Fallout (video game)#SPECIAL system

Fallout is a role-playing video game. The player begins by selecting one of three characters, or one with player-customized attributes. The protagonist, known as the Vault Dweller,{{efn|The player can choose the name of the player character.{{sfn|Taylor|1997|page=3{{hyphen}}17}} However, outside of the game, the player character is officially called "the Vault Dweller".{{sfn|McLaughlin|2010|page=2}}{{cite video game |title=Fallout 2 |developer=Black Isle Studios |publisher=Interplay Productions |date=October 29, 1998 |scene=Intro |quote=Narrator: 'They hold that their founder and ancestor, one known as the "Vault Dweller," once saved the world from a great evil. According to their legend, this evil arose in the far south. It corrupted all it touched, twisting men inside, turning them into beasts. Only through the bravery of this Vault Dweller was the evil destroyed. But in so doing, he lost many of his friends and suffered greatly, sacrificing much of himself to save the world. When at last he returned to the home he had fought so hard to protect, he was cast out. Exiled. In confronting that which they feared, he had become something else in their eyes...and no longer their champion.'}}}} has seven primary statistics that the player can set: strength, perception, endurance, charisma, intelligence, agility, and luck.{{sfn|Taylor|1997|page=3{{hyphen}}5}} Each statistic may range from one to ten, provided their sum does not exceed 40.{{sfn|Taylor|1997|page=3{{hyphen}}6}} Two other statistics set during character creation are skills and traits. All 18 skills are learned abilities, their effectiveness determined by a percentage value. Their initial effectivenesses are determined by the primary statistics, but three can be tagged and given a 20% boost.{{sfn|Taylor|1997|pp=3{{hyphen}}10 {{ndash}} 3{{hyphen}}14}} Traits are character qualities with both a positive and negative effect; the player can pick up to two from a list of sixteen.{{sfn|Taylor|1997|pp=3{{hyphen}}14 {{ndash}} 3{{hyphen}}15}} During gameplay, the player can gather experience points through various actions. For gathering experience points, the player will level up and may increase their skills by a set number of points. Every three (or four with the Skilled trait) levels, the player can grant themself a special ability, known as perks.{{cite web |title=Fallout review for the MAC |website=Game Revolution |date=June 5, 2004 |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/32537-fallout-review |access-date=November 8, 2009 |archive-date=May 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505044259/https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/32537-fallout-review |url-status=live}} There are 48 perks (plus two extra perks which can only be obtained by wearing certain types of armor) and each has prerequisites that must be met. For example, "Animal Friend", which prevents animals from attacking the player character, requires the player to be level nine, have an intelligence of five, and have an outdoorsman skill of 25%.{{sfn|Barton|2019|p=386—387}}

File:Fallout 1 Dialogue.jpg

In Fallout, the player explores the game world from a trimetric perspective and interacts with non-player characters (NPCs). Characters vary in their amount of dialogue; some say short messages, while others speak at length. Significant characters are illustrated with 3D models, known as "talking heads", during conversations.{{sfn|Cain|2012|loc=32:25–32:32}} The player can barter with other characters or buy goods using bottle caps as currency. The game has companions that the player can recruit for exploration and combat, although they cannot be directly controlled.

There are three main quests where completion is required, two of them given after completion of the first one. The first main quest has a time limit of 150 in-game days; the game ends if the player fails to complete it within the allotted time.{{efn|An additional 500-day time limit for the other two main quests was included in the original game but was removed in version 1.1.}} Some characters give the player side quests; if the player solves them, they receive experience points and occasionally a reward in the form of money and/or goods. The player can utilize the PIP-Boy 2000, a portable wearable computer that tracks these quests.{{sfn|Taylor|1997|page=4{{hyphen}}21}} Many quests feature multiple solutions; they can often be completed through diplomacy, combat, or stealth, and some allow solutions that are unconventional or contrary to the original task.{{sfn|Pepe|2019|pages=225{{endash}}226}} Based on how they completed quests, the player can earn or lose reputation points, which determine how others treat them. The player's actions dictate what future story or gameplay opportunities are available and the ending.{{sfn|Pepe|2019|page=226}}

Combat is turn based and uses an action-point system, the number of action points that are available depending on certain perks and the player's allocation in the agility statistic. During each turn, multiple actions may be performed by the player until they run out of action points. Different actions such as attacking, moving, reloading, interacting with objects mid-combat, and accessing the inventory consume different amounts of points.{{sfn|Taylor|1997|p=5{{hyphen}}3}} The player can rapidly switch between two equipped weapons,{{sfn|Taylor|1997|p=5{{hyphen}}2}} and may acquire a diverse range of weapons, many of which can target specific areas of enemies. Melee (hand-to-hand) weapons typically have two attacks: swing or thrust. If the player has equipped no weapon, they can punch or kick.{{sfn|Taylor|1997|p=5{{hyphen}}8{{endash}}5{{hyphen}}9}}

On October 23, 2077, a worldwide nuclear war between the United States and China following a global conflict caused by resource shortages devastated the world and destroyed modern civilization. The events of Fallout take place nearly a century later in 2161, and follow the Vault Dweller, a human born and raised within Vault 13, one of a number of high-tech underground fallout shelters built to protect survivors.{{sfn|Interplay Productions|1997|loc=Scene: Intro. "Narrator: 'In 2077, the storm of world war had come again. In two brief hours, most of the planet was reduced to cinders. And from the ashes of nuclear devastation, a new civilization would struggle to arise.'"}} Those on the surface live off the salvage of the old world.

Vault 13 is located beneath the mountains of Southern California. The Vault Dweller can explore major settlements including Junktown, which is mired in conflict between local sheriff Killian Darkwater (Richard Dean Anderson) and criminal Gizmo (Jim Cummings); the Hub, a bustling merchant city with job opportunities; and Necropolis, a city founded by Ghouls, humans mutated by radiation, who are revealed to be the former inhabitants of Vault 12. The Vault Dweller's journey also brings them into contact with various factions, including the Brotherhood of Steel, a quasi-religious military order devoted to finding and restoring pre-war technology, the Children of the Cathedral, an optimistic religious cult; and the Super Mutants, an army of virtually immortal humanoids immune to radiation.

The player controls the Vault Dweller, who is sent into the Wasteland to save their vault. The Vault Dweller can be customized or based on one of three pre-generated characters: Albert Cole, a negotiator and charismatic leader with a legal background; Natalia Dubrovhsky, a talented acrobat and the intelligent and resourceful granddaughter of a Russian diplomat in the pre-War Soviet consulate in Los Angeles; and Max Stone, the largest person in the Vault who is known for his strength, stamina, and lack of intelligence.{{sfn|Taylor|1997|pp=3{{hyphen}}1–3{{hyphen}}2}} The three characters present a diplomatic, deceptive, or combative approach to the game, respectively. Although the character can be male or female, the Vault Dweller is canonically male.{{sfn|McLaughlin|2010|page=2}}{{cite video game |title=Fallout 2 |developer=Black Isle Studios |publisher=Interplay Productions |date=October 29, 1998 |scene=Intro |quote=Narrator: 'They hold that their founder and ancestor, one known as the "Vault Dweller," once saved the world from a great evil. According to their legend, this evil arose in the far south. It corrupted all it touched, twisting men inside, turning them into beasts. Only through the bravery of this Vault Dweller was the evil destroyed. But in so doing, he lost many of his friends and suffered greatly, sacrificing much of himself to save the world. When at last he returned to the home he had fought so hard to protect, he was cast out. Exiled. In confronting that which they feared, he had become something else in their eyes...and no longer their champion.'}}

The four companions the player can recruit are: Ian, a mercenary guard from Shady Sands;{{cite magazine |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/fallout/companion-ian |last=Yarwood |first=Jack |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201212924/https://www.pcgamesn.com/fallout/companion-ian |title=Remembering Ian, the greatest Fallout companion |magazine=PCGamesN |date=September 9, 2020 |archive-date=February 1, 2022 |access-date=July 16, 2022 |url-status=live}} Tycho, a desert ranger;{{sfn|McLaughlin|2010|page=2}} Dogmeat, a tireless loyal dog;{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/tenspot_sidekicks/page4.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050420033433/http://www.gamespot.com/features/tenspot_sidekicks/page4.html |title=The Ten Best Sidekicks - Dogmeat |website=GameSpot |archive-date=April 20, 2005 |access-date=July 16, 2022}} and Katja, a member of an organization called the Followers of the Apocalypse.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/games/fallout/fallouts-best-companions/#3-katja-fallout |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602213418/https://www.pastemagazine.com/games/fallout/fallouts-best-companions/ |last=Gwaltney |first=Javy |title=Fallout{{'s}} Best Companions |magazine=Paste Magazine |date=November 5, 2015 |archive-date=June 2, 2021 |access-date=July 16, 2022}} Other major characters include Vault Boy, the mascot of Vault-Tec,{{cite web |last=Byrd |first=Matthew |date=June 30, 2021 |title=How Loki and Fallout Use Retrofuturism to Unnerve Us |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/games/loki-fallout-retrofuturism-design-references-style-influences/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701005909/https://www.denofgeek.com/games/loki-fallout-retrofuturism-design-references-style-influences/ |archive-date=July 1, 2021 |access-date=July 19, 2021 |work=Den of Geek}} the creators of the Vaults;{{sfn|Taylor|1997|pp=1{{hyphen}}1; 4{{hyphen}}20 {{endash}} 4{{hyphen}}21}} Killian Darkwater, the mayor, sheriff, and shopkeeper of Junktown; and the Master (Cummings and Kath Soucie), leader of the Super Mutants and the main antagonist.

In Vault 13, the Water Chip, a computer component responsible for the Vault's water recycling and pumping machinery, stops working. With only 150 days before water reserves will run dry, the Vault Overseer (Ken Mars) tasks the Vault Dweller with finding a replacement. Armed with the PIPBoy 2000 and meager equipment, the Vault Dweller leaves Vault 13 for the nearest source of possible help, Vault 15, but finds it abandoned and in ruins.{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/andrewrollingser0000roll_s4t7/ |last1=Rollings |first1=Andrew |last2=Adams |first2=Ernest |author-link2=Ernest W. Adams |year=2003 |title=Andrew Rollings and Ernest Adams on Game Design |publisher=New Riders Press |isbn=9781592730018 |pages=357–358}} The Vault Dweller then explores the wasteland and locates a replacement chip in the destroyed Vault 12, underneath Necropolis.

