Fallout 3

 PC
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 5318 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3,751 out of 5318
  2. Mixed: 987 out of 5318
  3. Negative: 580 out of 5318
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  1. AnonymousMC
    Apr 21, 2009
    10
    Firsly people who give it a bad rateing go do a dog
    people who say the graphics are bad: What game have you been looking at? / you need a better graphics card
    People who say they cant play it at all : check the system requirements people who say the "main" story is to short : True but there are many side quests and secret quests that all added together will give you atleast 70 hours of    Firsly people who give it a bad rateing go do a dog
    people who say the graphics are bad: What game have you been looking at? / you need a better graphics card
    People who say they cant play it at all : check the system requirements
    people who say the "main" story is to short : True but there are many side quests and secret quests that all added together will give you atleast 70 hours of play

    Sure they are lots of bugs and it does crash sometimes (not very much) the good thing is that it autosaves and loads up fast

    SO STOP MOANING!!

    People reading thease reviews DO NOT take any Notice what so ever to rateings under 6    … Expand
  2. AlexK
    May 18, 2009
    10
    The best Fallout game yet. Anyone crying about how it isn't like fallout and fallout 2 needs to shut up. Fallout and fallout 2 had slightly better stories, but that was about it. This is one of these games you will never put down, even years from now people will be playing this game as if it was new. The DLC added to this game makes it that much better...
  3. NickM.
    Jul 16, 2009
    10
    An amazing game!!!! V.A.T.S was a stroke of genius. Few games actually make you feel like your living every moment of them and fallout 3 is one of those few.
  4. AlexV
    Nov 12, 2008
    10
    Superb, first and foremost a role-playing game but the VATS system works really well combined with fps. Glad they kept the humour and a worthy addition to the fallout series, can't wait for the next (hopefully with more advanced graphics and as good an fps as rpg). Huge fun just exploring with adventure around every turn and kept me glued to the computer for the first time in ages.
  5. NoName
    Nov 13, 2008
    10
    An instant classic. This game joins KOTOR, Half-Life, Half-Life 2 and System Shock 2 as one the best games of all time. Beware though, for those looking for a simple shooter (like Call of Duty, Halo) you may be disappointed. This is an FPS-RPG, don't expect a twitch game.
  6. MichaelL.
    Nov 13, 2008
    10
    Bethesda has made yet another game that blows away the competition. Bethesda makes in my opinion the best RPG games that I have ever seen, with stunning graphics to many hours of work trying to become a good, or bad, guy while earning a nice amount of cash along with the experience. The quality of their work shows almost as if the game disk doesn't reflect light, the light shines from it.
  7. JamesP.
    Nov 14, 2008
    10
    In a sea of commercials, Fallout 3 Stands as real content. This game provides hundreds of hours of playtime. It has a meaningful and entertaining story. Its visuals are above par for the genre.
  8. AW
    Nov 14, 2008
    10
    This game is truely amazing! Very innovative with unique ideas. Although the end left me feeling a bit empty because I thought you would be able to continue playing in the world, it was definitely the best game since Half Life 2. Great job Bethesda! PLEASE MAKE ANOTHER SOON!
  9. StoneT
    Dec 12, 2008
    10
    9.5 out of 10 rounded up. This game is incredibly immersive, but it requires creativity and curiosity in order for the user to get the full effect. The world of FO3 is the most complex and open world in video game history. Game designers allow the user to set their own path on the fly (scientist, criminal/thief, lawman, serial killer, entrepreneur, etc), making their own actions and 9.5 out of 10 rounded up. This game is incredibly immersive, but it requires creativity and curiosity in order for the user to get the full effect. The world of FO3 is the most complex and open world in video game history. Game designers allow the user to set their own path on the fly (scientist, criminal/thief, lawman, serial killer, entrepreneur, etc), making their own actions and choices really matter for once! I have beat the game once and have 2 games going simultaneously and I can honestly say that I discover new and top quality content every time. Take your time, explore, and do lots of side missions and you will be greatly rewarded. This is the first "10" I have ever given anything on metacritic.… Expand
  10. Namelessguy
    Dec 26, 2008
    10
    This game kicks your ass, then again, and again. Graphics are great if you have a powerful comp, even at low settings its still good. I felt that it was really short and was dissapointed that once you finish, your done. You cant go back or anything. cant w8 till GECK.
  11. Gregory
    Dec 28, 2008
    10
    All things considered, Fallout 3 stands head and shoulders above any game currently on the market....even with the alleged "bugs". User ratings for FO3, that have fallen below 7, are lopsided and unfair. For instance, were some of the "disappointments" with the game, based on alleged "bugs", have more to do with serious development misfires.....or with gaming systems that are/were All things considered, Fallout 3 stands head and shoulders above any game currently on the market....even with the alleged "bugs". User ratings for FO3, that have fallen below 7, are lopsided and unfair. For instance, were some of the "disappointments" with the game, based on alleged "bugs", have more to do with serious development misfires.....or with gaming systems that are/were antiquated? Were some of the criticisms of the game based on idiosyncratic preferences for straightforward, traditional "first person shooters" and "RPG's", rather than appreciating FO3's hybrid approach? Were some of the criticisms of FO3 just hyperbolic statements that were given as user correctives to perceived game over-hype, rather than aiming for a more "objective" analysis of the FO3 material? Were some of the extremely low criticisms given merely for the sake of being rebellious and contrarian? In any event, I hope the negative criticisms will not deter prospective consumers from buying this game. The Gamespy review does an excellent job of assessing what a buyer is in for when he/she gets FO3, so it's unnecessary to retread here. If someone is hesitant about purchasing the game for the PC because of bugs, they should keep in mind that patches are inevitable with virtually every PC title that gets released. No game is ever "bug free". At the very least, do yourself the favor by getting the game for the PS3 or the 360. It will not disappoint you.… Expand
  12. CurlyCaveman
    Nov 25, 2009
    10
    One of the most addicting games I've ever played, amazing replay value, engrossing... so good that it over comes the frustrating and annoying crashing and overheating of my GPU that I experienced.
  13. wastelandking
    Dec 14, 2009
    10
    I think this game rocks!! very opened game where you dont have to follow a certain path.a huge map to explore.good weps an the V.A.T.S. system is cool.spent many hrs playing this game.its u aganist the wasteland!! LOL!!!
  14. JoseC
    Dec 29, 2009
    10
    Easily one of the best games of all time. The atmosphere of this game is incredible. The main storyline is not THAT great but all the sidequest compensate this fact.
  15. lildanny
    Nov 13, 2011
    10
    Thoroughly enjoyable, and worth every penny. I bought the GOTY edition which made it even more fun. Every aspect of this game draws you in! The campaign can take a long time to finish, and there are plenty of different outcomes from the choices you make. This makes for a great replayable game. Storyline is impeccable, and the graphics are amazing!
  16. gamng
    Aug 14, 2010
    10
    Game have too many slave-quests, like make this, and for this u must run 100 miles and shoot to all generated monsters and crime-men.

