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Games like Fallout may not all be set in the post-apocalypse, but they certainly let you explore gigantic, sprawling worlds with fully fleshed-out stories that will suck you in. If you’ve played all the Fallout games and are desperate for more hours spent in bizarre, strange lands, then we’ve got you covered.
Many of the games on this list involve warring factions that ask you to choose a side, forcing you to hold up a mirror to your own personal morals (or shirk them in the name of role-playing). These games have RPG elements that let you fine-tune your experience, romance characters, and more. So, once you’ve combed every inch of the death-defying nuclear wastelands, wander into our list of the best games like Fallout. Make sure you send us a postcard though, okay?
10 games like Fallout
Skyrim
Developer: Bethesda
Platform(s): PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
The obvious go-to choice if you’re after something similar to the Fallout experience is undoubtedly Skyrim. Also made by Bethesda, the Elder Scrolls series is like a fantasy medieval-esque take on the Fallout open-world formula, and it has a lot of similar combat and RPG elements that will make you feel right at home. As the legendary figure known as the Dragonborn, you’re thrown into an epic adventure throughout the lands of Tamriel to put a stop to the dragons who have started resurrecting back to life and returning to the skies. With civil strife, expansive areas to explore, secrets to uncover, and endless quests and stories to work through, you’ll sink just as many hours into it as you did in Fallout. Skyrim also has its own rich lore, and its lush green world and star speckled skies can be a nice break from the bleak, radiated Wastelands. Instead of super mutants, ghouls, and, Deathclaws, you’ll face bears, dragurs, and, of course, plenty of dragons. Oh, and the sweet rolls are lot more appetising in Elder Scrolls with no rads to speak of. Yummy.
The Outer Worlds
Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
Platform(s): PC, Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch
The Outer Worlds is published by Private Division and developed by Obsidian Entertainment, the latter of who is also responsible for 2010’s Fallout: New Vegas. With this DNA, and as a first-person action-adventure game, The Outer Worlds feels very Bethesda/Fallout-flavoured, and is set in alternate future ruled by civil unrest, warring factions, and autocratic megacorporations. With a sci-fi bent, The Outer Worlds sees this particular dysfunctional society colonizing in space and terraforming alien planets.
Horizon Zero Dawn
Developer: Guerrilla
Platform(s): PC, PS4
Guerrilla’s unique take on the post-apocalypse in Horizon Zero Dawn is far less bleak than the various Wasteland settings you traverse through in Fallout, but it still has just as much intrigue, lore, and steller story-telling to tuck into. The gorgeous vistas are inhabited by advanced machines that look like all manner of prehistoric creatures. You play as Aloy, a machine hunter who sets out to uncover her true origin and unravel the secrets that litter the landscapes. Just like in Fallout where you encounter different inhabitants in settlements around the world, you’ll meet many tribes and encampments filled with interesting characters and side quests. And if you’re a fan of exploration, you’ll enjoy exploring the snowy peaks and grassy fields, and diving into the Cauldrons which are not a million miles away from opening up a vault you’ve yet to explore. The combat is a little different, but you can modify your weapons and take different tactical approaches to best the robot dinosaurs.
Metro Exodus
Developer: 4A Games
Platform(s): PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One,
Metro Exodus is the Metro video game based on Dmitry Glukhovsky’s novels of the same name, and takes place one year after the events of the first game, Metro: Last Light. Here, the year in 2035, and this post-apocalypse portrays the most likely version of the doomsday scenario: nuclear war. Filling the shoes of series protagonist Artyom once more, Exodus tasks the player with leaving the Moscow Metro subway encampment and setting off on a continent-roving journey east hook up with some long lost allies. Expect some pretty vicious company en route, as Artyom does battle with scores of irradiated creature, disgruntled human survivors and the harshest of elements amid nuclear winter.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Developer: Rockstar
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One
The Mojave desert in Fallout: New Vegas isn’t a million miles away from the world you’ll gallop across in Red Dead Redemption 2 (opens in new tab). While it’s not set after any kind of apocalypse, exploring the wild west promises to deliver a lot of adventures as outlaw Arthur Morgan, who’s part of the Van Der Linde gang. In its massive open-world, you’ll have a lot of opportunities to go off the beaten track and play out your journey however you want. With exploration, numerous activities that play out like mini-games, side quests, and a pretty engrossing main story-line, this is another time-stealer that will keep you occupied and then some. There’s also lots of slow-mo shooting opportunities, so if you love using your VATS, you might get a kick out of the gun-slinging Dead Eye action. When you’ve had your fill of Nuka-Cola and you’re ready for a taste of something different – like some good old fashioned saloon whiskey – you can grab your best cowboy hat and saddle up for a different kind of adventure.