The Vault Dweller returns to Vault 13 with the chip and the water system is repaired. However, the Overseer becomes concerned about the mutants reported by the Vault Dweller. Believing the mutations are too widespread and extreme to be a natural occurrence, the Overseer assigns the Vault Dweller a new task: finding and stopping the source of the mutations.{{sfn|Interplay Productions|1997|loc=Level/area: Vault 13. "Overseer: 'I don't like your reports. What was in the reports, that is. Heh. In fact, they scared the heck out of me. It's those mutants. I've done some calculations and, well, I've come to an unpleasant conclusion.' / Vault Dweller: 'What's that?' / Overseer: 'The mutant population is far greater than could be expected by natural growth or mutations. This leads me to believe in – I don't really understand it. But it looks like someone's generating new mutants. And at a startling rate.' / Vault Dweller: 'Must be a lab somewhere then.' / Overseer: 'Exactly! And as you've probably guessed, none of these mutations could have occurred naturally, even with the radiation from the war.' / Vault Dweller: 'What do you want me to do about it?' / Overseer: 'As long as someone is creating hostile mutants at this rate, the Vault's safety is at stake! Find and destroy this lab as soon as you can.'"}} Information discovered throughout the wasteland reveals that humans are being captured and turned into Super Mutants by exposure to the Forced Evolutionary Virus (F.E.V.). The Super Mutants are led by the Master, who intends to transform every human into a Super Mutant and establish "unity" on Earth. The Children of the Cathedral are a front created by the Master, who is using them to trick humans into peaceful submission.

To stop the mutations, the Vault Dweller must destroy the vats containing the F.E.V. and kill the Master; the order of the tasks is chosen by the player. The Vault Dweller travels to the Mariposa Military Base to destroy it and the vats within, preventing the creation of more Super Mutants. To kill the Master, the Vault Dweller travels to the Children's Cathedral and locates a prototype Vault beneath it, from which the Master commands his army. The Vault Dweller infiltrates the Vault and can choose to convince the Master that his plan will fail because the Super Mutants are infertile, kill him immediately, or set off an explosion that destroys the Cathedral. The Vault Dweller returns to Vault 13 but is denied entry by the Overseer, who fears that they have been changed by their experiences and the tales of their exploits and accomplishments will encourage the inhabitants to abandon the Vault. As such, the Overseer exiles the Vault Dweller into the wasteland.{{sfn|Interplay Productions|1997|loc=Level/area: Vault 13. "Overseer: 'Everyone will want to talk to you. Every youngster will look up to you. And want to emulate you. And then what? They'll want to leave. What happens to the Vault if we lose the best of a generation? What if we are the only safe place in the world? You just gave us back all these lives . . . I can't take the chance of losing them. I've made a lot of tough decisions since I took this position. But none of them harder than this one. You saved us, but you'll kill us. I'm sorry. You're a hero . . . and you have to leave.'"}} Fallout concludes with the legacy of the Vault Dweller's decisions on the societies and people they had encountered.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/awards97/ending.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010210223942/http://www.gamespot.com/features/awards97/ending.html |title=Best & Worst Awards 1997 - Best Ending |website=GameSpot |archive-date=February 10, 2001 |access-date=July 19, 2022}}

Additionally, there is an alternate ending if the player chooses to join the master. This ending has the player character dunked into the F.E.V. and made into a super mutant, who then returns to Vault 13 with the master’s army and massacres its inhabitants as witnessed on security footage.

File:Timothy-cain-gdc2010 cropped.jpg

Development on Fallout began in early 1994.{{sfn|Cain|2012|loc=0:41}} Initially, Interplay gave the game little attention,{{cite news |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-05-29-a-brief-history-of-fallout |last=Cobbett |first=Richard |title=A brief history of Fallout |work=Eurogamer |date=June 5, 2015 |access-date=April 20, 2021 |archive-date=April 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420170637/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-05-29-a-brief-history-of-fallout |url-status=live}} and for the first six months, the programmer Tim Cain was the sole developer. Cain eventually enlisted the aid of Interplay employees during their spare time. The development team—led by Cain, the designer Christopher Taylor, and the art director Leonard Boyarsky{{sfn|McLaughlin|2010|page=2}}—reached 15 people in 1995. In 1996, the producer Feargus Urquhart recruited some Interplay workers, expanding the team to 30.{{sfn|Cain|2012|loc=12:40—15:00}} Cain considered the team "amazing" for their dedication,{{sfn|Cain|2012|loc=48:35–49:05}} while Urquhart described working under Interplay as "barely controlled chaos".

The tentative title, Vault-13: A GURPS Post-Nuclear Role-Playing Game, was rejected as unfitting. Armageddon was considered as an alternative, but was already in use for another Interplay project (which was later canceled).{{sfn|McLaughlin|2010|page=2}} Interplay's president Brian Fargo suggested the title Fallout. Interplay intended to use "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire" by the Ink Spots as the theme song, but was hindered by a copyright problem, so used another Ink Spots song, "Maybe".{{sfn|McLaughlin|2010|page=2}}{{sfn|Cain|2012|loc=39:13–39:55}}{{cite book |first=Chris |last=Avellone |author-link=Chris Avellone |date=November 6, 2002 |url=http://www.duckandcover.cx/index.php?id=5 |title=Fallout Bible #9 |publisher=Black Isle Studios |access-date=June 16, 2021 |archive-date=May 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502004909/http://www.duckandcover.cx/index.php?id=5 |url-status=live |pages=32–33}} The development concluded on October 1, 1997,{{cite magazine |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/news/news092997.html |title=Fallout is Finished |magazine=PC Gamer |date=October 3, 1997 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19971012044818/http://www.pcgamer.com/news/news092997.html |archive-date=October 12, 1997 |access-date=April 19, 2021}} after three and a half years and a total cost of approximately $3{{nbsp}}million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=3000000|start_year=1997}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}).{{sfn|Cain|2012|loc=125; 209}}{{cite interview |url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/04/02/back-to-black-isle-fargo-on-obsidian-joining-wasteland-2/#more-102357 |last=Fargo |first=Brian |author-link=Brian Fargo |title=Back To Black Isle: Fargo On Obsidian Joining Wasteland 2 |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |interviewer=Alec Meer |date=April 2, 2012 |access-date=August 28, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112142724/http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/04/02/back-to-black-isle-fargo-on-obsidian-joining-wasteland-2/ |archive-date=November 12, 2012}}

File:Fallout camera angles.png render mimicking Fallout{{'}}s oblique projection and hexagonal grid|upright=0.8|alt=A rendering of a red house on a trimetric hexagonal grid.]]

Fallout started as a game engine that Cain was developing during his spare time, based on the tabletop role-playing game Generic Universal RolePlaying System (GURPS). It entered more coordinated development after Cain convinced Fargo of its potential,{{sfn|Cain|2010a|loc=6:58–7:39}}{{sfn|Cain|2012|loc=12:43}} and Interplay announced it had acquired the GURPS license in 1994.{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_18/page/n75/mode/2up |title=G.U.R.P.S. |magazine=Next Generation |issue=18 |date=June 1996 |pages=74–76 |access-date=July 19, 2022}} The first Fallout prototype was finished that year.{{sfn|Cain|2012|loc=15:05}}

The team considered making the game first-person and 3D, but discarded the idea because the models would not have held the desired amount of detail.{{cite interview |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/114982/world-on-fire-the-oral-history-of-fallout-and-fallout-2 |last1=Cain |first1=Tim |author-link1=Tim Cain |last2=Boyarsky |first2=Leonard |author-link2=Leonard Boyarsky |last3=Taylor |first3=Christopher |author-link3=Christopher Taylor (game designer) |last4=DeMilt |first4=Eric |last5=Everts |first5=Scott |display-authors=3 |title=World on Fire: The Oral History of Fallout and Fallout 2 |interviewer=David Craddock |work=Shacknews |date=November 15, 2019 |access-date=May 25, 2021 |archive-date=May 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523032328/https://www.shacknews.com/article/114982/world-on-fire-the-oral-history-of-fallout-and-fallout-2 |url-status=live }} They instead selected an oblique projection, producing a trimetric perspective. Designed to be open-world and non-linear,{{sfn|Cain|2012|loc=41:41}} Fallout was balanced so that, even though side quests are optional, characters who do not improve their skills and experience through them would be too ill-equipped to finish. However, Taylor also added the 150-day time limit to the game to keep the player focused on the main quests.

The game was nearly canceled in late 1994 after Interplay acquired the licenses to the Dungeons & Dragons franchises Forgotten Realms and Planescape, but Cain convinced Interplay to let him finish.{{sfn|Cain|2012|loc=20:48—22:10}} After the success of the role-playing video game Diablo, released in January 1997,{{cite news |url=http://www.gamecenter.com/News/Item/0,3,0-419,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001025141035/http://www.gamecenter.com/News/Item/0,3,0-419,00.html |last=Goble |first=Gordon |title=Diablo available now! |work=CNET Gamecenter |date=January 6, 1997 |archive-date=October 25, 2000 |access-date=June 6, 2022}} Cain resisted pressure to convert Fallout into a real-time multiplayer game.{{cite web |url=http://www.polygon.com/gaming/2012/3/8/2855595/fallout-gdc-black-isle-interplay-obsidian-bethesda |title=Fallout: The game that almost never was |last=Pitts |first=Russ |date=March 3, 2012 |website=Polygon |access-date=October 19, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020205109/http://www.polygon.com/gaming/2012/3/8/2855595/fallout-gdc-black-isle-interplay-obsidian-bethesda |archive-date=October 20, 2013}} In March 1997, Interplay dropped the license for GURPS due to creative differences with GURPS{{'s}} creator Steve Jackson Games. According to Interplay, Steve Jackson objected to the amount of violence and gore.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/news/news0310.html#8 |title=No GURPS License for Fallout |magazine=PC Gamer |date=March 13, 1997 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19971012045200/http://www.pcgamer.com/news/news0310.html#8 |archive-date=October 12, 1997 |access-date=April 18, 2021}}{{cite magazine |url=http://scans.roushimsx.com/PCGamer_1998_04_pg188.jpg |last=Wolf |first=Michael |title=Nobody's Perfect |magazine=PC Gamer |volume=5 |number=4 |page=188 |date=April 1998 |access-date=April 19, 2021 |archive-date=April 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419212046/http://scans.roushimsx.com/PCGamer_1998_04_pg188.jpg |url-status=live}} Interplay was forced to change the GURPS system to the internally-developed SPECIAL system; Taylor and Cain were each given a week to design and code it, respectively.{{sfn|Cain|2010a|loc=8:42–9:20}}

File:Leonard Boyarsky- Fallout 20 year reunion dinner (cropped).jpg

Prior to the license's termination, the engine for Fallout was based on GURPS. Fantasy and time-traveling settings were considered before the development team decided on a post-apocalyptic setting.{{cite news |url=https://kotaku.com/how-a-dark-time-traveling-fantasy-game-became-the-origi-1845870322 |last=Tieryas |first=Peter |title=How A Dark Time-Traveling Fantasy Game Became the Original Fallout |work=Kotaku |date=December 26, 2020 |access-date=April 18, 2021 |archive-date=February 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203074108/https://kotaku.com/how-a-dark-time-traveling-fantasy-game-became-the-origi-1845870322 |url-status=live}}{{sfn|Cain|2010a|loc=6:58–7:39; 7:56–8:09}} Taylor outlined the design goals in a vision statement,{{sfn|Cain|2012|loc=16:07}} which Cain called an inspiration for the development team and "a major reason why the game came together at all."

