Fallout 3 Image
Metascore
91

Universal acclaim - based on 48 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 5220 Ratings

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  • Summary: [Metacritic's 2008 PC Game of the Year] Vault-Tec engineers have worked around the clock on an interactive reproduction of Wasteland life for you to enjoy from the comfort of your own vault. Included is an expansive world, unique combat, shockingly realistic visuals, tons of player choice,[Metacritic's 2008 PC Game of the Year] Vault-Tec engineers have worked around the clock on an interactive reproduction of Wasteland life for you to enjoy from the comfort of your own vault. Included is an expansive world, unique combat, shockingly realistic visuals, tons of player choice, and an incredible cast of dynamic characters. Every minute is a fight for survival against the terrors of the outside world – radiation, Super Mutants, and hostile mutated creatures. From Vault-Tec, America's First Choice in Post Nuclear Simulation. Vault 101 - Jewel of the Wastes. For 200 years, Vault 101 has faithfully served the surviving residents of Washington DC and its environs, now known as the Capital Wasteland. Though the global atomic war of 2077 left the US all but destroyed, the residents of Vault 101 enjoy a life free from the constant stress of the outside world. Giant Insects, Raiders, Slavers, and yes, even Super Mutants are all no match for superior Vault-Tec engineering. Yet one fateful morning, you awake to find that your father has defied the Overseer and left the comfort and security afforded by Vault 101 for reasons unknown. Leaving the only home you've ever known, you emerge from the Vault into the harsh Wasteland sun to search for your father, and the truth. [Bethesda Softworks] Expand
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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 45 out of 48
  2. Negative: 0 out of 48
  1. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    100
    A vast and open world of unimaginable possibilities opens in front of you in Fallout 3. Great story, flawless combat system, and the option to choose your own way makes it a hot candidate for game of the year. [Nov 2008]
  2. A massive, enthralling achievement.
  3. The PC version's controls are certainly sharp and I found myself pulling off many more headshots and quick kills with a mouse and keyboard than I could on the console counterparts, but if you really do want to play with a gamepad, Fallout 3 does fully support the 360 controller on the PC as well.
  4. PC Gamer
    91
    But Fallout 3 has fidelity to its predecessors in more important ways, such as offering an incredible depth of role-playing opportunities. [Holiday 2008, p.54]
  5. PC Gamer UK
    90
    Thrillingly dark, gruesomely adult and one of the most atmospheric games ever. [Dec 2008, p.66]
  6. In Fallout 3 Bethesda has made a very good thing, though it is somewhat hampered by the lack of variable scenery and a VATS that plays less than perfectly.
  7. Edge Magazine
    70
    It’s a game that rewards the long-haul with deep, inventive missions which eschew the usual fetch and kill structure, ensuring that the many hours spent in Fallout 3’s wasteland aren’t wasted. [Christmas 2008, p.88]

See all 48 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Aug 24, 2021
    10
    A vast and open world of unimaginable possibilities opens in front of you in Fallout 3. Great story, flawless combat system, and the option toA vast and open world of unimaginable possibilities opens in front of you in Fallout 3. Great story, flawless combat system, and the option to choose your own way makes it a hot candidate for game of the year. [Nov 2008] Expand
  2. Feb 2, 2012
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Fallout 3 is by far my favourite video game I have ever played. I played it for X Box 360, as well as for PC, i greatly enjoyed playing it through multiple times, I played the first two or three times without the DLC, and i liked it a lot. but i must say, it makes the game a whole if you have all the DLC because it makes the game more playable. for instance, without DLC, you die at the end without the DLC, but if you have the DLC (i think it is broken steel DLC... not sure.) it makes it so you were only knocked unconscious, and you awaken back at the citadel 2 weeks later, unlocking countless more hours of play time. my game play time on X Box 360 is in total at least 2 months worth of play time, and my PC play time is only around 3 weeks, because i just recently bought it. but it is the only game i can play NON-STOP without getting bored. fallout 3 is definitely the best game ever played. when i played New Vegas, i was greatly disappointed. i went back to Fallout 3 and was satisfied. i give this game 10/10. but in reality this game would break the scale, it is truly a god in the video game library, and should be in every gamers arsenal. Expand
  3. LoganS.
    Nov 21, 2008
    10
    The hallowed memories of yesteryears games makes the Fallout tradition a challenging project to have undertaken. Bethesda has not released a The hallowed memories of yesteryears games makes the Fallout tradition a challenging project to have undertaken. Bethesda has not released a perfect game, but there is no doubt in my mind that this is indeed a worthy heir to the Fallout lineage. What it has lost by leaving the 3rd person isometric view it has gained back 100 fold by an amazingly detailed world, storylines that go far beyond simple lines of dialog, and many different paths for the player to choose. There is in fact far more content than any single playthrough needs to experience, promising greater replayability. Expand
  4. Dec 9, 2013
    9
    A fun game to play, especially if you played Fallout 1 or 2 before. They managed to mix the old turn-based combat and skill very well withA fun game to play, especially if you played Fallout 1 or 2 before. They managed to mix the old turn-based combat and skill very well with modern fps, I was suprised how good it works! The post apocalyptic feeling shines. You get a big sandbox gameplay with a not too interesting main plot, but with many creative and fun side quest, tons of items and characters to meet. I played it over twice, and also played all of the expansions as well. (Those were below the level of the main game, sadly, but still all right if you manage to buy them cheap.) Expand
  5. Jun 20, 2020
    8
    До сих пор помню свой диск ПК-версии игры) Проходил её вдоль и поперёк, каждый квест и не по разу, перепроходил всю игру десятки раз и каждыйДо сих пор помню свой диск ПК-версии игры) Проходил её вдоль и поперёк, каждый квест и не по разу, перепроходил всю игру десятки раз и каждый раз находил что-то новое и интересное. Даже несмотря на проблемы в оптимизации, движке и более упрощённом виде (по сравнению с Fallout 2), она по сей день остаётся одной из самых любимых мною игр. Expand
  6. Jul 6, 2016
    7
    The first Fallout game I played. I loved it a lot and it was probably because of it's atmosphere and the fact that I really enjoyed adventureThe first Fallout game I played. I loved it a lot and it was probably because of it's atmosphere and the fact that I really enjoyed adventure games. Though replaying the game, I realised the problems that the game actually had, and that was the story and characters of it. The ending of the game was just fking terrible, Fawkes being a little **** and not going into the purifier thing when he could because he was immune to radiation was just **** And you had to buy the Broken Steel dlc to even have a different ending, which is just cheap of the developers. The characters feel like robots and their dialogue is mundane. I still love the game though, as much as my father still loved me after I blew up megaton. Expand
  7. Dec 11, 2021
    0
    wasted many hours exploring the waste land, this was the entery that got me into the franchise though i do struggle to replay FO4 as the storywasted many hours exploring the waste land, this was the entery that got me into the franchise though i do struggle to replay FO4 as the story is pretty bland. still a better story than FO4. Expand

See all 835 User Reviews

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