User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 5318 Ratings

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  1. Sindow
    Jan 7, 2009
    7
    Ultimately for a Fallout game this was mediocre at best. For Bethesda however, this is a very good start. I was going to give it a lower score however the GECK (the SDK) was actually released. I'm sure by using the GECK the Fallout 3 community will be able to fix Bethesda's mistakes and turn this into a true Fallout sequel instead of Oblivion with guns.
  2. Oct 12, 2010
    10
    Great game, lots to do and a massive play area to explore, I sort of don't like VATS and the large amount of ordinance it takes to put things down, but that doesn't even merit half a point deduction.
    Story is pretty interesting in a wasteland of uninteresting stories that fill most games these days.
    Really sucks you in, just wish the FPS aspect was a bit better implemented ie. no
    Great game, lots to do and a massive play area to explore, I sort of don't like VATS and the large amount of ordinance it takes to put things down, but that doesn't even merit half a point deduction.
    Story is pretty interesting in a wasteland of uninteresting stories that fill most games these days.
    Really sucks you in, just wish the FPS aspect was a bit better implemented ie. no autoaim, stronger weaponry being used by/against you. Tons of content for 20 or 30 bucks, can't go wrong.
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  3. Dr.Piranha
    Nov 16, 2008
    10
    This is quite the extraordinary game. Not only do you have have the amazing story line, you have your choices on how you want to carry it out. You can choose to go down the path of the good and the righteous, or you could be as evil and maniacal as you wish. And you don't just have to do the campaign, you have many many choices of little side quests to do along the side. Depending on This is quite the extraordinary game. Not only do you have have the amazing story line, you have your choices on how you want to carry it out. You can choose to go down the path of the good and the righteous, or you could be as evil and maniacal as you wish. And you don't just have to do the campaign, you have many many choices of little side quests to do along the side. Depending on how you play the game, you get a different ending. This does have its little flaws... its little glitches, but nothing major... and nothing that takes away from the playablity and the fun. Expand
  4. RogerI
    Feb 8, 2009
    10
    Outstanding. If you like games that give you a sense of genuine exploration, you'll love this - except if you're stuck in the past worshipping the original games. Nostalgia is a wonderfull thing, but any new game should be judged on it's own merits. The vats targetting system works very well, the animations are a great improvement over Oblivion (animation always seems to be Outstanding. If you like games that give you a sense of genuine exploration, you'll love this - except if you're stuck in the past worshipping the original games. Nostalgia is a wonderfull thing, but any new game should be judged on it's own merits. The vats targetting system works very well, the animations are a great improvement over Oblivion (animation always seems to be Bethesda's weak point), and the copy/paste dungeons are gone. Yes, some areas look the same, but they don't suffer from the indentical locations that plagued Oblivion's dungeons. Make sure you try this for yourself, and if you do see someone moaning about the gameplay, I'll put money on them wanting to be back living in an isometric past. Expand
  5. Tom
    Feb 9, 2009
    9
    The game is (sorry but only a superlative will do) brilliant. I would definitely say it was the best RPG of 2008, in-fact quite possibly one of the finest RPGs of all time. I shit you not. I took away one point as I believe it takes some perseverance to truly appreciate it; I did not enjoy it immediately, and many others I have spoken to have said initially they found it hard to get into. The game is (sorry but only a superlative will do) brilliant. I would definitely say it was the best RPG of 2008, in-fact quite possibly one of the finest RPGs of all time. I shit you not. I took away one point as I believe it takes some perseverance to truly appreciate it; I did not enjoy it immediately, and many others I have spoken to have said initially they found it hard to get into. But (and I know I'm using all the clichés in the book) it grows on you. Grows like a mutated third arm following some serious radiation sickness. Really, buy this game. Buy it even if you didn't like Oblivion, a game to which it owes a great deal, yet Fallout 3 is an entirely different beast, and I mean this in the best way possible. In fact, I urge you to buy it even if you don't like RPGs or FPSs: You WILL get hooked. Hooked on psycho, jet, buffout. I mean, it allows you to play at your own pace, yet it constantly gives you something to strive for. I haven't had a dull moment within the game were I really couldn't be bothered to do anything. When it comes to the time that you want to replay it, you should set yourself personal challenges; I decided with one character I was going to wear the tunnel snake jacket armoured with a baseball bat. And I felt damn cool. Especially whilst you bat some innocent NPC to death, who doesn't really deserve it, but you just like to admire the brutality in V.A.T.S slow-mo, with a host of different camera angles. Really, I cannot fault the gameplay, the atmosphere, the story, the graphics, nothing, aside from a few bugs/glitches here and there, but that's all due to the complexity and depth of the game. So, to re-iterate; buy it. Expand