Fallout was a spiritual successor to Interplay's role-playing video game Wasteland (1988), published by Electronic Arts.{{sfn|McLaughlin|2010|pages=1—2}} Almost everyone who worked on Fallout had played it.{{sfn|Cain|2012|loc=6:00}} The team was unable to make Fallout a direct sequel to Wasteland because Electronic Arts refused to license it. The team drew inspiration for Fallout{{'s}} retro-futuristic art style from 1950s literature and media related to the Atomic Age. Examples included the films Forbidden Planet (1956), A Boy and His Dog (1975), and Mad Max (1979). Influence was also drawn from the optimistic Cold War posters, which Boyarsky reportedly loved.{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/theartofvideogamestext/ |last=Melissinos |first=Chris Robert |author-link=Chris Melissinos |title=The Art of Video Games |publisher=Smithsonian American Art Museum |isbn=9781599621098 |date=March 16, 2012 |page=101}}

The vaults were influenced by the underground base in A Boy and His Dog. Cain said that the team "all loved X-COM" and that Fallout featured combat similar to X-COM{{'s}} prior to the GURPS license.{{sfn|Cain|2012|loc=5:17–5:34}} Cain admired Star Control II (1992) and said it influenced Fallout{{'s}} open-ended design.{{sfn|Pepe|2019|page=167}} Fallout features many popular culture references. The team was only allowed to include references if understanding the source material was not required for the reference to make sense. For example, the Slayer perk's name references the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer while generically matching its effect (turning all attacks to critical hits).{{sfn|Cain|2012|loc=24:46–25:44}}

The sprites in Fallout were highly detailed and required a significant amount of memory on contemporary computers.{{sfn|Cain|2012|loc=31:53–32:10}} 21 NPCs were voiced by various actors, including Anderson, Cummings, Soucie, Tony Shalhoub, Keith David, Brad Garrett, CCH Pounder, Tony Jay, Pamela Adlon, Richard Moll, David Warner, Clancy Brown, Kenneth Mars, and Ron Perlman, who also voiced the narrator.{{sfn|McLaughlin|2010|page=2}} Some NPCs feature 3D models during conversation called "talking heads", most of which were created by Scott Redenhizer. Each took eight weeks to create, and voice recording took a few months.{{sfn|Cain|2012|loc=32:27–33:25}} The talking heads began as sculpted heads of clay, which the team studied to determine which parts should be most animated. The heads were digitized using a Faro Space Arm and VertiSketch, with LightWave 3D used for geometric corrections and the texture maps created in Adobe Photoshop. Much of the spoken dialogue was written by designer Mark O'Green, whose method of writing Taylor considered efficient and impressive. The companions, conceived late in development, were not easy to implement. As a result, they were riddled with glitches, including a tendency to shoot the Vault Dweller when they are obscuring an enemy. Dogmeat was the first companion added.{{sfn|Cain|2012|loc=33:28–34:20}} Tycho was a reference to the desert rangers from Wasteland.{{sfn|McLaughlin|2010|page=2}}

Cain wrote the prologue, which included the series catchphrase "War. War never changes". Vault Boy and his cheerful nature parodied how 1950s media downplayed the perils of nuclear war.{{sfn|Cain|2010b|loc=5:10–5:50}} Cain, who dislikes it when the player character knows more than the player, devised Fallout{{'s}} narrative so that the Vault Dweller would know just as much as the player.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/fallout/making-of |last=Peel |first=Jeremy |title=How on Earth did Fallout ever get made? |magazine=PCGamesN |date=May 12, 2020 |access-date=May 25, 2021 |archive-date=May 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512050850/https://www.pcgamesn.com/fallout/making-of |url-status=live }} The development team conceived of a faction of mutants who grew their ranks by dipping people into virus vats. During the discussion, someone wondered what would happen if more than one person was dropped into the vat. The team conceptualized the leader of the faction as a synthesis of a man, a woman, and a computer terminal mutated together. Cain enjoyed modelling, animating, and writing the Master's dialog, particularly because the Master switched between three voices: male, female, and electronic.{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/how-a-dark-time-traveling-fantasy-game-became-the-origi-1845870322 |last=Tieryas |first=Peter |title=How A Dark Time-Traveling Fantasy Game Became the Original Fallout |website=Kotaku |date=December 26, 2012 |access-date=August 11, 2022 |archive-date=February 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203074108/https://kotaku.com/how-a-dark-time-traveling-fantasy-game-became-the-origi-1845870322 |url-status=live }} The development team became confident in their vision after the audio director reacted to the voice-switching concept, and every department believed the Master would be a great antagonist.

The quests in Fallout were given moral ambiguity, with no clear right or wrong solutions. This was done so the player could take whatever choice suited them best.{{sfn|Cain|2012|loc=43:21–43:50}} An example is the final encounter with the Master, whose motives for establishing unity among the wasteland population and making it immune to radiation by turning them into mutants could be perceived as persuasive by the player.{{Cite news |url=http://www.denofgeek.com/us/games/fallout/267792/how-fallout-taught-the-video-game-industry-the-meaning-of-role-playing |last=Byrd |first=Matthew |title=How Fallout Taught the Video Game Industry the Meaning of Role-Playing |work=Den of Geek |date=September 29, 2017 |access-date=May 29, 2021 |archive-date=January 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112185912/https://www.denofgeek.com/us/games/fallout/267792/how-fallout-taught-the-video-game-industry-the-meaning-of-role-playing |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/fallout/making-of |last=Peel |first=Jeremy |title=How on Earth did Fallout ever get made? |magazine=PCGamesN |date=May 18, 2020 |access-date=August 12, 2022 |archive-date=May 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512050850/https://www.pcgamesn.com/fallout/making-of |url-status=live }} Assistant designer Scott Bennie described the backstory of the Master, who views himself as a well-intentioned hero, as an example of their intention of "hit[ting] the player with an emotional sledgehammer as often as possible" with their story design.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/12/01/fallout-memories |last=Bennie |first=Scott |title=Fallout Memories |website=IGN |date=November 30, 2007 |access-date=August 12, 2022 |archive-date=August 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813041818/https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/12/01/fallout-memories |url-status=live }}

Boyarsky and lead artist Jason D. Anderson created advertisements for Fallout.{{cite interview |url=http://www.rpgcodex.net/content.php?id=10425 |last=Boyarsky |first=Leonard |author-link=Leonard Boyarsky |title=RPG Codex Interview: Leonard Boyarsky on joining Obsidian, Fallout & Bloodlines cut content and more |interviewer=Jedi Master Raek |website=RPG Codex |date=September 30, 2016 |access-date=May 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20161002214112/http://www.rpgcodex.net/content.php?id=10425 |archive-date=October 2, 2016 |url-status=live}} Fallout did not have a trailer,{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/05/30/a-history-of-fallouts-trailers |last=Campbell |first=Even |title=A History of Fallout's Trailers |website=IGN |date=May 30, 2018 |access-date=April 17, 2022 |archive-date=April 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220417143721/https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/05/30/a-history-of-fallouts-trailers |url-status=live }} but a demo was released on April 26, 1997.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/001/162/fallout_demo.html |title=Fallout demo |magazine=Computer Games Strategy Plus |date=April 26, 1997 |access-date=March 5, 2022 |archive-date=March 4, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050304152630/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/001/162/fallout_demo.html}} Taylor felt the demo did not demonstrate Fallout well.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/the-largely-forgotten-fallout-demo-which-features-completely-unique-content-not-found-in-the-main-game-is-a-free-must-play-for-any-serious-fallout-fan/ |last=Jones |first=Robert |title=The largely forgotten Fallout demo, which features completely unique content not found in the main game, is a free must-play for any Fallout fan |magazine=PC Gamer |date=May 10, 2024 |access-date=May 10, 2024}} The packaging was designed to resemble a lunch box, and the manual was designed to resemble a survival guide to reflect the game's style. Fallout was released on October 10, 1997,{{cite magazine |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/news/news-1997-10-06.html |title=Now Shipping |date=October 10, 1997 |magazine=PC Gamer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980218070450/http://www.pcgamer.com/news/news-1997-10-06.html |archive-date=February 18, 1998 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 5, 2019}} in North America for MS-DOS and Windows. The game was later released for Mac OS by the Interplay division MacPlay.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.insidemacgames.com/reviews/view.php?ID=299 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021216223619/http://www.insidemacgames.com/reviews/view.php?ID=299 |last=Jansen |first=John |title=Fallout |magazine=Inside Mac Games |date=August 15, 2002 |archive-date=December 16, 2002 |access-date=July 16, 2022}} Version 1.1 was released on November 13, 1997, patching many bugs in the original release and removing the 500-day time limit. The patch was released for the Mac OS on December 11, 1997.{{cite web |url=http://www.interplay.com/fallout/log.html |title=Fallout Development Log |website=Interplay Productions |year=1997 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000817224417/http://www.interplay.com/fallout/log.html |archive-date=August 17, 2000 |access-date=April 19, 2021}}{{cite web |url=http://www.interplay.com/fallout/faq.html |title=Fallout FAQ |website=Interplay Productions |date=May 19, 1998 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021017164019/http://www.interplay.com/fallout/faq.html |archive-date=October 17, 2002 |access-date=May 5, 2021}}{{cite magazine |url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/007/113/fallout_patch.html |last=Ocampo |first=Jason |title=Patch fixes numerous bugs |magazine=Computer Games Strategy Plus |year=1997 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021201033115/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/007/113/fallout_patch.html |archive-date=December 1, 2002 |access-date=May 5, 2021}}

Fallout was initially not released in Europe due to the player's ability to kill children in-game. Version 1.2 removed the children from Fallout and was released at an unspecified date in Europe.{{sfn|Cain|2012|loc=40:27—41:06}} MacPlay, which had become independent from Interplay, ported Fallout to Mac OS X in 2002 as part of its "Value Series". Fallout and its sequels, Fallout 2 and Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel, were bundled as Fallout Trilogy in April 2009.{{cite web |url=http://uk.pc.ign.com/objects/033/033123.html |title=Fallout Trilogy |website=IGN |access-date=July 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102023755/http://uk.pc.ign.com/objects/033/033123.html |archive-date=November 2, 2011}} To mark its 20th anniversary, the game was made temporarily free on video game digital distribution service Steam on September 30, 2017.{{cite news |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/original-fallout-anniversary |last=Meer |first=Alec |title=20 years ago today, Fallout set the world on fire |work=Rock Paper Shotgun |date=September 30, 2017 |access-date=May 2, 2021 |archive-date=May 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505092228/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/original-fallout-anniversary |url-status=live}} It was also included in Fallout Anthology in September and October 2015{{cite news |url=https://www.polygon.com/2015/7/23/9025581/fallout-anthology |last=Grant |first=Christopher |title=Fallout Anthology assembles the entire series into one mini-nuke, dropping Sep. 29 |work=Polygon |date=July 23, 2015 |access-date=April 19, 2021 |archive-date=May 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511191831/https://www.polygon.com/2015/7/23/9025581/fallout-anthology |url-status=live}} and Fallout Legacy Collection in October 2019.{{cite news |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/fallout-legacy-collection-leak/ |last=Sheridan |first=Connor |title=Fallout Legacy collection confirmed for October 25, but only for the UK and Germany so far |work=GamesRadar+ |date=October 4, 2019 |access-date=April 19, 2021 |archive-date=April 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419183505/https://www.gamesradar.com/fallout-legacy-collection-leak/ |url-status=live}}