    Fallout 1 and 2 was made for more freedom of players. And if u clear some place this place still clean.

    For playing with enjoy player must fully understand textual and audio information in game. But Fallout 3 on Steam-system was without Russian language.
  17. Shefath
    Sep 7, 2010
    10
    This game is good..very good.The rpg elements are good.the gameplay is awesome,and the story is also very interesting.I was very amazed of the work done by bethesda softworks.It was very good.
  18. spartan-117
    Sep 26, 2010
    10
    This is Oblivion in future.I give it a 10 not only because i liked The elder scrolls 4 oblivion very much but for its nice game play elements as well as the exploring world.A nice game detailed and in which the atmosphere is very very realistic. You can see the elder scrolls elements in it like jumping at a place if you have discovered it or the usage and repair of items.But netherless isThis is Oblivion in future.I give it a 10 not only because i liked The elder scrolls 4 oblivion very much but for its nice game play elements as well as the exploring world.A nice game detailed and in which the atmosphere is very very realistic. You can see the elder scrolls elements in it like jumping at a place if you have discovered it or the usage and repair of items.But netherless is a solid game even if the main story is short has many side quests… Expand
  19. dylster11
    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.
  20. Soldat
    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.    … Expand
  21. Steamaddict3514
    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
  22. JAG_HARM_RABB_J
    Nov 18, 2010
    10
    i am so addicted to Fallout 3, i play it alot, i am a god in the game, i really enjow useing the Laser pistol and the Rocket launcher, i hate playing as a badass in the game, im always the goodguy
  23. RocknRolla789
    Dec 18, 2010
    10
    Very good game, the extra DLC's were an amazing add on. Very fun and very mod-able to provide hours of fun, I bought it expecting a game I would play once and then probably never again. I was proven wrong. Bethesda goes and make an excellent game that had me hooked and has caused me to play the campaign more times then I can remember. With 100 hours of game play I can safely say, if youVery good game, the extra DLC's were an amazing add on. Very fun and very mod-able to provide hours of fun, I bought it expecting a game I would play once and then probably never again. I was proven wrong. Bethesda goes and make an excellent game that had me hooked and has caused me to play the campaign more times then I can remember. With 100 hours of game play I can safely say, if you like RPG's, 1st and 3rd person shooters, trust me on this you will love Fallout 3. With complete freedom and lots of guns, weapons, and quests, you will be spellbound by the awesomeness of this game.… Expand
  24. JonesR
    Jul 19, 2011
    10
    A truly epic adventure--an absolute stellar collaboration of FPS and RPG experiences. The vast open landscape allows unhindered exploration. The game offers a wealth of NPC characters, each having their own distinct personalities opening or limiting choices based on how you interact with them. The story conversations go far beyond simple dialog, offering players deep and rich characterA truly epic adventure--an absolute stellar collaboration of FPS and RPG experiences. The vast open landscape allows unhindered exploration. The game offers a wealth of NPC characters, each having their own distinct personalities opening or limiting choices based on how you interact with them. The story conversations go far beyond simple dialog, offering players deep and rich character development. There's even multiple paths/outcomes depending on the choices you make throughout the game. Multitudes of different monster types and weapons. While the story and side missions are enough to keep anyone busy for hours on end, the DLCs are well integrated and keep the game fresh for many more.… Expand
  25. R3YNO
    Feb 16, 2011
    10
    I got this game a couple years a go for Christmas. Since then I have played hours and hours of this game. I was shocked to see how many people just despise this game. This Game is a work of Art! The only downfall of this game is Games for Windows live. I personally didn't mind too much mainly because I bought it retail. If you buy on Steam Keep that in mind.