Cyberpunk 2077
Developer: CD Projekt Red
Platform(s): PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One
Despite its enduring technical issues, Cyberpunk 2077 is a great feat in open world design, that’s deep and brimming with detail. The term ‘living, breathing world’ has become a bit of cliche when it comes to open world games, but when it works, Cyberpunk’s Night City is a jungle packed with mystery and drama, satisfying side quests and interesting characters. With splashes of stealth, full-blown firefighting, hacking, and a generous helping of dystopia, there’s plenty here for Fallout fans – assuming your hardware is up to it.
The Division 2
Developer: Ubisoft
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One
Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 is an online-only action-RPG that drops players into a world on the brink of collapse. A virus named ‘the green poison’ is the culprit for said apocalyptic end-of-days scenario, and saving the world in this instance involves loads and loads of third-person cover shooting. Building upon the foundations laid by its forerunner, The Division 2 has a clear focus on looting, akin to the likes of Diablo and Destiny, but its RPG mechanics and firefights are more than enough to excite the fans of Fallout among us.
Mad Max
Developer: Avalanche
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One
Mad Max is another open-world adventure that takes place in a post-apocalyptic setting. While it’s story might be a little thin on the ground, and the voice acting isn’t nearly as good as that of Fallout 4, the desert wastelands set the scene for some very fun vehicular combat. The combat mechanics differ to that of Fallout and consist of fight sequences where have to hit the counters in time, as well as putting a focus on smashing and crashing your car in mad highway clashes with enemy groups throughout the many regions. You can still get your exploration fix in this wasteland, though. The expansive landscapes are there for you to drive through and explore at your leisure, and as you upgrade your vehicle, weapons and bases, traversing the dusty roads becomes even more of a riot.
The Last of Us 2
Developer: Naughty Dog
Platform(s): PS4
Anyone who’s after another immersive experience should look to Naughty Dog’s stellar post-apocalyptic world, which will fill your story-driven adventuring needs to the brim. The Last of Us might be more linear in structure, but it’s detailed world makes it feel just as impactful and the narrative will keep you engrossed throughout. Set 20 years after a fungal-based pandemic hits, you follow the story of Joel and Ellie who try to survive in a world that was torn apart and changed forever. The fungus, which can be seen throughout the world, infects the human brain and essentially turns them into ghoul-like zombies. With fantastic combat that sees you use all kinds of different weapons and put your stealth tactics to the test, this is no-brainer if Fallout left you hungry for another absorbing story in a desolate world with a whole host of interesting, fleshed out characters.
The Last of Us 2 takes the original formula and improved it across the board. Like its predecessor, expect themes of love, loss, and more breath-taking moments than you can shake a makeshift Molotov cocktail at. The first Last of Us venture was hardly lacking in themes of humanity and morality, but number Two dials those levels up to 11, and is all the better for it.
Dying Light
Developer: Techland
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One
Dying Light is several years old now, but in terms of originality it sits just above its sequel Dying Light 2. Despite the original’s age, it’s nevertheless one of the best-supported, most polished horror games out there today. A zombie outbreak is behind this world’s post-apocalyptic demise, which calls for a lot backs-to-the-wall gun fighting, all wrapped up in a not-so-pretty survival game bow. Think Mad Max dystopia, Mirror’s Edge parkour and Fallout RPG mechanics, and you’re a ways to climbing into the virus-infected mindset of Dying Light.
If you want something else sort of Fallout-y but different then check out some Games like Fallout Shelter.