{{Video game reviews

| MC = 89/100{{Cite Metacritic |id=fallout |type=game |vgtype=pc |title=Fallout |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422174411/https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/fallout |archive-date=April 22, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=April 25, 2021 |publisher_hide=y}}

| Allgame = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |last=Suciu |first=Peter |title=Fallout – Review |website=AllGame |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=6460&tab=review |access-date=November 8, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114121443/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=6460&tab=review |archive-date=November 14, 2014}}

|CGM = {{rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021217221627/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/006/158/fallout_review.html |url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/006/158/fallout_review.html |title=Fallout |author=Mayer, Robert |work=Computer Games Strategy Plus |archive-date=December 17, 2002 |year=1997 |url-status=dead |access-date=July 22, 2022}}

| CGW = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite magazine |author=Green, Jeff |author-link=Jeff Green (writer)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000816005427/http://www.gamespot.com/rpg/fallout/review_cgw.html |url=http://www.gamespot.com/rpg/fallout/review_cgw.html |magazine=Computer Gaming World |archive-date=August 16, 2000 |title=Fallout |date=November 19, 1997 |access-date=July 22, 2022 |url-status=dead}}

| GSpot = 8.7/10{{cite web |last=Desslock |title=Fallout Review |website=GameSpot |date=November 21, 1997 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/fallout-review/1900-2535953/ |access-date=November 8, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016150615/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/fallout-review/1900-2535953/ |archive-date=October 16, 2013}}

| NGen = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/f/fe/NextGeneration_US_38.pdf |title=Rating; Fallout |magazine=Next Generation |issue=38 |date=February 1998 |page=120 |access-date=April 29, 2021 |archive-date=April 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429044339/https://retrocdn.net/images/f/fe/NextGeneration_US_38.pdf |url-status=live}}

| PCGUK = 86%{{cite magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010117050000/http://www.pcgamer.co.uk/games/gamefile_review_page.asp?item_id=402 |url=http://www.pcgamer.co.uk/games/gamefile_review_page.asp?item_id=402 |title=Glowing |issue=56 |author=Butcher, Andy |magazine=PC Gamer UK |date=May 1998 |access-date=July 22, 2022 |archive-date=January 17, 2001 |url-status=dead}}

| PCGUS = 90%{{cite magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000312175928/http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/421.html |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/421.html |archive-date=March 12, 2000 |title=Fallout |date=January 1998 |last=Vaughn |first=Todd |magazine=PC Gamer US |access-date=April 14, 2010}}

| PCPP = 89%{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/PCPowerplay018/page/n69/mode/2up |last=Stepnik |first=March |title=Fallout |magazine=PC PowerPlay |date=November 1997 |access-date=July 17, 2021}}

}}

Fallout received critical acclaim,{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/tenspot_villains/page7.html?tag=stitialclk |title=The Ten Best Computer Game Villains - The Master |website=GameSpot |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111033632/http://www.gamespot.com/features/tenspot_villains/page7.html?tag=stitialclk |archive-date=November 11, 2011 |access-date=June 7, 2022}}{{sfn|Barton|2019|p=389}} with critics considering it one of the best role-playing video games at the time.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:{{cite web |url=http://www.elecplay.com/reviews/view/?article=8290&full=1 |author=Jason |title=Fallout |website=The Electric Playground |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011070908/http://www.elecplay.com/reviews/view/?article=8290&full=1 |archive-date=October 11, 2008 |access-date=April 29, 2021}}}} PC PowerPlay predicted that Fallout would revive the genre and thought that both casual gamers and fans of role-playing games would enjoy the game. GameSpot declared that because of the release of Fallout, gamers would not have to wait for a good role-playing game anymore. The Electric Playground said that they "can't think of another game that comes even close to Fallout{{'s}} excellent character generation and skill system, great story, and classy delivery."

Critics praised the character system. GamePro considered it the best aspect,{{cite magazine |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/a/a5/GamePro_US_110.pdf |last=Elektro |first=Dan |title=Fallout |magazine=GamePro |date=November 1997 |volume=110 |page=107 |access-date=April 21, 2022 |archive-date=May 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509113618/https://retrocdn.net/images/a/a5/GamePro_US_110.pdf |url-status=live }} and Todd Vaughn of PC Gamer found the system "easy and fun to use." The Washington Post praised the "realistic tradeoffs" during customization.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105567224/hey-are-you-ready-for-a-little/ |title=Hey, are you ready for some post-nuclear fun? |agency=The Washington Post |via=Newspapers.com |work=The Orlando Sentinel |date=December 25, 1997 |access-date=July 22, 2022 |archive-date=July 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220724054338/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105567224/hey-are-you-ready-for-a-little/ |url-status=live }} Computer Games Strategy Plus said the system allowed for a variety of effective character builds, and The Electric Playground and PC PowerPlay praised the game for allowing each skill to be useful. GameSpot felt that "the variety of characters that can be created and the truly different experiences that each type of character can have should satisfy even hard-core RPG players."

The post-apocalyptic setting and story were praised. The setting was lauded as refreshing for a role-playing game;{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105549032/fallout/ |last=Boxer |first=Steve |title=Fallout |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=February 5, 1998 |access-date=July 22, 2022 |archive-date=July 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220724054338/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105549032/fallout/ |url-status=live }} Just Adventure said that Fallout abandoned the traditional fantasy-based settings of many role-playing games.{{cite web |url=https://www.justadventure.com/reviews/Fallout/Fallout.shtm |last=Ivey |first=Ray |title=Fallout |website=Just Adventure |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011225103359/https://www.justadventure.com/reviews/Fallout/Fallout.shtm |archive-date=December 25, 2001 |access-date=April 28, 2021}} Butcher said the game's appearance, sound, and ambient music delivered a believable environment, and Computer Games Strategy Plus found the mix of satire and grit well-executed. GameSpot and The Independent said the storyline was compelling. Critics commended the cinematic introduction;{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/console-yourself-5391244.html |last=Gordon |first=Jonathon |title=Console Yourself |work=The Independent |date=April 11, 1998 |access-date=July 22, 2022 |archive-date=July 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220723020428/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/console-yourself-5391244.html |url-status=live }} The Electric Playground called it "the most haunting opening movie" he had seen. Butcher praised the ability to complete quests in multiple ways, and Next Generation found the subquests to be a natural outgrowth of the main quest. Computer Gaming World, however, said the dialogue was unable to account for the player's unpredictability, resulting in out-of-order dialogue. Just Adventure considered the ending among the best in video games.

The combat received a slightly positive reception. Several reviews praised its tactical nature,{{cite magazine |url=http://www.gamesdomain.com/gdreview/zones/reviews/pc/nov97/fallout.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031205190204/http://www.gamesdomain.com/gdreview/zones/reviews/pc/nov97/fallout.html |last=Schock |first=Christian |title=Mutants On the Rampage |magazine=Games Domain |date=November 1997 |archive-date=December 5, 2003 |access-date=April 23, 2022}} and GameSpot found the targeting system satisfying. Computer Games Strategy Plus said that fans of turn-based RPGs would greatly enjoy the combat because of the wide variety of weapons. Finding the combat unrealistic, Computer Gaming World said that the turn-based system "might bore or disappoint Diablo fans, but will be welcome to most hard-core RPGers." The companions were criticized because the player could not control them directly. Vaughn said the combat was great when playing without companions and frustrating when playing with them.

Fallout was commercially successful, although it was not as popular as other role-playing video games such as Baldur's Gate and Diablo.{{cite magazine |title=RPG Sales; The Wizards at Wal-Mart |author=Desslock |issue=193 |date=August 2000 |pages=134 |magazine=Computer Gaming World |url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_193/page/n137/mode/2up |access-date=July 22, 2022}}{{cite magazine |url=http://www.gamesdomain.com/gdreview/adventure/falloutback.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031205233317/http://www.gamesdomain.com/gdreview/adventure/falloutback.html |last=Lucier |first=Trent |title=Fallout: Three Years Later |magazine=Games Domain |year=2000 |archive-date=December 5, 2003 |access-date=April 23, 2022}} It did not meet sales expectations, but developed a fan following{{sfn|McLaughlin|2010|page=3}} and sold enough copies for a sequel to be produced. In the United States, it debuted at No. 12 on PC Data's computer game sales rankings for October 1997.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990210083600/http://www.gamecenter.com/News/Item/0,3,1331,00.html |url=http://www.gamecenter.com:80/News/Item/0,3,1331,00.html |title=October's Best-Sellers |date=November 26, 1997 |author=GamerX |work=CNET Gamecenter |archive-date=February 10, 1999 |url-status=dead |access-date=August 16, 2019}}{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980204090955/http://www.next-generation.com/news/120497e.chtml |url=http://www.next-generation.com:80/news/120497e.chtml |title=MS Flight Sim Tops PC Data Charts |date=December 4, 1997 |work=Next Generation |archive-date=February 4, 1998 |url-status=dead |access-date=August 16, 2019}} CNET Gamecenter noted that the game was part of a trend of role-playing successes that month, alongside Ultima Online and Lands of Lore 2: Guardians of Destiny, and said, "If October's list is any indication, [role-playing games] are back." Fallout sold 53,777 copies in the US by the end of 1997.{{cite magazine |url=http://scans.roushimsx.com/PCGamer_1998_04_pg045.jpg |date=April 1998 |volume=5 |issue=4 |title=How Did the PCG Award Winners Fare? |magazine=PC Gamer US |page=45 |access-date=April 25, 2021 |archive-date=March 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322190515/http://scans.roushimsx.com/PCGamer_1998_04_pg045.jpg |url-status=live}}