  6. VAGamer
    Jan 5, 2010
    10
    How could you not love this game? It is easily the best RPG that I have played. Its deep enough to cause you to think about what you are going to do next without scaring you that if you do one little thing that you will ruin the entire game. Sure, if you walk around, constantly mowing down enemies with a gatling laser machine gun might be meticulous... Well, it really isnt, but thats How could you not love this game? It is easily the best RPG that I have played. Its deep enough to cause you to think about what you are going to do next without scaring you that if you do one little thing that you will ruin the entire game. Sure, if you walk around, constantly mowing down enemies with a gatling laser machine gun might be meticulous... Well, it really isnt, but thats about the only negative thing I could think of. It does depart a bit from the old Fallout games, but it at least puts it in a different setting as an excuse. Overall, the game is amazing, the DLC is amazing, and I am amazed that it didnt get 10's and 100's from everyone. Expand
  7. MikeB
    Nov 10, 2008
    10
    Amazing game, with the best atmosphere I've experienced in a game since the first half-life! Not a shooter and not a rpg, but something all together different and wonderful. It does have some bugs, but most can be avoided at least until the patches finally come out.
  8. OldSkoolGamer
    Oct 30, 2008
    9
    Bethesda did it's best to take this classic franchise and slap it on their Oblivion engine, but a few elements did fall through the cracks. And while it is a bit buggy, it's still a valiant effort. And while I'm an old skool bitter gamer, enough of the original managed to get translated into this title that I find myself forgiving its many sins. There's a lot to hate Bethesda did it's best to take this classic franchise and slap it on their Oblivion engine, but a few elements did fall through the cracks. And while it is a bit buggy, it's still a valiant effort. And while I'm an old skool bitter gamer, enough of the original managed to get translated into this title that I find myself forgiving its many sins. There's a lot to hate (mono-chromatic environments, weak character models/ animations, Oblivion similarities, etc.), but there's a lot more to love. The notorious character progression system from Oblivion is replaced by the system that the Fallout is loved for. Item degradation and repairing them makes for a tough challenge in the wasteland. However, there's enough content that those who are perceptive and resourceful will be just fine. Distributing the right skill points and perks at the right time in line with your own play style will result in a very rewarding experience. This is a first person RPG and hardly a shooter. Shooter purists expecting one will be disappointed. However, the VATS / game play pause / targeting feature does a good job of making up for this. If you're looking for an exact translation of the Fallout franchise, this is as close as you'll find. My feeling is that the magic that came from Black Isle Studios is very difficult to duplicate. Take my feedback with a grain of salt, but I'm I remember the original F1, F2, and Fallout Tactics... this title isn't perfect, but I find myself loving it anyway. With a few patches, it should be much improved. Expand
  9. MikeN
    Oct 31, 2008
    9
    Stable it ain't. I experienced frequent crashes under Vista until I started doing a clean boot before playing. And it still crashes occasionally. Fortunately the auto-save function fires every time you change location. The game is roughly comparable to Mass Effect in terms of play but with ten times as much stuff to do and better ambiance. Even with the crash problems, a great RPG. Stable it ain't. I experienced frequent crashes under Vista until I started doing a clean boot before playing. And it still crashes occasionally. Fortunately the auto-save function fires every time you change location. The game is roughly comparable to Mass Effect in terms of play but with ten times as much stuff to do and better ambiance. Even with the crash problems, a great RPG. This is the game Mass Effect should have been. Expand
  10. Sep 26, 2013
    9
