Fallout 3: Broken Steel

 PC
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. GameFocus
    95
    Broken Steel certainly changes the game for the better and is a must buy for all Fallout 3 owners. Even the subtle changes to normal characters in the Wasteland are noticeable such as those slackers in Megaton who complain about the water. Bottom Line is that there is much to explore, must to experience and much to disintegrate in the game and this is why the final score is so high for the expansion.
  2. Gaming Age
    91
    All in all, Broken Steel winds up being a great diversion and a good excuse to re-visit the Capitol Wastelands. Between the continuation of the storyline, the tougher enemies, and the great amount of action given, it's well worth the $10 to take a ride with the Brotherhood of Steel one more time.
  3. VideoGamer
    90
    Put simply, if you love Fallout 3, Broken Steel is an essential purchase.
  5. PC Gamer UK
    90
    Broken Steel enhances the entire Fallout 3 world with new items, quests and monsters, extending an awesome experience. [July 2009, p.88]
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  6. Gamer 2.0
    88
    With a solid new campaign, an improved level cap, dozens of new perks and tons of powerful weapons at your disposal, Broken Steel is hands down some of the best content Fallout 3 has to offer.
  7. GamingXP
    86
    The level barrier is raised to level 30 with this DLC, which is a very cool aspect. Sadly the RPG parts of Broken Steel are not so well done.
  8. IGN
    85
    Lifting the level cap breathes new life into a great game, but shouldn't totally overshadow a new series of quests that is a lot of fun.
  9. AtomicGamer
    85
    If you almost bought The Pitt but held off because $10 seemed maybe just a bit too much, then go ahead and pick up Broken Steel because it's definitely worth the cost this time.
  10. PC Format
    84
    Worth every one of your 680 pennies for a bit more Fallout 3 and the lack of a proper ending to put a stop to your fun. [July 2009, p.92]
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  11. Game Revolution
    83
    One of the finest examples of downloadable content that other developers should emulate.
  12. Cheat Code Central
    80
    A solid set of new missions. The real benefits come with being able to fix the ending and explore more of the world afterwards.
  13. Worth Playing
    80
    With solid quests adding flavor to the endgame and with new ways in which to scratch your itchy trigger finger while Perking out your Monty Haul avatar, fans who haven't gotten their fill of Rad Away, Nuka-Cola, and Fancy Lads Snack Cakes may find that this add-on might be as good a reason as any to head back into the wastes.
  14. Game Over Online
    80
    The bottom line here is that Broken Steel is more Fallout 3, and if you’re a fan that can’t possibly be a bad thing. Like with the other DLC, the story will probably only take you a few hours to go through and then you’re left with the goodies.
  15. PC Zone UK
    80
    Satisfying. [Nov 2009, p.73]
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  16. GameStar
    78
    Broken Steel raises the maximum level to 30, adds 14 new special talents and allows you to explore the world even after finishing the game. That’s all good, but it’s probably coming out too late for most Fallout gamers.
  17. 3DJuegos
    74
    Broken Steel is important in the sense that it continues the individual campaign of Fallout 3, however, its technical features and lack of novelty are a bit of a shame. The extension that we are discussing here offers a slightly longer duration than its preceding expansions, but it is less intense that the action in Operation Anchorage and less interesting than the captivating The Pitt.
  18. Edge Magazine
    60
    While it lacks the scope or density of Oblivion’s The Shivering Isles, it’s the most you’re going to get out of Fallout’s current batch of DLC. And as a long-anticipated reopening of the game’s original map, it at least gives you something to live for.
  19. Absolute Games
    60
    I don’t recommend buying Broken Steel, because it’s a matter of principle – let's not encourage trade in endings. You won’t miss anything important anyway – this DLC is only slightly better than its mediocre predecessors.

Awards & Rankings

32
#32 Best PC Game of 2009

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 145 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 85 out of 145
  2. Mixed: 43 out of 145
  3. Negative: 17 out of 145
  1. JaydenPickens
    Feb 20, 2019
    7
    Broken Steel continues the main story from the game. it's interesting and I've enjoyed it. You can finish the dlc in under 3 hours. Some sideBroken Steel continues the main story from the game. it's interesting and I've enjoyed it. You can finish the dlc in under 3 hours. Some side missions are cool, others not so much. Pickens approves!… Full Review »
  2. erezike
    Jun 30, 2014
    0
    I created an account on metacritic just for this dlc, this poor excuse for an rpg story drops the player on the most annoying railroadedI created an account on metacritic just for this dlc, this poor excuse for an rpg story drops the player on the most annoying railroaded adventure ever seen in an rpg game. You are forced into the service of the brotherhood of steel who don't even bother asking you if you want it or not, you are given orders to do this and do that by the most annoying character I ever met(paladin Tristan) who is the anti-commander, instead of leading his troops he just barks orders at the player and sends him to far off locations, the majority of this dlc time is the time it takes to get to these locations on the edges of the map. this dlc brings nothing new or good to the game, people talking about the level cap are hilarious, if you want more perks or stats just use the console, I highly recommend to steer away from levels above 20 because the game leveled list become too ridiculous after that.

    Stay away from this dlc, only terrible roleplaying opportunities and poor combat scenes await you here.    … Full Review »
  3. juxtapose519
    Nov 10, 2010
    8
    I don't know where all the "It's too short" comments are coming from. It has more quests and content than any of the other expansions (withI don't know where all the "It's too short" comments are coming from. It has more quests and content than any of the other expansions (with the possible exception of Point Lookout, which I found so drab and boring that I didn't finish any of the side quests). The added level cap is more than enough of a reason to get this DLC over any of the others, but on top of that it actually felt like a continuation of Fallout 3 rather than a crappy side mission. Operation Anchorage and Mothership Zeta were just quick combat missions that felt tacked on. Broken Steel actually added new content to the Capitol Wasteland and changed the world that I had come to know and enjoy. To me, the missions were the most exciting of any of the DLCs, and the Tesla Cannon is easily the greatest weapon in the game and reason enough to complete it.

    To all the people who are saying that Bethesda cut content from the main game and threw it in Broken Steel just so they could charge us more money for it just plain need to get over it. Fallout 3 was a HUGE game, and I doubt that any more than 1% of the people who played it ever completed all the quests. There was a ton of content that was cut from Half-Life 2 and used in the HL2: Episodes that was merely cut DUE TO TIME CONSTRAINTS. The situation is likely the same here. It doesn't mean it was an intentional ploy by Bethesda to get more money out of us.

    Broken Steel was awesome. It wasn't perfect, but it wasn't the money grab people keep making it out to be. Buy it.    … Full Review »
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