Worldwide, over 100,000 copies were shipped by December 1997,{{cite news |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180405061446/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/08/business/behold-a-role-playing-game.html |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/08/business/behold-a-role-playing-game.html |title=Behold! A Role-Playing Game! |date=December 8, 1997 |newspaper=The New York Times |author=Schiesel, Seth |archive-date=April 5, 2018 |url-status=live}} and Erik Bethke reported sales of over 120,000 copies after a year.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m5exIODbtqkC |author=Bethke, Erik |author-link=Erik Bethke |title=Game Development and Production |date=January 25, 2003 |publisher=Wordware Publishing |isbn=9781556229510 |page=16 |access-date=May 12, 2021 |archive-date=May 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512060201/https://books.google.com/books?id=m5exIODbtqkC |url-status=live }} By March 2000, 144,000 copies had been sold in the US alone. GameSpot called these "very good sales, especially since the overall [worldwide] figures are likely double those amounts".{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010203124200/http://desslock.gamespot.com/archives/200005/20000511.html |url=http://desslock.gamespot.com:80/archives/200005/20000511.html |title=Desslock's Ramblings – RPG Sales Figures |author=Desslock |date=May 11, 2000 |work=GameSpot |archive-date=February 3, 2001 |url-status=dead |access-date=July 22, 2022}} Fallout was unpopular in the United Kingdom, where sales for it and its sequel totaled just over 50,000 combined lifetime sales by 2008.{{cite news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029123628/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/fallout-retrospective-article |url=http://www.eurogamer.net:80/articles/fallout-retrospective-article |title=Fallout Retrospective |work=Eurogamer |archive-date=October 29, 2009 |date=October 27, 2008 |author=MacDonald, Keza |url-status=live |access-date=August 16, 2019}} In 2017, Fargo said in an interview that Fallout sold a total of 600,000 copies.{{cite interview |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720173213/http://www.rpgcodex.net/content.php?id=10604 |url=http://www.rpgcodex.net/content.php?id=10604 |last=Fargo |first=Brian |author-link=Brian Fargo |title=RPG Codex Report: A Codexian Visit to inXile Entertainment |interviewer=Infinitron |date=April 13, 2017 |archive-date=July 20, 2017 |work=RPG Codex |url-status=live}} After the release of the 2024 television adaptation, Fallout experienced renewed commercial success. According to data trackers Steam Charts and SteamDB respectively, Fallout{{'s}} player base experienced a 160% increase, peaking at 2,300 players.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/fallout-76-smashes-steam-player-record-amid-fallout-tv-show-success |last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |title=Fallout 76 Smashes Steam Player Record Amid Fallout TV Show Success |website=IGN |date=April 15, 2024 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |archive-date=April 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419181138/https://www.ign.com/articles/fallout-76-smashes-steam-player-record-amid-fallout-tv-show-success |url-status=live }}

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Fallout for "Computer Entertainment Title of the Year", "PC Role-Playing Game of the Year", and "Outstanding Achievement in Sound and Music" at the inaugural Interactive Achievement Awards.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980615090128/http://www.interactive.org/html/award/awardupdate.htm |url=http://www.interactive.org:80/html/award/awardupdate.htm |title=The Award; Award Updates on Finalists |website=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |archive-date=June 15, 1998 |url-status=dead |access-date=July 22, 2022}} Similarly, the Computer Game Developers Conference nominated Fallout for its "Best Adventure/RPG" Spotlight Award.{{cite web |url=https://gamechoiceawards.com/archive/spotlight_1998 |title=Archive - 1998 Spotlight Awards |website=Game Developers Conference |date=April 20, 2021 |access-date=July 22, 2022 |archive-date=December 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207060612/https://www.gamechoiceawards.com/archive/spotlight_1998 |url-status=live }} Fallout received GameSpot's "Best Role-Playing Game" and "Best Ending" prize; and was nominated for GameSpot{{'s}} "Game of the Year".{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010208121409/http://www.gamespot.com/features/awards97/cont.html |url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/awards97/cont.html |title=Best & Worst Awards 1997 |work=GameSpot |archive-date=February 8, 2001 |url-status=dead |access-date=August 16, 2019}} It also won the "Role-Playing Game of the Year" award from both Computer Games Magazine and Computer Gaming World.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050206152953/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/009/194/1997_cgsp_awards.html |url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/009/194/1997_cgsp_awards.html |title=The winners of the 1997 Computer Games Awards |date=January 19, 1998 |work=Computer Games Strategy Plus |archive-date=February 6, 2005 |url-status=dead |access-date=July 22, 2022}}{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_164/ |title=CGW Presents: The Best and Worst of 1997 - Role-Playing Game of the Year |magazine=Computer Gaming World |date=March 1993 |issue=164 |access-date=September 20, 2024}}

File:Troika Games' Founders (left to right) Jason D. Anderson, Tim Cain and Leonard Boyarsky.jpg.|alt=caption]]

The 1990s saw a decline in the popularity of the role-playing video game genre as a result of stale settings and ideas,{{sfn|Pepe|2019|p=225}}{{cite magazine |last=Ritchie |first=Craig |title=A Decade of Fallout |magazine=Retro Gamer |date=January 7, 2010 |issue=72 |pages=58–64}} competition with other genres,{{cite web |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/12/the-year-role-playing-games-broke/ |last=Kaiser |first=Rowan |title=The year role-playing games broke |website=Joystiq |date=March 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507184610/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/12/the-year-role-playing-games-broke/ |archive-date=May 7, 2012 |access-date=May 2, 2021}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/the-complete-history-of-rpgs/2/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170520045453/https://www.pcgamer.com/the-complete-history-of-rpgs/2/ |last=Cobbett |first=Richard |title=The history of RPGs |magazine=PC Gamer |page=2 |date=May 19, 2017 |archive-date=May 20, 2017 |access-date=January 17, 2025}} and poor quality assurance.{{cite web |last=Barton |first=Matt |title=The History of Computer Role-Playing Games Part III: The Platinum and Modern Ages (1994–2004) |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/1571/the_history_of_computer_.php |website=Gamasutra |date=April 11, 2007 |access-date=April 28, 2022 |page=1 |archive-date=April 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422174409/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/1571/the_history_of_computer_.php |url-status=dead }} Fallout has been credited as one of several innovative role-playing games that revived the genre's popularity.{{cite news |url=http://www.1up.com/features/chasing-history-rpgs?pager.offset=1 |last=Crigger |first=Lara |title=Chasing D&D;: A History of RPGs |work=1Up.com |year=2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115133010/http://www.1up.com/features/chasing-history-rpgs?pager.offset=1 |archive-date=January 15, 2013 |access-date=July 17, 2021}} In 2000, CNET Gamecenter{{'s}} Mark H. Walker wrote, "The RPG genre was clearly in a slump in the mid-'90s, but{{Nbsp}}... the renaissance began when Interplay's Fallout hit store shelves."{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001212101100/http://www.gamecenter.com/Pc/Previews/Fallout/ |url=http://www.gamecenter.com/Pc/Previews/Fallout/ |title=Previews – Fallout: Tactics |date=September 22, 2000 |author=Walker, Mark H. |work=CNET Gamecenter |archive-date=December 12, 2000 |url-status=dead}} Rowan Kaiser, writing for Engadget, called Fallout the "first modern role-playing game".{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2012-03-16-fallout-the-first-modern-role-playing-game.html |last=Kaiser |first=Rowan |title=Fallout: The first modern role-playing game |website=Engadget |date=March 17, 2012 |access-date=May 2, 2021 |archive-date=May 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502182902/https://www.engadget.com/2012-03-16-fallout-the-first-modern-role-playing-game.html |url-status=live}}

Fallout{{'s}} post-apocalyptic setting was novel, as contemporary role-playing games often featured Tolkien-inspired fantasy settings.{{sfn|Pepe|2019|p=226}} Fallout also stood out for its focus on the player character, how their choices impacted the game world, and the open-world gameplay.{{sfn|Pepe|2019|p=226}} Matthew Byrd of Den of Geek wrote that Fallout{{'s}} departure from gameplay inspired by the tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, prevalent in role-playing games at the time, made it influential. Kaiser stated that any modern game with a morality system could be tied back to Fallout. At the 2012 Game Developers Conference, Cain gave a presentation about Fallout{{'s}} development and noted traits that were shared by subsequent role-playing games, including open-world gameplay, ambiguous morality, and perks.{{sfn|Cain|2012|loc=41:35–45:51}}