    Well, it took me a few playthroughs of this game, but I have finally reached a verdict. This game is just amazing! It is another fantastic game that I've played from Bethesda Softworks. Fallout 3 is a truly spectacular game that successfully combines both the RPG and First-Person Shooter genres. That line can sum up the game's gameplay in a nutshell. This game mixes Fallout's ownWell, it took me a few playthroughs of this game, but I have finally reached a verdict. This game is just amazing! It is another fantastic game that I've played from Bethesda Softworks. Fallout 3 is a truly spectacular game that successfully combines both the RPG and First-Person Shooter genres. That line can sum up the game's gameplay in a nutshell. This game mixes Fallout's own roleplaying mechanics with that of Bethesda's Elder Scrolls franchise. In this game, you can be whatever kind of character you want, and do what you want in the wasteland that was once Washington D.C. As in the Elder Scrolls, you can travel anywhere you want in the capital wasteland, buy what you want, fast-travel where you want, and so much more. This is hardly an Elder Scrolls clone however. This is not just Oblivion with guns, not in the slightest. There are several more things that this game has that the Elder Scrolls does not. This game has its own perk system (which was actually added into the Elder Scrolls Skyrim), that makes it different from Oblivion. The perks are special specific stats for your character that Oblivion does not have. They can give your character special bonuses, such as doing more damage than you normally would with all weapons. Leveling is also different from Oblivion. In Oblivion, you could only level up while your character was sleeping. Here, your character levels up almost immediately. This is an excellent improvement from Oblivion, as I did not like how you had to sleep just to level up. It proves that Bethesda Softworks truly is a company that learns from its mistakes. Also, along with the RPG elements, there are also shooter elements, which further cement that this is a truly different game from Oblivion. There are plenty of guns to choose from in this game, and the shooter mechanics are executed perfectly. However, I do find myself constantly running out of ammo from time to time. Money is also very scarce in this game, so it is a little difficult to buy ammo too. There are also a few bugs and glitches, however, these shortcomings don't hurt the game all that much. The graphics and sound of this game, all I can say is, they are excellent. This game is one of the most beautiful looking video games that I have ever played/seen. It is not Skyrim or Just Cause 2, but it does look brilliant nonetheless. The sound of this game is also done very well. The weapons sound right, and the monsters sound the way they should. The best part about the sound of this game however, is its spectacular music. This game mixes songs from the 50s (and yes, I mean actual songs from the 50s, not ones that sound like songs from the 50s) with more orchestrated pieces from the composers of the Elder Scrolls franchise. The soundtrack of this game truly is a beautiful mix. The story of this game is also phenomenal. It involves the main character's father trying to give the wasteland of Washington D.C. fresh water for all who inhabit the wasteland. It is up to you, the main character to leave your vault, find your father, and help him in giving the wasteland fresh water. This is a very unique story if you ask me, and it not the stereotypical story that people might find in most post-apocalyptic games. There are also many choices that your character can make throughout the game that will determine what people think of the character through the game's karma system. These decisions will effect what happens in the game's main story. Good actions will make everyone love your character, while bad actions will make them hate your character. This system is done very well, as it is very easy for your character to change from good to evil and then back again, unlike most games with systems like this. It also has a system called V.A.T.S. which was also in the first two Fallout games (that I was unfortunate enough not to play), that allows you to pause the action, and aim for specific body parts on the enemy. This is a really good system, and I'm happy it was used. Overall, I'd say that this game is fantastic. If you love a good first-person shooter, or role-playing game, you should definitely consider buying this game. It is every bit as amazing an experience as The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion, and more than deserving of a nine out of ten. Expand
  11. Nov 28, 2015
    9
    Massive post-apocalyptic world and a huge amount of locations to explore. I think this statement best expresses this great RPG that is Fallout 3. The game's story is set in Washington and the surrounding areas. If you like a post-apocalyptic atmosphere, a lot of exploring, shooting, lots of side quests and advanced character leveling, then you are going to love this game. The completion ofMassive post-apocalyptic world and a huge amount of locations to explore. I think this statement best expresses this great RPG that is Fallout 3. The game's story is set in Washington and the surrounding areas. If you like a post-apocalyptic atmosphere, a lot of exploring, shooting, lots of side quests and advanced character leveling, then you are going to love this game. The completion of all main and side quests, finding all the locations and exploring them takes more than 80h (GOTY Edition). This can be done in either first or third person perspective.

    Score: 9/10 - I would definitely recommend it!
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  12. JesperC.
