonist ' s son , Shaun , being kidnapped while they are in cryogenic sleep in Vault 111 and the protagonist ' s subsequent attempts to find their son amidst the controversy of a mysterious " Institute " reportedly replacing citizens of the Commonwealth with Synths , or androids meant to be as close to a human as possible . Spin - offs . " Fallout Shelter " . Fallout Shelter is a non - canon , mobile ( iOS and Android ) construction and management simulation game . The player acts as an Overseer for their own vault , and controls dweller ' s jobs adding rooms to the vault , managing resources , fighting off raiders and emergencies and more . Players are sometimes rewarded with lunchboxes that contain rewards , such as items or resources . Lunchboxes can also be purchased separately through microtransactions . " Fallout Tactics : Brotherhood of Steel " . " " is a tactical combat game developed for Windows by Micro Forté and published by Interplay in early 2001 to mixed reviews . Although it was given high scores by reviewers ( PC Gamer gave it an 85 % ) , many fans were disappointed by the game . " Fallout Tactics " focuses on tactical combat rather than role - playing ; the new combat system included different modes , stances , and modifiers , but the player had no dialogue options . Most of the criticisms of the game came from its incompatibility with the story of the original two games , not from its gameplay . It is important events are considered canon by new owner Bethesda Softworks , while everything else was deemed semi - canon . " Tactics " is the first " Fallout " game to not require the player to fight in a turn - based mode , and it is also the first to allow customization of skill s , perk s , and combat actions of the rest of the party . " Fallout Tactics " includes a multi - player mode that allows players to compete against squads of other characters controlled by other players . Unlike the previous two games , which are based in California , Fallout Tactics takes place in the Midwest . " Fallout : Warfare " . " " is a tabletop wargame based on the " Fallout Tactics " storyline , using a simplified version of the SPECIAL system . The rulebook was written by Chris Taylor , and was available on the " Fallout Tactics " bonus CD , together with cut - out miniatures . " Fallout : Warfare " features five distinct factions , vehicles , four game types , and thirty - three different units . The rules only require ten - sided dice . The modifications to the SPECIAL system allow every unit a unique set of stats and give special units certain skills they can use , including piloting , doctor , and repair . A section of the " Fallout : Warfare " manual allows campaigns to be conducted using the Warfare rules . The game is currently available for free online from the fansite No Mutants Allowed and several other sources . " Fallout : Brotherhood of Steel " . " " became the first " Fallout " game for consoles ( PlayStation 2 and Xbox ) when it was released in 2004 . It follows an initiate in the Brotherhood of Steel who is given a suicidal quest to find several lost Brotherhood paladins . An action role - playing game , BoS is a significant break from the previous incarnations of the " Fallout " series , in both gameplay and style . BoS takes place in three locations : The towns of Carbon and Los and a Secret Vault . BoS also does not feature non - player characters who would accompany the player in combat . BoS is not considered to be canon due to its stark contrasts and outright contradictions with the storyline of " Fallout " , " Fallout 2 " , as well as " Fallout Tactics " in any way . BoS is the last " Fallout " game to be developed by Interplay . The game also features music from nu - metal bands , including Slipknot and Killswitch Engage , which stands in contrast to the music of the main " Fallout " series , performed by The Ink Spots and Louis Armstrong . Compilations . " Fallout Trilogy " . " Fallout Trilogy " ( also released internationally as " Fallout Collection " or " Saga Fallout " ) is a compilation of the three PC games in the " Fallout " series , consisting of " Fallout : A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game " , " Fallout 2 " , and " Fallout Tactics : Brotherhood of Steel " , published by Interplay and Kalipso . " Fallout Anthology " . " Fallout Anthology " is a collection of five of the " Fallout " games , " Fallout " , " Fallout 2 " , " Fallout 3 " , " " , and " " , as well as all of their add - on s , to be released on September 29th , 2015 in North America and October 2nd in Europe .