Polygon described Fallout as "one of the most influential games of its time." After leaving Interplay in 1998, Cain, Boyarsky, and Anderson formed Troika Games and created Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura (2001). Cain considered Fallout a "stepping stone" to the creation of Arcanum.{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/gamedesign00marc/page/58/mode/2up |last=Saltzman |first=Marc |title=Game design: Secrets of the Sages |publisher=Brady Games |date=2000 |edition=2 |editor-first=Marc |editor-last=Saltzman |isbn=9781566869874 |pages=58–60}} Years later, working for Obsidian Entertainment, Cain and Boyarsky created The Outer Worlds (2019), a role-playing video game influenced by Fallout.{{cite interview |url=https://www.gog.com/news/the_outer_worlds_codesigners_our_games_never_take_themselves_too_seriously |last1=Cain |first1=Tim |author-link1=Tim Cain |last2=Boyarksy |first2=Leonard |author-link2=Leonard Boyarsky |title=The Outer Worlds Co-Developers: Our Games Never Take Themselves Too Seriously |website=GOG.com |date=October 30, 2020 |access-date=May 15, 2022 |archive-date=May 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510051752/https://www.gog.com/news/the_outer_worlds_codesigners_our_games_never_take_themselves_too_seriously |url-status=live }} After the Fallout series became popular, Wasteland 2 (2014) was pitched by Fargo and developed by inXile Entertainment, which Fargo founded, with a design team featuring Anderson and Fallout composer Mark Morgan. PC Gamer found Wasteland 2 to be more similar the first two Fallout games than the original Wasteland.{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/how-wasteland-2-went-from-hopeless-to-half-a-million-in-5892901 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204021113/https://kotaku.com/how-wasteland-2-went-from-hopeless-to-half-a-million-in-5892901 |last=Schreier |first=Jason |author-link=Jason Schreier |title=How Wasteland 2 Went From Hopeless to Half a Million in 24 Hours |website=Kotaku |date=March 14, 2012 |archive-date=February 4, 2022 |access-date=October 1, 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/two-paths-through-the-wasteland-brian-fargo-on-wasteland-2-and-fallout-4/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216001458/https://www.pcgamer.com/two-paths-through-the-wasteland-brian-fargo-on-wasteland-2-and-fallout-4/ |last=Chalk |first=Andy |title=Two paths through the wasteland: Brian Fargo on Wasteland 2 and Fallout 4 |magazine=PC Gamer |date=October 21, 2015 |archive-date=February 16, 2016 |access-date=October 1, 2022 |url-status=live}} Other personnel from the Fallout development team have worked on games that were influenced by Fallout such as Neverwinter Nights 2 (2006) and Alpha Protocol (2008).{{cite interview |url=http://www.1up.com/features/feargus-urquhart-interview |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131104045543/http://www.1up.com/features/feargus-urquhart-interview |last=Urquhart |first=Feargus |author-link=Feargus Urquhart |title=Talking: Feargus Urquhart |interviewer=Kevin Gifford |work=1Up.com |date=August 16, 2004 |archive-date=November 4, 2013 |access-date=May 15, 2022}}{{cite interview |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/11/15/alpha-protocol-interview-part-2 |last1=Avellone |first1=Chris |author-link1=Chris Avellone |last2=Rucinski |first2=Ryan |last3=MacLean |first3=Matt |title=Alpha Protocol Interview - Part 2 |interviewer=Richard Aihoshi |website=IGN |date=November 14, 2008 |access-date=May 15, 2022 |archive-date=May 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516043904/https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/11/15/alpha-protocol-interview-part-2 |url-status=live }} A feature similar to the perks in Fallout, called "feats", was added to the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons.{{sfn|Pepe|2019|p=227}} Other games with similar features, according to Cain, include World of Warcraft (2004) and Oblivion (2006).{{sfn|Cain|2012|loc=44:44–45:51}} Both Metro 2033 (2010) and Atom RPG (2018) are post-apocalyptic games that were influenced by Fallout.{{cite interview |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/12/01/metro-2033-interview |last=Robinson |first=Martin |title=Metro 2033 Interview |website=IGN |date=December 1, 2009 |access-date=May 15, 2022 |archive-date=May 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502112703/https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/12/01/metro-2033-interview |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/atom-post-apocalyptic-rpg-released |last=O'Conner |first=Alice |title=Atom RPG looks a bit like a Soviet Fallout |work=Rock Paper Shotgun |date=December 20, 2018 |access-date=May 15, 2022 |archive-date=May 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516043904/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/atom-post-apocalyptic-rpg-released |url-status=live }} Other games influenced by Fallout include Deus Ex (2000),{{cite magazine |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/postmortem-ion-storm-s-i-deus-ex-i- |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531180131/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/postmortem-ion-storm-s-i-deus-ex-i- |last=Spector |first=Warren |author-link=Warren Spector |title=Postmortem: Ion Storm's Deus Ex |magazine=Game Developer |date=December 6, 2000 |archive-date=May 31, 2022 |access-date=October 1, 2022 |url-status=live}} Dark Angel: Vampire Apocalypse (2001),{{cite news |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/dark-angel-preview/1100-2540244/ |title=Dark Angel Preview |work=GameSpot |date=November 29, 2000 |access-date=May 15, 2022 |archive-date=April 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220430160237/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/dark-angel-preview/1100-2540244/ |url-status=live }} and Weird West (2022).{{cite magazine |url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/weird-west-developer-wolfeye-is-putting-player-agency-at-the-center-of-its-dark-immersive-sim/ |last=Lawardon |first=Damien |title=Weird West Developer WolfEye Is Putting Player Agency at the Center of Its Dark Immersive Sim |magazine=The Escapist |date=July 30, 2020 |access-date=May 15, 2022 |archive-date=November 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120041048/https://www.escapistmagazine.com/weird-west-developer-wolfeye-is-putting-player-agency-at-the-center-of-its-dark-immersive-sim/ |url-status=live }}

Fallout continues to receive acclaim, and is considered one of the best role-playing games on PC.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2018/01/01/the-top-100-rpgs-of-all-time.aspx |title=The Top 100 RPGs Of All Time |magazine=Game Informer |date=January 1, 2018 |access-date=June 29, 2022 |archive-date=May 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510205452/https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2018/01/01/the-top-100-rpgs-of-all-time.aspx |url-status=live }}{{sfn|Barton|2019|p=383}}{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/lists/top-100-rpgs/38 |last=Johnson |first=Leif |title=Top 100 RPGs of all time - Fallout |website=IGN |access-date=April 23, 2022 |archive-date=November 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116221641/https://www.ign.com/lists/top-100-rpgs/38 |url-status=live }} Retrospective critics have considered the game innovative and praised its setting, dark tone, gameplay mechanics, and character system.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:{{cite magazine |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/fallout-series-retrospective/ |last=Cobbett |first=Richard |title=Fallout series retrospective |magazine=PC Gamer |date=June 12, 2015 |access-date=April 23, 2022 |archive-date=April 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423190521/https://www.pcgamer.com/fallout-series-retrospective/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.rpgfan.com/review/fallout/ |last=Gregory |first=Josh |title=Fallout |website=RPGFan |date=June 18, 2002 |access-date=June 29, 2022 |archive-date=December 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211230050033/https://www.rpgfan.com/review/fallout/ |url-status=live }}}} Several critics have also found the game outdated yet still enjoyable.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/good-old-reviews-fallout/ |last=Leboeuf |first=Sarah |title=Good Old Reviews: Fallout |magazine=The Escapist |date=December 12, 2013 |access-date=April 23, 2022 |archive-date=April 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426034802/https://www.escapistmagazine.com/good-old-reviews-fallout/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/uk/best-fallout-games/ |last1=Wald |first1=Heather |last2=Mercanted |first2=Alyssa |title=Ranking the best Fallout games from worst to best |website=GamesRadar+ |date=February 24, 2022 |access-date=April 23, 2022 |archive-date=April 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423190526/https://www.gamesradar.com/uk/best-fallout-games/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/132598/fallout-1997-25th-anniversary |last=Denzer |first=TJ |title=Revisiting 1997's Fallout was a hard but rewarding lesson in video game history |website=Shacknews |date=October 10, 2022 |access-date=May 20, 2024}} Critical assessments of Fallout{{'s}} quality relative to its sequels differ. GamesRadar+ ranked it low among the series, IGN ranked it in the middle,{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/07/24/the-best-fallout-games |last=Stapleton |first=Dan |title=The Best Fallout Games |website=IGN |date=June 14, 2018 |access-date=April 23, 2022 |archive-date=April 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423190527/https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/07/24/the-best-fallout-games |url-status=live }} and Kotaku and Paste Magazine ranked it high.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/games/fallout/ranking-every-fallout-game/#3-fallout |last=Green |first=Holly |title=Ranking Every Fallout Game |magazine=Paste Magazine |date=July 1, 2019 |access-date=April 23, 2022 |archive-date=April 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423190527/https://www.pastemagazine.com/games/fallout/ranking-every-fallout-game/#3-fallout |url-status=live }}

Critics have particularly highlighted the Master, the game's villain.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/tenspot_villains/page7.html?tag=stitialclk |title=The Ten Best Computer Game Villains - The Master |website=GameSpot |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111033632/http://www.gamespot.com/features/tenspot_villains/page7.html?tag=stitialclk |archive-date=November 11, 2011 |access-date=June 7, 2022}}{{Cite news |url=https://kotaku.com/lets-rank-the-fallout-games-best-to-worst-611408965 |title=Let's Rank The Fallout Games, Best To Worst |last=Hernadez |first=Patricia |work=Kotaku |date=February 28, 2018 |access-date=May 13, 2018 |archive-date=May 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515112427/https://kotaku.com/lets-rank-the-fallout-games-best-to-worst-611408965 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.ugo.com/games/fallout-characters-the-master |title=The Master in UGO's Favorite Fallout Characters |website=UGO Networks |date=September 17, 2008 |access-date=August 11, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203064755/http://www.ugo.com/games/fallout-characters-the-master |archive-date=December 3, 2013}} GameSpot singled out Jim Cummings's voice acting as the Master as "chilling" and considered him "one of the most memorable antagonists in computer-gaming history." The final encounter with the Master has been lauded for its multiple solutions that took advantage of the character system, with the boss fight itself being optional.{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/fallout-retrospective-article?page=2 |last=MacDonald |first=Keza |title=Fallout Retrospective |website=Eurogamer |page=2 |date=October 25, 2011 |access-date=August 13, 2022 |archive-date=August 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814041635/https://www.eurogamer.net/fallout-retrospective-article?page=2 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/11/06/10-of-fallouts-craziest-moments |title=10 of Fallout's Craziest Moments |last=Kaiser |first=Rowan |date=November 5, 2015 |website=IGN |access-date=August 13, 2022 |archive-date=May 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515044230/http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/11/06/10-of-fallouts-craziest-moments |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Macgregor |first=Jody |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/the-best-and-worst-boss-fights-in-pc-gaming/ |title=The best and worst boss fights in PC gaming |work=PC Gamer |access-date=May 13, 2018 |archive-date=May 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515043841/https://www.pcgamer.com/the-best-and-worst-boss-fights-in-pc-gaming/ |url-status=live }}

Multiple journalists especially praised the option to convince the Master that he is wrong, with Kotaku describing it as "unforgettable", and UGO describing it as "fun". IGN said that this aforementioned ability proved that in role-playing games, dialogue can be just as valid as fighting.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/10-best-final-bosses-in-video-games |title=10 Best Final Bosses in Video Games |website=IGN |date=April 22, 2021 |access-date=August 13, 2022 |archive-date=August 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814041634/https://www.ign.com/articles/10-best-final-bosses-in-video-games |url-status=live }} Praising the final confrontation, USGamer{{'s}} Mike Williams said, "Even at its end, Fallout is about player choice, and the choices available to you are pretty clever."{{cite web |url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/the-top-25-rpgs-of-all-time-7-fallout |last=Williams |first=Mike |title=The Top 25 RPGs of All Time #7: Fallout |website=USGamer |date=February 20, 2019 |access-date=August 13, 2022 |archive-date=August 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220830160554/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/the-top-25-rpgs-of-all-time-7-fallout |url-status=live }} GamesRadar+ called the player's encounter with the Master "one of the most striking storytelling devices of its era",{{Cite news |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/fallout-most-memorable-locations/ |title=The most memorable locations in Fallout |last=Bradley |first=Alan |date=November 1, 2015 |work=GamesRadar+ |access-date=May 13, 2018 |archive-date=May 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515044225/https://www.gamesradar.com/fallout-most-memorable-locations/ |url-status=live }} and IGN called it one of the series' most memorable moments.{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/11/06/10-of-fallouts-craziest-moments |title=10 of Fallout's Craziest Moments |last=Kaiser |first=Rowan |date=November 5, 2015 |website=IGN |access-date=May 13, 2018 |archive-date=May 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515044230/http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/11/06/10-of-fallouts-craziest-moments |url-status=live }}