    Oct 31, 2008
    8
    First of all: i HATE ppl who give 10 as a score. if a game should get 10 it would be the perfect game in it genre. NO GAME SO FAR IS THAT! thats why fallout 3 gets a 8. Its a VERY good RPG, and its a mediocre shooter(although if you want a shooter don't buy this, you'll only get dissapointed) but if you want a game thats a better version of Mass effect(because of more RPG, not First of all: i HATE ppl who give 10 as a score. if a game should get 10 it would be the perfect game in it genre. NO GAME SO FAR IS THAT! thats why fallout 3 gets a 8. Its a VERY good RPG, and its a mediocre shooter(although if you want a shooter don't buy this, you'll only get dissapointed) but if you want a game thats a better version of Mass effect(because of more RPG, not the graphics(my opinion)) then buy fallout 3. Im a fan of the old fallouts. They were great RPG's with a old fashioned style of camera(you cant do anything but love the camera in games like diablo and old fallouts, but when you look at them again you easily get irritated) thats why i understand the re-use of oblivion camera in this new bethesda game. Yes oblivion(and morrowind, and daggerfall etc) and fallout are universes so far away from each other, but it actually seems that bethesda made the right call on how to design the new gameplay of fallout 3. When talking about combat in fallout 3 you might wonder how the VATS(known from previous fallout games) work. At first i was sceptic.. how will a pause button work in a FPS?? but then i tried it. and realised the following: Fallout 3 still isn't a FPS. It's a RPG with some elements stolen from FPS'. Thats why it doesn't feel wierd to pause the combat and think about where to strike with your deadly weapon(should i shoot that ant i the head with a high % of hitting og in the antennas with more dmg?) Overall Fallout 3 is great! give it a chance! some might feel weird using the FPS part, but as said prios it is NOT a fps! Enjoy it as a RPG with the option to blow someones head off with a big shotgun, but dont expect another far cry. Peace out V COOP COOP. Expand
  13. Sep 11, 2015
    4
    Meh.

    I loved F1 and F2, and was really looking forward to F3. I played for about 10 hours, but ended up uninstalling it. I couldn't put my finger on it. It just wasn't compelling enough to continue. It felt very slow paced and uninteresting. Borderlands filled the void *really* well. :)
  14. May 31, 2012
    9
    I think I speak for all that are great minds when I say, we don't want structure, we don't want a direct quest line, we want real world choices and their consequences, we want to be able to nuke villages and screw things up, we want to be a serial murderer and murder an entire street of people. These things are possible in Fallout 3, because it's a game which actually is a real RPG, youI think I speak for all that are great minds when I say, we don't want structure, we don't want a direct quest line, we want real world choices and their consequences, we want to be able to nuke villages and screw things up, we want to be a serial murderer and murder an entire street of people. These things are possible in Fallout 3, because it's a game which actually is a real RPG, you can be what you want. If you want a linear shooter where you just go from point A to B shooting things, following quest markers, first of all go die, but if you aren't willing to do this service to the world, then at least don't complain when you play an epic game like fallout. It's a brilliant game, the style and art really suck you in, it's way better than elder scrolls in this respect, it's not a lame ass medieval game all over but really a dark sad world in ruins after a nuclear disaster. You will feel lost, because that is what the character is supposed to feel as he steps out on this strange world. You will feel the game. Few games achieve this. This is truly one of the best games in the past decade, and one of the few "epic" games ever. No - I am not giving it a 10, because for one it is much too short, for two the max level is WAY too low except if you DLC, which is **** and for three the games posses after all these years game breaking bugs, which if screwed up and would never have been tolerated if it had been a japanese title. Expand
  15. Mar 10, 2013
    8
    The day Bethesda can release a glitch free game is the day they finally earn a real 10/10. It is a shame that a company with the potential to make such amazing games cannot manage to clean them up. The size of the game is not an excuse, it is pathetic.
    Despite its share of bugs, Fallout 3 is a hugely refreshing change from the "swords and boards," "dungeons and dragons" style rpg's that I
    The day Bethesda can release a glitch free game is the day they finally earn a real 10/10. It is a shame that a company with the potential to make such amazing games cannot manage to clean them up. The size of the game is not an excuse, it is pathetic.
    Despite its share of bugs, Fallout 3 is a hugely refreshing change from the "swords and boards," "dungeons and dragons" style rpg's that I am sick of.