    Performance wise I was able to    I got this game a couple years a go for Christmas. Since then I have played hours and hours of this game. I was shocked to see how many people just despise this game. This Game is a work of Art! The only downfall of this game is Games for Windows live. I personally didn't mind too much mainly because I bought it retail. If you buy on Steam Keep that in mind.

    Performance wise I was able to run the game full resolution on medium settings on a old duel core machine flawlessly. If you are worried about bugs, most of them have been worked out at this point.

    If you are looking for a game that will last you this game will do that and more. If the base game wasn't enough the DLC adds even more. I highly advise that you get the game of the year edition because it comes with the DLC and you save money.    … Expand
  26. Atech66
    Aug 9, 2011
    10
    This game kicks ass on every level. Core i7 920,GTX275,6 gigs Mushkin DDR3, Win 7 64, and runs beautifully so the people saying quad cores have an issue.. nah.. you may have an issue. Depth of story has been built upon for years and years from FO to NV it has been great to watch it evolve. this still remains my favorite of the series.. the graphics, environment, NPC's all grab you and pullThis game kicks ass on every level. Core i7 920,GTX275,6 gigs Mushkin DDR3, Win 7 64, and runs beautifully so the people saying quad cores have an issue.. nah.. you may have an issue. Depth of story has been built upon for years and years from FO to NV it has been great to watch it evolve. this still remains my favorite of the series.. the graphics, environment, NPC's all grab you and pull you in to where you forget yourself and take another role... this game is 10/10, 100%, KA award and a legend that stands along with others on " the best ever made". list.â… Expand
  27. NukaColaCaps
    Feb 23, 2011
    10
    Whenever i think of this game i think of what a good time i had (and still do) scavenging and roaming the wasteland. I just love this game and i love Bethesda for making it.
  28. PevMaster
    May 16, 2011
    10
    ONE OF THE GREATEST RPGs I HAVE EVER PLAYED IN MY WHOLE LIFE. Whoever doesn't like this is a distasteful idiot. Sure there are a couple of bugs and a bit of lag. but who really cares? The setting is fantastic, the writing is top-notch, the voice acting is great, the side-quests are enjoyable and infinitely replayable, the combat is solid and suits the game very well, looting is satisfying,ONE OF THE GREATEST RPGs I HAVE EVER PLAYED IN MY WHOLE LIFE. Whoever doesn't like this is a distasteful idiot. Sure there are a couple of bugs and a bit of lag. but who really cares? The setting is fantastic, the writing is top-notch, the voice acting is great, the side-quests are enjoyable and infinitely replayable, the combat is solid and suits the game very well, looting is satisfying, levelling up is perfect, the characters have true variety and depth, the graphics have aged well and produce some STUNNING views (such as the destroyed, barren landscape that is the Capital Wasteland, or watching Megaton go up in an extremely satisfying and explosive mushroom cloud) and the locations are so iconic, they border on fantastical. But Fallout 3's greatest strength isn't it's combat or its graphics; its the sheer freedom and sense of scale: as soon as you leave the confines of Vault 101 you drink in this endless, barren landscape and realise there are endless possibilities. Wrangle children for slavers. Collect bobbleheads. Blow up a town or two. Or simply just explore. If you play any RPG, Fallout 3 is it.… Expand
  29. Andrew_Paterson
    Jan 31, 2014
    10
    Fallout 3 is - 6 years down the line - probably my favourite game. It's also one of the only two games |I've given a 10 to here on Metacrtic.

    It's not perfect (crashing is a way of life) but the open world game-play gives the option for creating your own story or just mucking about that no other sandbox game I've played has yet managed to capture.
  30. Mofoso
    May 30, 2011
    10
    One of the all time best games. The plethora of easter eggs makes this game all the better. Great solid story with a fantastic RPG play style that really lets you fully dictate every action your character does. Funny and extremely action packed game play with great graphics and animations. I recommend Fallout 3 to anyone who loves RPGs.
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Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Best PC Game of 2008
1
#1 Most Discussed PC Game of 2008
1
#1 Most Shared PC Game of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
91

Universal acclaim - based on 48 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 45 out of 48
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 48
  3. 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. Meristation
    95
    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.
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