Fallout: A Complete Guide to Understanding the Timeline of the Games and Series

The Fallout saga is a video game franchise that transports players into a fascinating post-apocalyptic universe. Beginning with the launch of the first game in 1997, the series spans multiple episodes, each exploring a distinct time period and events in a world ravaged by nuclear war.

This article offers a detailed guide to navigating through Fallout’s complex timeline, including recent developments with the Amazon Prime series.

The Beginnings and the Great War

The Fallout series takes place in a dystopian future where a global nuclear war has taken place in 2077, almost completely devastating the planet.

This conflict, nicknamed “The Great War”, lasted only two hours but left lasting effects on the world, creating a landscape of desolation and ruin.

The first games explore the direct consequences of this cataclysm and introduce the concept of anti-atomic shelters, or “Vaults”, in which part of the population survived.

The series will reveal the mysteries of the outbreak of this nuclear war.

Fallout and Fallout 2: exploring the West Coast

Fallout (1997) is set in 2161, approximately 84 years after the war. The player begins his adventure in Vault 13, located in California. The initial mission is to find a replacement chip for the Vault’s water purification system. This quest leads to broader discoveries about the state of the outside world.
Fallout 2 (1998), is set in 2241, offering a look at social and political developments approximately a century after the war. The game introduces the New California Republic, an early attempt at a reconstructed society.

Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas – Discovering new regions

Fallout 3 (2008) moves the action to the East Coast, to the ruins of Washington, D.C., in 2277. The player is a resident of Vault 101 who is stepping out into the outside world for the first time. Fallout: New Vegas (2010) brings the action back to the West, more specifically to the Mojave region in 2281, focusing on the conflict over the powerful resource that is the Hoover Represa.

Evolution with Fallout 4 and Fallout 76

Fallout 4 (2015) is set in 2287 in the Boston area known as “The Commonwealth.” This game delves deeper into advanced technologies and conflicts between different factions. Fallout 76 (2018) flashes back to the year 2102, acting as a prequel to the entire series. This game features a multiplayer experience where players can explore the post-apocalyptic state of West Virginia shortly after the war.

Fallout on Amazon Prime: A new era

In 2023, the franchise was adapted into a television series by Amazon Prime. This series is set after the events of all previous games, in 2296. It offers a unique opportunity to expand the Fallout universe by incorporating elements familiar to fans while introducing new characters and storylines.

This adaptation could potentially link stories between existing games and explore territories never before explored in the franchise.

This guide walks through the key stages of the Fallout franchise, providing newcomers and longtime fans alike with a solid foundation for understanding the complex and interconnected stories of this captivating universe.

Whether you’re a gamer, a science fiction fan, or curious about this iconic series, Fallout offers a rich post-apocalyptic world to discover.