    The story and world are entertaining. Could have been a 10/10 if not for bugs.
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  16. Oct 6, 2010
    10
    this is a great game for anyone who likes to explore large areas and this game is easy to play due to the targeting system making it much easier for people with even the WORST aim in the world to pick up the game and get into it imediantly.
  17. Jul 1, 2012
    8
    Fallout 3 was my introduction to the Fallout series and the first time I took note of Bethesda's name (I had played the Elder Scrolls game, but just didn't follow developers then the way I do now). When I first played this game it was on a family member's PS3. I had no current generations at the time and this game made me realize I needed a new console because I HAD to play this game.Fallout 3 was my introduction to the Fallout series and the first time I took note of Bethesda's name (I had played the Elder Scrolls game, but just didn't follow developers then the way I do now). When I first played this game it was on a family member's PS3. I had no current generations at the time and this game made me realize I needed a new console because I HAD to play this game. Personally, I found the beginning of the game's story line very engaging. You are born in a vault in a post apocalyptic future, your father vanishes having escaped the vault which is unheard of, but you can't believe he'd leave for no reason. The rest of the game then rests on you escaping and tracking down your dad while unveiling what has happened in the years since the Vault first became inhabited as you meet side characters and find information throughout a battle-torn, nuclear radiated Washington D.C. The graphics at the time seems amazingly cool, they still stand up as being good quality, but I can't say they're the best or anything.

    The side quests alone can have you playing this game for several hours, and it did, and if there's anything I'd say I don't like about this game...it's how many hours you're going to have to spend on it, and how much time you're going to waste travelling around just trying to do everything it has to offer. Maybe it reveals a horder side of me, but I'm over encumbered every couple minutes and have to figure what to do with the crap I'm carrying. The VATS is kind of cool, yet it also takes away from the realism of battling a horde of mutants when you can stop to fix weapons, switch them out, and slow time to make sure you're aiming your grenades at their feet...It definitely has some flaws and glitches, but over all I find it a very fun game that I don't mind loading up two years after buying it just for some running around and mutant destroying.
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  18. Dec 24, 2012
    10
    Fantastic game when it came out and even better now, As with most Bethesda titles they are very buggy when they come out but these past 4 years have served FO3 well. A great modding community has provided FO3 with a range of high fidelity face lifts as well as tonnes of new custom animations, quests and items. Since its an older game the GOTY edition can be picked up for a low price andFantastic game when it came out and even better now, As with most Bethesda titles they are very buggy when they come out but these past 4 years have served FO3 well. A great modding community has provided FO3 with a range of high fidelity face lifts as well as tonnes of new custom animations, quests and items. Since its an older game the GOTY edition can be picked up for a low price and you get great value for money with the amount of time you can spend in it.

    It is great fun to explore the post apocalyptic DC and finding all the unique and bizarre characters that live there. Lots of entertaining quests, characters and items to use with great voice acting and story. The vanilla game does have its issues with it being quite easy for experienced players and the animations messing up slightly but for those who like a challenge there are lots of mods available like FO3 Wanderers Edition which provide a gritty hardcore experience for this game.

    Without the modding community this title atm would be around an 8 given whats available at a similar price but there is no excuse not to pick up a few staple mods like MMM and a HQ texture pack if you PC can handle it - all made considerably easier with Fallout Mod manager.

    You will struggle to find as much entertainment and Hardcore RPG gameplay for as good a price as you can at the moment with a Modded FO3 a must buy if you haven't already picked it up.
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  19. May 6, 2012
    10
    This is one of the best games I have ever played. Wait, scratch that, THE best game I've ever played. The open world with great atmosphere, the people who look and act like they should, the weapons that aren't overpowered yet effective, and to top it all off, the DLC is excellent.

    This game looks just right. If I imagine a nuclear wasteland of DC, Fallout 3 portrays that exactly as I
    This is one of the best games I have ever played. Wait, scratch that, THE best game I've ever played. The open world with great atmosphere, the people who look and act like they should, the weapons that aren't overpowered yet effective, and to top it all off, the DLC is excellent.

    This game looks just right. If I imagine a nuclear wasteland of DC, Fallout 3 portrays that exactly as I imagined. The people in the game look great. The creatures you face are varied and challenging, and graphically spot-on.