Fallout has been inducted into the "Hall of Fame" (or similar award) of Computer Gaming World,{{cite web |title=CGW's Hall of Fame |website=1UP.com |url=http://www.1up.com/features/hall-of-fame?pager.offset=3 |access-date=November 17, 2010 |page=4 |archive-date=November 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102182154/http://www.1up.com/features/hall-of-fame?pager.offset=3}} GameSpot,{{cite web |title=If the Postnuclear Future Is This Good, Sign Us Up |url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/greatestgames/p-14.html |website=GameSpot |access-date=May 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013100506/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/greatestgames/p-14.html |archive-date=October 13, 2008 |year=2007}} GameSpy,{{cite web |last=Buecheler |first=Christopher |title=The GameSpy Hall of Fame: Fallout |website=GameSpy |date=December 30, 2000 |url=http://www.gamespy.com/articles/493/493213p1.html |access-date=November 17, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050219134307/http://www.gamespy.com/articles/493/493213p1.html |archive-date=February 19, 2005}} and IGN.{{cite web |title=IGN Videogame Hall Of Fame: Fallout |website=IGN |year=2008 |url=http://games.ign.com/halloffame/fallout.html |access-date=November 20, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629144002/http://games.ign.com/halloffame/fallout.html |archive-date=June 29, 2011}} It has also been ranked as among the best PC games of all time by PC Gamer{{cite magazine|title=PC Gamer's Best 100 |magazine=Computer and Video Games |date=August 13, 2007 |url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=169961&site=pcg |access-date=March 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621050539/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=169961&site=pcg |archive-date=June 21, 2010 }}{{cite magazine|title=PC Gamer's Top 100 |magazine=Computer and Video Games |date=August 5, 2008 |url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=194593 |access-date=March 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227043739/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=194593 |archive-date=February 27, 2009 }}{{cite web|title=PC Gamer's top 100 PC Games of all time |website=GamesRadar+ |date=February 5, 2010 |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/f/pc-gamers-top-100-pc-games-of-all-time/a-2010012911133649022/p-5 |access-date=March 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615232958/http://www.gamesradar.com/f/pc-gamers-top-100-pc-games-of-all-time/a-2010012911133649022/p-5 |archive-date=June 15, 2011 }} and IGN{{cite web|author1=Adams, Dan |author2=Butts, Steve |author3=Onyett, Charles |date=March 16, 2007 |title=Top 25 PC Games of All Time |website=IGN |url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/772/772285p3.html |access-date=March 15, 2022 |page=3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216114427/http://pc.ign.com/articles/772/772285p3.html |archive-date=February 16, 2009 }}{{cite web|author1=Ocampo, Jason |author2=Butts, Steve |author3=Haynes, Jeff |date=August 6, 2009 |title=Top 25 PC Games of All Time |website=IGN |url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/101/1011624p2.html |access-date=March 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100301115521/http://pc.ign.com/articles/101/1011624p2.html |archive-date=March 1, 2010}} and among the greatest video games of all time by IGN,{{cite web |title=The Top 100 Games of All Time! – 33. Fallout |url=http://top100.ign.com/2007/ign_top_game_33.html |website=IGN |access-date=May 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071129205631/http://top100.ign.com/2007/ign_top_game_33.html |archive-date=November 29, 2007 |url-status=dead |year=2007}} Game Informer,{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/game-informer-issue-200-december-2009/ |title=The Top 200 Games of All Time |magazine=Game Informer |issue=200 |date=January 2009}} and Polygon.{{cite web |title=The 500 Best Video Games of All Time |url=https://www.polygon.com/features/2017/11/29/16693094/polygon-500-best-games-of-all-time-300-201 |website=Polygon |access-date=May 1, 2021 |date=November 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303210843/https://www.polygon.com/features/2017/11/27/16158276/polygon-500-best-games-of-all-time-500-401 |archive-date=March 3, 2018 |url-status=live |page=3}} The 2002 MacPlay ports of Fallout and Fallout 2 were listed under "Best Games Rescued from Oblivion" in Macworld{{'s}} "2002 Game Hall of Fame".{{cite magazine |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/152018/gamehalloffame2002.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619191037/https://www.macworld.com/article/152018/gamehalloffame2002.html |last=Cohen |first=Peter |title=2002 Game Hall of Fame |magazine=MacWorld |date=December 31, 2002 |archive-date=June 19, 2021 |access-date=July 16, 2022 |url-status=live}} Fallout was included in the 2010 reference book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/1001videogamesyo0000unse/mode/2up |last=Dahlen |first=Chris |editor-last=Mott |editor-first=Tony |title=1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die |publisher=Universe Publishing |date=October 2010 |page=331 |isbn=9780789320902}} and was exhibited in Smithsonian American Art Museum's "The Art of Video Games" under the category of adventure games in March 2011.{{cite web |url=http://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/archive/2012/games/featuredgames/ |title=The Art of Video Games |website=Smithsonian American Art Museum |date=March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203152720/http://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/archive/2012/games/featuredgames/ |archive-date=December 3, 2016 |access-date=April 22, 2021}}

{{main|Fallout (franchise){{!}}Fallout (franchise)}}

Fallout was followed by a series of sequels and spin-offs, often different in genre and ambiance from the original game. Cain did not work on any sequels and spin-offs beyond brainstorming for Fallout 2,{{cite magazine |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/the-complete-history-of-fallout/ |last=Dransfield |first=Ian |title=The complete history of Fallout |magazine=PC Gamer |date=April 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404143134/https://www.pcgamer.com/the-complete-history-of-fallout/ |archive-date=April 4, 2019 |url-status=live |access-date=May 2, 2021}} and left Interplay during its development. Interplay owned the Fallout rights until 2007, when they were purchased by Bethesda Softworks. The first Bethesda-developed Fallout game was Fallout 3.{{sfn|McLaughlin|2010|page=4}} The series has been acclaimed, influential among developers, and among the most popular in the video game industry.{{cite news |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/fallout-tv-show-locks-army-of-the-dead-star-into-lead-role |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331093807/https://www.techradar.com/news/fallout-tv-show-locks-army-of-the-dead-star-into-lead-role |last=Power |first=Tom |title=Fallout TV show locks Army of the Dead star into lead role |website=TechRadar |url-status=live |date=March 31, 2022 |archive-date=March 31, 2022 |access-date=July 21, 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/06/09/top-10-reasons-we-love-fallout |last=Legari |first=Destin |title=Top 10 Reasons We Love Fallout |website=IGN |date=May 1, 2017 |access-date=April 21, 2022 |archive-date=April 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421132235/https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/06/09/top-10-reasons-we-love-fallout |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/bethesda-announces-new-fallout-doom-games-as-it-jostles-its-way-to-becoming-a-top-game-maker/ |last=Sherr |first=Ian |title=Bethesda pins hopes on new Fallout, Doom to get it to the top of the game-maker heap |work=CNET |date=June 14, 2015 |access-date=April 21, 2022 |archive-date=April 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421132236/https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/bethesda-announces-new-fallout-doom-games-as-it-jostles-its-way-to-becoming-a-top-game-maker/ |url-status=live }} Vault Boy has been considered an iconic mascot of the franchise.{{sfn|McLaughlin|2010|page=2}} Other recurring elements include the Super Mutants,{{cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/fallout-history-legacy-super-mutants/ |last=Koumarelas |first=Robert |title=Fallout: The History and Legacy of the Super Mutants |website=Comic Book Resources |date=March 28, 2021 |access-date=June 24, 2022 |archive-date=June 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625051926/https://www.cbr.com/fallout-history-legacy-super-mutants/ |url-status=live }} the Brotherhood of Steel,{{cite news |url=https://www.polygon.com/2020/11/12/21562834/fallout-76-steel-dawn-expansion-details-building-community-feedback |last=Marshall |first=Cass |title=How Fallout 76 handles the Brotherhood of Steel |work=Polygon |date=November 12, 2020 |access-date=June 24, 2022 |archive-date=June 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625051926/https://www.polygon.com/2020/11/12/21562834/fallout-76-steel-dawn-expansion-details-building-community-feedback |url-status=live }} the PIPBoy (known as the Pip-Boy in later games),{{cite web |url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/history-evolution-fallout-pip-boy-obsidian-interplay-bethesda |last=Chan |first=Khee Hoon |title=Behind the Creation and Evolution of Fallout's Iconic Pip-Boy |website=USGamer |date=January 16, 2019 |access-date=June 24, 2022 |archive-date=October 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003100433/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/history-evolution-fallout-pip-boy-obsidian-interplay-bethesda |url-status=live }} and Power Armor.{{cite web |url=https://www.vg247.com/fallout-4-power-armor-isnt-special |last=Stanton |first=Richard |title=Why Fallout 4's Power Armor no longer feels S.P.E.C.I.A.L. |website=VG247 |date=November 19, 2015 |access-date=June 24, 2022 |archive-date=June 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625051926/https://www.vg247.com/fallout-4-power-armor-isnt-special |url-status=live }}

Three sequels have been released: Fallout 2 in 1998,{{sfn|McLaughlin|2010|page=3}} Fallout 3 in 2008, and Fallout 4 in 2015.{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2015/6/14/8780151/fallout-4-release-date-bethesda-softworks |title=Fallout 4 will be out Nov. 10, 2015 |first=Michael |last=McWhertor |date=June 14, 2015 |website=Polygon |access-date=May 2, 2018 |archive-date=July 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701193800/https://www.polygon.com/2015/6/14/8780151/fallout-4-release-date-bethesda-softworks |url-status=live}} All received positive reviews.{{sfn|McLaughlin|2010|page=3, 5}} Spin-offs include Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel in 2001,{{cite news |url=http://pc.ign.com/games/14875.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010417040948/http://pc.ign.com/news/32446.html |title=Fallout Tactics Ships |work=IGN |date=March 15, 2001 |archive-date=April 17, 2001 |access-date=April 24, 2022}} Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel in 2004,{{sfn|McLaughlin|2010|page=4}} Fallout: New Vegas in 2010,{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/as-fallout-new-vegas-turns-10-years-old-lets-remember-why-its-great |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708144111/https://www.eurogamer.net/as-fallout-new-vegas-turns-10-years-old-lets-remember-why-its-great |last=Win-Poole |first=Wesley |title=As Fallout New Vegas turns 10 years old, let's remember why it's great |website=Eurogamer |date=October 19, 2020 |archive-date=July 8, 2022 |access-date=July 21, 2022 |url-status=live}} Fallout Shelter in 2015,{{cite magazine |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2015/06/14/fallout-shelter-management-mobile-game-coming-to-ios-and-android-tonight.aspx |title=Fallout Shelter-Management Mobile Game Out Now On iOS |first=Kyle |last=Hilliard |magazine=Game Informer |date=June 14, 2015 |access-date=May 2, 2021 |archive-date=June 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615125727/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2015/06/14/fallout-shelter-management-mobile-game-coming-to-ios-and-android-tonight.aspx |url-status=live}} and Fallout 76 in 2018.{{Cite news |last=Statt |first=Nick |date=June 10, 2018 |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/6/10/17447476/fallout-76-online-game-multiplayer-trailer-bethesda-e3-2018 |title=Fallout 76 is an online-only survival game coming out on November 14, 2018 |website=The Verge |access-date=May 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180611155155/https://www.theverge.com/2018/6/10/17447476/fallout-76-online-game-multiplayer-trailer-bethesda-e3-2018 |archive-date=June 11, 2018 |url-status=live}} Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel and Fallout: New Vegas received positive reviews, while Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel, Fallout Shelter, and Fallout 76 received mixed reviews.{{cite news |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/57686/cancelled-fallout-brotherhood-of-steel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317080650/https://www.shacknews.com/article/57686/cancelled-fallout-brotherhood-of-steel |last=Breckon |first=Nick |title=Cancelled Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel Sequel Revealed by Design Document |website=Shacknews |date=March 16, 2009 |archive-date=March 17, 2016 |access-date=July 21, 2022}}{{cite Metacritic |id=fallout-shelter |title=Fallout Shelter |type=game |vgtype=ios |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422174409/https://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/fallout-shelter |archive-date=April 22, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=May 29, 2021 |publisher_hide=y}}{{cite news |url=https://in.ign.com/starfield/172808/news/redditors-compare-starfield-to-fallout-and-everyone-loves-it |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722011019/https://in.ign.com/starfield/172808/news/redditors-compare-starfield-to-fallout-and-everyone-loves-it |last=Nair |first=Rupesh |title=Redditors Compare Starfield to Fallout and Everyone Loves It |website=IGN India |date=June 13, 2022 |archive-date=July 22, 2022 |access-date=July 21, 2022 |url-status=live}}

