Fallout Shelter

 iOS
Metascore
71

Mixed or average reviews - based on 39 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 39
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 39
  3. Negative: 1 out of 39
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  1. GamesBeat
    Jun 16, 2015
    95
    Fallout Shelter is an endlessly engaging mobile title that gives you plenty to do without overwhelming you with menus and meters. It has both of those things aplenty, but you’re always in control. This game will charm you while challenging you.
  2. Digitally Downloaded
    Jun 19, 2015
    90
    It one of the most immediately playable games at release I’ve ever encountered, with very few bugs or design flaws. You, dear reader, now have the power to become an all-powerful Overseer yourself. It would be a mistake not to.
  3. Games Master UK
    Aug 18, 2015
    87
    Addictive mobile gaming done right. [Summer 2015, p.68]
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  5. Pelit (Finland)
    Sep 1, 2015
    85
    Fallout Shelter is a decent free-to-play title, as it never begs for money and you can play it relatively easily without spending a dime. It's also a prime example of marketing. By releasing the game just after the announcement of Fallout 4, Bethesda made an excellent example of capitalizing the IP. [Aug 2015]
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  6. The Jimquisition
    Jun 19, 2015
    85
    It’s a fantastic example of how to do a free-to-play game correctly, and the fact it’s made so much money already through the carrot rather than the stick only goes to show what happens when you don’t treat your audience like cattle.
  7. COGconnected
    Jun 15, 2015
    85
    Overall, as casual sim games go, Fallout Shelter is better than most, and there are enough cool Fallout references and motifs to make you smile and enjoy this game, at least for a while.
  8. GRYOnline.pl
    Jul 2, 2015
    80
    Fallout Shelter is not a big, complex and ambitious game but it works great as a way to kill some time before Fallout 4. It's fun, atmospheric, offers lots of good gameplay and simply put - keeps you glued to your screen. You can't expect much more from a typical mobile game aimed at a mass audience.
  9. 148Apps
    Jun 22, 2015
    80
    Live out life as a vault overseer in the Fallout universe in this free-to-play management tapper.
  10. Eurogamer Italy
    Jun 18, 2015
    80
    Well designed and made, this free app is also pretty fair as for in-app purchases and later levels reachability. The perfect post-apocalyptic companion for your mobile and tablet gaming moments.
  11. Gamezebo
    Jun 18, 2015
    80
    Although it’s a bit slow paced, Fallout Shelter is a great experience for mobile gamers.
  12. Vandal
    Jun 29, 2015
    78
    It's a great game that will help us kill some time while we wait for Fallout 4. Nothing revolutionary, but definitely fun.
  13. CD-Action
    Jul 27, 2015
    75
    Very enjoyable, even addictive. [08/2015, p.78]
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  14. 4P.de
    Jul 3, 2015
    75
    In its best moments is like a bag of potato chips: You just can’t stop. There’s a level-up, there you have to collect stuff, you distribute new weapons and play matchmaker for a few couples. But it also has its share of bad moments, where everything is drawn out, where it lacks challenge.
  15. 3DJuegos
    Jun 24, 2015
    75
    This new iOS game is just like The Sims and other similar simulators, but it´s set in a post-apocalyptic world full of missions and duties to do.
  16. Gamer.nl
    Jun 24, 2015
    75
    As a Fallout themed management sim for short playing sessions, Fallout Shelter is a nice game to wait for the Fallout 4-release. However, as soon as you put more time in your vault, you will discover you will have to make contributions to Bethesda's vault first.
  17. Multiplayer.it
    Jun 23, 2015
    75
    For those who like post nuclear management Fallout Shelter might be a nice filler between now and Fallout 4.
  18. Post Arcade (National Post)
    Jun 17, 2015
    75
    Regardless of whether I stick with Fallout Shelter to the end, filling a bunker a couple of dozen stories deep with 100 bustling dwellers, I’ve definitely had some fun.

Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Most Discussed iOS Game of 2015
56
#56 Most Shared iOS Game of 2015

User Reviews

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User Score
6.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 219 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 107 out of 219
  2. Mixed: 65 out of 219
  3. Negative: 47 out of 219
  1. game_over
    Jun 27, 2015
    0
    The game goes from "This is the best mobile game ever made." to "WTF. This sucks" over time.

    No pause button Guys dying when you are    The game goes from "This is the best mobile game ever made." to "WTF. This sucks" over time.

    No pause button

    Guys dying when you are offline unless you conform your real life schedule to the game

    Later stages of the game are annoying e.g., Rad Roaches spawning in multiple rooms , attacking in waves , and killing entire rooms full of dwellers.

    Poor controls being annoying early on, become game breaking later during Rad Roach attacks.

    Other Bethesda games e.g., Fallout 3 and Skyrim, start out fun and become more enjoyable as you play them. This game starts out fun and then starts to suck big time. No thanks. Uninstall. Do game players have a lower standard for fun gameplay for mobile apps?    … Full Review »
  2. nalomeli
    Jul 3, 2015
    0
    This game is only fun at first. Eventually as your game gets more complicated interface issues become more and more pronounced and you end upThis game is only fun at first. Eventually as your game gets more complicated interface issues become more and more pronounced and you end up wasting all of your time trying to complete simple tasks while your resources drain. Its the most frustrating game play experience I've ever had and I feel stupid for having wasted my time.… Full Review »
  3. colacastell
    Jun 19, 2015
    0
    Can not enjoy the title as it appears to be completely pay-to-win. I now have played two individual vaults, and after a time everything simplyCan not enjoy the title as it appears to be completely pay-to-win. I now have played two individual vaults, and after a time everything simply falls apart, even though you are doing everything as good as possible. That means you end up needing to buy these boxes for real money in order to sustain a healthy vault.
    I had a totally fine population and had all facilities balanced and completely filled with the best workers according to their S.P.E.C.I.A.L. skills, meaning all the strongest to the generator and so on. At the same time I was smartly using the speed boosts, which always bring the risk of an accident, but I was able to avoid many and only used boost with low risk when available. Also, I had many inhabitants reproduce so that I was able to grow, get more resources and eventually more things to build, while keeping everything afloat (all resources in green area).
    At some point everyone was working, every facility I had was fully upgraded and I used boost. However, resources went away, and I was already doing everything I could. I had everyone working, again, everything upgraded to the maximum, and I could not stop the trend. After a time everything was almost on zero, and I could not do anything to avoid it, which leads me to the assumption that even though you plan as good as possible, your population is not able to provide itself in the long term. Which means you have to pay and get these boxes so you can play. That is just a completely bad approach and disrespectful for anyone wanting to play the game. That results in 1 point.    … Full Review »
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