    The music, oh the music, is overwhelmingly great. It matches the atmosphere precisely. Dialogue is great, I love the system.

    In summary, this game is the best game I've ever played. Every aspect of the game is perfect, 10/10.
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  20. JGo
    Aug 1, 2012
    10
    One of the best games ever. Absolutely genius.
  21. Jun 9, 2017
    0
    FALLOUT 3 EXE HAS STOPPED WORKING!! After countless hours trying to fix this miserable pile of feces,and reading at least 3 trillion ''solutions'' to stop the ungodly amounts of crashes, this piece of badly programmed garbage just refuses to work. I truly believe (and im not even exaggerating in the slightest when i say this) that a **** armless and mentally challenged bonobo could haveFALLOUT 3 EXE HAS STOPPED WORKING!! After countless hours trying to fix this miserable pile of feces,and reading at least 3 trillion ''solutions'' to stop the ungodly amounts of crashes, this piece of badly programmed garbage just refuses to work. I truly believe (and im not even exaggerating in the slightest when i say this) that a **** armless and mentally challenged bonobo could have done a MUCH BETTER JOB optimizing this gonorrhea than the reincarnations of Alan Turing that work at Bethesda. Expand
  22. Oct 11, 2010
    9
    This game is pure epic. It had nothing that I didn't like. Great story, great ACTING, great horror themes, great gunplay and combat. It was beautiful. The weapons were intriguing, the hardware support made me think that Bethesda still love us and the DLC's were brilliant. At least 60hrs of gameplay for the completer, and I went back to it loads more times just for the sake of it. Then IThis game is pure epic. It had nothing that I didn't like. Great story, great ACTING, great horror themes, great gunplay and combat. It was beautiful. The weapons were intriguing, the hardware support made me think that Bethesda still love us and the DLC's were brilliant. At least 60hrs of gameplay for the completer, and I went back to it loads more times just for the sake of it. Then I met something I didn't like. It had Games for Windows Live integration for achievements and such, so I tried it out and I hated it. I had to use a "storage device" when I wasn't logged in. Garrrg! Stupid Microsoft. Anyway, great game Bethesda! Expand
  23. Jan 8, 2011
    8
    Huge game with tons of playing hours. If you don't have time to put into this game for a long time don't get it! It's easy 100 hours of playing time and very involved. Huge maps, clues, tidbits, secrets, missions, etc. It is a Roll Play Game but adds first person and 3rd person shooter styles to it. It really LACKS in the shooting segments. The shooting is worthless unless you use theHuge game with tons of playing hours. If you don't have time to put into this game for a long time don't get it! It's easy 100 hours of playing time and very involved. Huge maps, clues, tidbits, secrets, missions, etc. It is a Roll Play Game but adds first person and 3rd person shooter styles to it. It really LACKS in the shooting segments. The shooting is worthless unless you use the special PIP BOY aiming system. You can't accurately hit anything with Iron sites with any weapon. It doesn't feel REAL. That's my main complaint about the game and it takes me out of it. There are a few glitches here and there that can cause a system to crash but no big deal. Also a few strange things that don't really fit realistically with the story they present. But it's a game. Enjoy it! Just make sure you have TIME! Expand
  24. Mar 30, 2011
    9
    I think i need to defend my score for this game, this was my first Bethesda game to play since oblivion, so the retro style, the gameplay elements, the RPG backbone and the well crafted story caught me by surprise. Still, i have to recognize it gets repetitive and buggy at times, and that it was probably the game responsible for the actual stupidity of many game developers, with itsI think i need to defend my score for this game, this was my first Bethesda game to play since oblivion, so the retro style, the gameplay elements, the RPG backbone and the well crafted story caught me by surprise. Still, i have to recognize it gets repetitive and buggy at times, and that it was probably the game responsible for the actual stupidity of many game developers, with its interest in making money by DLC and beating franchises with sticks to see how much money they can get away with before having to start making decent (and complete) games again. Expand
  25. Jun 29, 2011
    0
    It wasn't a real Fallout game, nor was it an RPG.
    Everything imaginable was done wrong, Bethesda have proved that they can't make a real Fallout game.
    It was just dumbed down into a shooter with stats slapped on.