In 1998, Interplay wrote a script for a film adaptation of Fallout, to be produced by its Interplay Films studio. The adaptation was canceled following the dissolution of Interplay Films in 2000.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/03/19/this-fallout-movie-almost-got-made.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110322051131/https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/03/19/this-fallout-movie-almost-got-made.aspx |last=Kollar |first=Phil |title=This Fallout Movie Almost Got Made |magazine=Game Informer |date=March 19, 2011 |archive-date=March 22, 2011 |access-date=July 21, 2022 |url-status=live}} Throughout 2002, Chris Avellone, a designer of Fallout 2, compiled research of Fallout{{'s}} world and released a series of issues known as the Fallout Bible.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/just-how-realistic-is-fallout-4s-post-apocalypse-anyway/ |last=Messner |first=Steven |title=Just How Realistic is Fallout 4's Post-Apocalypse Anyway? |magazine=Motherboard |date=December 28, 2015 |access-date=May 24, 2021 |archive-date=May 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525212402/https://www.vice.com/en/article/9a3y97/just-how-realistic-is-fallout-4s-post-apocalypse-anyway |url-status=live }} Following Bethesda's acquisition of the Fallout franchise, the Fallout Bible became non-canon.{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/features/2015/11/9/9646378/fallout-timeline-4-3-2 |last=Hall |first=Charlie |title=The Fallout Timeline |website=Polygon |date=May 30, 2018 |access-date=May 24, 2021 |archive-date=May 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525212407/https://www.polygon.com/features/2015/11/9/9646378/fallout-timeline-4-3-2 |url-status=live }} Morgan released a remastered soundtrack album for Fallout on May 10, 2010.{{cite news |url=http://nma-fallout.com/archive.php?year=2010&month=05 |last=None |first=Brother |title=Fallout Remastered OST available for free |website=No Mutants Allowed |date=May 10, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111017034123/http://nma-fallout.com/archive.php?year=2010&month=05 |archive-date=October 17, 2011 |access-date=May 1, 2021}}{{cite news |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/atomic-fallout-music-remastered |last=Meer |first=Alec |title=Atomic: Fallout Music Remastered |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |date=May 11, 2010 |access-date=May 1, 2021 |archive-date=May 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502010102/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/atomic-fallout-music-remastered |url-status=live}}

A television adaptation of the video game series, announced in July 2020 with Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan as executive producers,{{cite magazine |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/fallout-tv-series-westworld-creators-works-at-amazon-1301570/ |last=Goldberg |first=Lesley |title=Fallout TV Series From Westworld Creators in the Works at Amazon |magazine=The Hollywood Reporter |date=July 2, 2020 |access-date=March 4, 2022 |archive-date=March 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220304213230/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/fallout-tv-series-westworld-creators-works-at-amazon-1301570/ |url-status=live }} premiered on Amazon Prime Video on April 10, 2024,{{cite web |url=https://www.thewrap.com/where-to-watch-fallout-show-episodes-release-date-time/ |last=Chitwood |first=Adam |title=Where to Watch 'Fallout': What Time Does the Video Game Adaptation Premiere? |website=TheWrap |date=April 10, 2024 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |archive-date=April 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240414235303/https://www.thewrap.com/where-to-watch-fallout-show-episodes-release-date-time/ |url-status=live }} to positive reception from critics and fans.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/fallout-rotten-tomatoes-video-game-adapatation-best/ |last=Garbutt |first=Emily |title=Fans are calling the Fallout TV show one of the best video game adaptations ever – and critics agree, judging by its near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score |website=GamesRadar+ |date=April 12, 2024 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |archive-date=April 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415183810/https://www.gamesradar.com/fallout-rotten-tomatoes-video-game-adapatation-best/ |url-status=live }} In a YouTube video, Cain praised the adaptation for matching the mood of the series and for its easter eggs and characters. He also defended the adaptation from accusations of contradicting the Fallout canon.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/og-fallout-lead-tim-cain-defends-the-shows-lore-changes-in-a-glowing-full-reviewnot-that-it-matters-im-not-in-charge-of-this-anymore-and-neither-are-you/ |last=Litchfield |first=Ted |title=OG Fallout lead Tim Cain defends the show's lore changes in a glowing full review⁠⁠—'Not that it matters, I'm not in charge of this anymore⁠, and neither are you' |magazine=PC Gamer |date=April 19, 2024 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |archive-date=April 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240421190420/https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/og-fallout-lead-tim-cain-defends-the-shows-lore-changes-in-a-glowing-full-reviewnot-that-it-matters-im-not-in-charge-of-this-anymore-and-neither-are-you/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/fallout-creator-tim-cain-is-a-big-fan-of-the-tv-show |last=Kennedy |first=Victoria |title=Fallout creator Tim Cain is a big fan of the TV show |website=Eurogamer |date=April 22, 2024 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |archive-date=April 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240422105856/https://www.eurogamer.net/fallout-creator-tim-cain-is-a-big-fan-of-the-tv-show |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/heres-what-fallouts-original-creator-thinks-of-prime-videos-tv-show |last=Lyles |first=Taylor |title=Here's What Fallout's Original Creator Thinks of Prime Video's TV Show |website=IGN |date=April 19, 2024 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |archive-date=April 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240422015111/https://www.ign.com/articles/heres-what-fallouts-original-creator-thinks-of-prime-videos-tv-show |url-status=live }} The adaptation's success on Amazon Prime Video has led to renewed commercial success of the Fallout video games, including the original game; according to Steam Charts, it experienced the highest percentage increase in player base at 160%.{{cite web |url=https://www.vg247.com/original-fallout-games-give-them-a-shot |last=Donaldson |first=Alex |title=The original Fallout games show their age - but newer fans should still give them a shot |website=VG247 |date=April 19, 2024 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |archive-date=April 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240420104212/https://www.vg247.com/original-fallout-games-give-them-a-shot |url-status=live }}

• History of Western role-playing video games

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{sfn whitelist |CITEREFInterplay_Productions1997}}

• {{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k1OWDwAAQBAJ |last1=Barton |first1=Matt |last2=Stacks |first2=Shane |title=Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games |date=April 18, 2019 |edition=2nd |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=9781351273398 |ref={{SfnRef|Barton|2019}}}}
• {{Cite AV media |title=Fallout with Tim Cain, Pt. 1 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgjd4i1o4UY |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422174414/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgjd4i1o4UY |archive-date=April 22, 2022 |url-status=live |last=Cain |first=Tim |author-link=Tim Cain |editor-first=Matt |editor-last=Barton |via=YouTube |date=June 27, 2010 |access-date=April 30, 2022 |ref={{SfnRef|Cain|2010a}}}}
• {{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laq9ua5VjTs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422174513/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laq9ua5VjTs |archive-date=April 22, 2022 |url-status=live |last=Cain |first=Tim |author-link=Tim Cain |editor-last=Barton |editor-first=Matt |title=Fallout with Tim Cain Pt. 2 |via=YouTube |date=July 4, 2010 |access-date=April 30, 2022 |ref={{SfnRef|Cain|2010b}}}}
• {{cite AV media |first=Tim |last=Cain |author-link=Tim Cain |date=March 9, 2012 |title=Classic Game Postmortem: Fallout |url=https://gdcvault.com/play/1015843/Classic-Game-Postmortem |publisher=Game Developers Conference |access-date=April 30, 2022 |via=GDC Vault}}
• {{cite video game |title=Fallout |developer=Interplay Productions |date=October 10, 1997}}
• {{cite web |last1=McLaughlin |first1=Rus |last2=Kaiser |first2=Rowan |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/07/21/ign-presents-the-history-of-fallout |title=IGN Presents the History of Fallout |date=July 21, 2010 |work=IGN |access-date=April 28, 2022 |archive-date=March 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318055249/http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/07/21/ign-presents-the-history-of-fallout |ref={{SfnRef|McLaughlin|2010}}}}
• {{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/crpg_book_2.0/page/n225/mode/2up |last1=Pepe |first1=Felipe |last2=Cain |first2=Tim |author-link2=Tim Cain |title=The CRPG Book: A Guide to Computer Role-Playing Games |publisher=Bitmap Books |editor-last=Pepe |editor-first=Felipe |version=2.0 |date=April 2019 |isbn=9781999353308 |ref={{SfnRef|Pepe|2019}}}}
• {{cite book |url=http://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/38400/manuals/Fallout_manual_English.pdf |last=Taylor |first=Christopher |author-link=Christopher Taylor (game designer) |title=Vault Dweller's Survival Guide |publisher=Interplay Productions |date=October 10, 1997 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405070944/http://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/38400/manuals/Fallout_manual_English.pdf |archive-date=April 5, 2015 |url-status=live }}

• {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970415010914/http://www.interplay.com/fallout/ |date=April 15, 1997 |title=Official website }}
• [https://fallout.bethesda.net/games/fallout Fallout] at Bethesda.net
• [https://www.mobygames.com/game/fallout Fallout] at MobyGames
• {{IMDb title|0134648}}

{{Portal bar|1990s|California|Nuclear technology|Speculative fiction|Video games}}

{{Black Isle Studios}}

{{Fallout}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1997 video games

Category:Classic Mac OS games

Category:DOS games

Category:Fallout (franchise) video games

Category:Works set in the 2160s

Category:Interplay Entertainment games

Category:MacOS games

Category:Open-world video games

Category:Role-playing video games

Category:Satirical video games

Category:Single-player video games

Category:Video games about cults

Category:Video games with gender-selectable protagonists

Category:Video games scored by Mark Morgan

Category:Video games set in the 22nd century

Category:Video games set in California

Category:Video games set in Los Angeles

Category:Video games with isometric graphics

Category:Video games featuring female protagonists

Category:Video games developed in the United States

Category:Video games with pre-rendered 3D graphics

Category:Windows games

Category:Post-apocalyptic role-playing games