  26. Mark
    Jul 22, 2009
    6
    What a mixed bag this game is. Pros: Interesting premise, good graphics, expansive world, (some) interesting characters, unique soundtrack, nice retrospective about your character at the end of the game. Cons: Crashes way too much (PC), really annoying repetitive dialogue, awkward control scheme, odd ending, and you need to use the craptastic Games for Windows Live systems for getting What a mixed bag this game is. Pros: Interesting premise, good graphics, expansive world, (some) interesting characters, unique soundtrack, nice retrospective about your character at the end of the game. Cons: Crashes way too much (PC), really annoying repetitive dialogue, awkward control scheme, odd ending, and you need to use the craptastic Games for Windows Live systems for getting expansions. If it didn't crash and require GFWL for expansions, it probably would have rated an 8. Expand
  27. Sep 26, 2010
    7
    Fallout 3 is the best game I've played. Ever. I have a feeling only it's successor, New Vegas, will dethrone it. It's horribly buggy, though, and I hate buggy software. So I knocked three points off for that. Still, you should buy this.
  28. Dec 31, 2011
    9
    One of the best games of all time. I mean it. Gameplay can go over a hundred hours if you want to finish all quests this game offers. The ONLY drawbacks of this game are: - few kinds of enemies; - bad movement's mechanics. But all the superb positive features make this game a joy to behold.
  29. May 13, 2014
    2
    When I've had Vista on my computer, I played this game, but it was so boring I wasn't able to finish it. It's some sort of pseudo-open world, it's repetitive, every location looks the same. Now I decided to play it again, but NOW I have Windows 7 on my computer and guess what? This piece of flip is crashing because of 2 two things - Windows 7 and Windows live. Windows live is lame as flipWhen I've had Vista on my computer, I played this game, but it was so boring I wasn't able to finish it. It's some sort of pseudo-open world, it's repetitive, every location looks the same. Now I decided to play it again, but NOW I have Windows 7 on my computer and guess what? This piece of flip is crashing because of 2 two things - Windows 7 and Windows live. Windows live is lame as flip and not workin', and Windows 7? This game has compatibility of hamster. 10 year old games are perfectly playable even now on modern systems, but game made in times of Windows Vista has issues on Windows 7! So, basically, this (s)flip is crashing, playing it is a pure deprival. I destroyed my DVD and buried that crap in a sewer. Expand
  30. Oct 28, 2010
    10
    Okay, lots of people gave this game bad reviews so I'd like to address some of those, First off to the hundred or so people who said "Its hard to find ammo" I say, Your playing in a nuceluar wasteland after a huge atomic war, ammo isn't really a main concern for people then. To the people who say i cant find anyone to interact with I say, GO TO A CITY!, For the game itself its gameplay isOkay, lots of people gave this game bad reviews so I'd like to address some of those, First off to the hundred or so people who said "Its hard to find ammo" I say, Your playing in a nuceluar wasteland after a huge atomic war, ammo isn't really a main concern for people then. To the people who say i cant find anyone to interact with I say, GO TO A CITY!, For the game itself its gameplay is amazing, the guns are realistic the textures are amazing the PC versions great because you can mod. Fight sequences are unique and challengeing and it is hard to kill thinkgs, guess why, THEY ARE MUTATED HUMANS! MUTATED! HUGE GREEN MUTANTS! Overall this game is definitly worth 50 bucks hell this games worth 100, ive got 800 hours for Fallout 3 on steam so thats gotta mean something. Expand
Metascore
91

Universal acclaim - based on 48 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 45 out of 48
  2. Negative: 0 out of 48
  1. PC PowerPlay
    90
    Minor niggles aside, Fallout 3 is almost entirely spectacular. Everything from the graphics, to the sound, to the plot is first-rate. The VATS system worlds like a charm, and it’s so easy to get the hang of, you’ll be cracking skulls like there’s no tomorrow. [Dec 2008, p.55]
  2. 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]
  3. Fallout 3 is one of this year's best games. It's an unforgettable journey that lives up to the series. You are an ex-vault 101 inhabitant, and you discover a whole new world, full of zombies, mutants, raiders, aliens and all kinds of creatures. Welcome to this post-apocaliptic reality, where you are going to spend hundreds of hours.