Fallout 3

 Xbox 360
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2106 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,747 out of 2106
  2. Mixed: 184 out of 2106
  3. Negative: 175 out of 2106
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  1. meop
    Jun 27, 2020
    9
    This game is fabulous. If you haven't played it, you should. The gameplay is top notch. However there are some minor problems that keep it from being perfect. They are strictly related to the nature of a console based game. If you want the very best experience and mod options play it on PC.
  2. FabricioNery
    Mar 7, 2022
    9
    The third best Fallout of all, after Las Vegas and Fallout 4. With rich dialogues and captivating story, where decisions have to be careful because it has consequences at the end of the game
  3. EmeraldDolph
    Nov 13, 2020
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I enjoyed it very much, it has a good gameplay and various side quest. There are some glitches like some characters will disappear for no reason and you will make a really long jump and take the fall damage.… Expand
  4. KaleSungurCrane
    Nov 20, 2020
    9
    OVERALL - 94%

    Gameplay - 8/10
    Graphics (for time) - 7/10
    Story - 9/10
    Game Length - 8/10
    Characters - 8/10
    Level/Area Design - 8/10
    Atmosphere - 9/10
    Sound Effects - 8/10
    Soundtrack - 8/10
    Replay Value - 8/10

    Probably the most realistic depiction of nuclear fallout of any game.
  5. RTCWFAN
    Jun 1, 2023
    9
    Best part of the series and one of the best RPGs ever. Just satisfying to listen to the great songs in the in-game radio and enjoy the apocalypse. Overall rating: 9.3.
  6. JayLemad
    Jul 16, 2023
    9
    Es una obra maestra. Uno de los mejores RPG jamás creados. Los escenarios, los personajes, las oportunidades, las opciones, todo. Bethesda demostró con creces que son los maestros del RPG occidental.
  7. farrrullll
    Jan 27, 2023
    9
    Fallout 3 Fallout 3 Fallout 3 Fallout 3 Fallout 3 Fallout 3 Fallout 3
  8. ilovebirdsalott
    May 11, 2023
    9
    This game is easily one of the best fallout games, enjoyed it a lot and it honestly has the best map!
  9. VLG
    Aug 22, 2023
    9
    An absolutely fantastic game, i loved it when it was released. It gave me so many hours of pure fun.
  10. THATGAMINGGUY
    Oct 30, 2008
    8
    Being a fan of the old PC Fallouts, and not being a big fan of Bethesda's Oblivion, I went into this game with a naive expectation for game of the year. And yeah, it came kinda close. First of all, it may not seem so for the first few hours, but eventually F3 turns into a very compelling and satisfying story, with a surprising flavor of a FInal Fantasy 7 or 8, mixed it. On the other Being a fan of the old PC Fallouts, and not being a big fan of Bethesda's Oblivion, I went into this game with a naive expectation for game of the year. And yeah, it came kinda close. First of all, it may not seem so for the first few hours, but eventually F3 turns into a very compelling and satisfying story, with a surprising flavor of a FInal Fantasy 7 or 8, mixed it. On the other hand, the fact that the main character (you) don't ever speak a word (hello 1993 rpg?) but everyone else does, kind of shoots the game in the foot a bit, taking away from it's direction a being a memorable personal story (please see Mass Effect on how this is done right). Aside from this, the sandbox gaming is on GTA IV level of fun, definitely a highlight of what this game is about. Exploring, scavenging, etc. The karma (good v evil) system is cool, but still a step behind Mass Effect. There's tons of glitches, more than enough to make this fall into the "feels like a 90s pc game" category. But not enough to make me dislike the game. It's a ton of fun. And for all it's flaws, it is still very impressive and addictive as hell. Oblivion with guns? Yes, but that's exactly what it needed to be.… Expand
  11. Daz
    Oct 19, 2008
    8
    No doubt a good game but just not for me. Very similar to oblivion in the way you travel around and have to interact with others. Much darker than Oblivion though. The menu interface is quite neat and the look of it reminds me of bioshock as it looks very 1940s/1950s. I've only played for about 2 hours to get out of the vault though megatron and to the radio base. will probably give No doubt a good game but just not for me. Very similar to oblivion in the way you travel around and have to interact with others. Much darker than Oblivion though. The menu interface is quite neat and the look of it reminds me of bioshock as it looks very 1940s/1950s. I've only played for about 2 hours to get out of the vault though megatron and to the radio base. will probably give it a bit longer and see if it really appeals before selling it if it doesn't grip me more. I should add though, if you like oblivion and want a similar game this is for you.… Expand
  12. JakeL.
    Dec 13, 2008
    8
    It's fun, but I'm disappointed because Oblivion was so much better.Fallout3's story was much to short.Oblivion had loads of side quests,while F3 barely had enough to satisfy me. Bethesda focused to much on graphics than playability.
  13. richardl
    Jan 30, 2009
    8
    I personally love this game. The story line is great and the gun are fun to use, but my biggest problem is how unlike oblivion you are not able to continue the game after you beat the last mission. other then that the game is good, just don't skip through the story line like i did the first time or the game will get boring because of how fast you beat it.
  14. KevinJ
    Jun 25, 2009
    8
    This is one of the few game where you actually get your $60 worth. A huge map, great graphics and very interactive gameplay make it a great buy. While I can see how the many side quests and VATS combat system isn't everyone idea of fun, anyone who gives this game under a 4 is crazy.
  15. WilliamM.
    Nov 17, 2008
    8
    Fallout 3 is without a doubt one of the most impressive games out period. It features good plot lines, weaponry, rpg elements, great graphics etc etc. If you want to read more positive comments see the metascore and all of the professional reviews. This game is not without its downsides, which are significantly played down by the professional reviewers. The creators of the game did not Fallout 3 is without a doubt one of the most impressive games out period. It features good plot lines, weaponry, rpg elements, great graphics etc etc. If you want to read more positive comments see the metascore and all of the professional reviews. This game is not without its downsides, which are significantly played down by the professional reviewers. The creators of the game did not use the scope of the game to their advantage; by that I mean there are only 31 achievement quests(including quests as part as the main story) while there is easily over 150 locations to explore. During the beginning hours, this may not become obvious; in the last hours, however, a player can see that this game seems almost half finished. It just seems that while DC is huge, the amount of things to do in it are limited. Another problem is the gunplay. Often, a player will find themselves wasting tons of ammo trying to kill a simple enemy because their guns are not particularly effective nor accurate outside of VATS. This leads to the player entering combat with VATS, only to hide until VATS fills back up so they can use it again. Fallout 3 has an utter lack of bosses. Bosses are arguably the heart of RPGs aside from the basics; the fact that this game ignored them makes it kind of awkward (especially no final boss). New game plus? Forget about it; once the game is over, it is over. Leveling up past 20? Forget about it; you max out at level 20. Any reason to put the game on very hard? No(no achievement; while you do get more experience points, you will max out before you finish the quests making the quests pointless). Any items that are just "cool" enough to go after a long quest for? No. You can make some and their are some special ones, but they aren't that great. On the plus side, this game will engross you for hours(it would take about 40 of them to complete the story and all the side quests).… Expand
  16. KylerN
    Nov 26, 2008
    8
    There were lots of small glitches, but in the museums there was a huge glitch where the models would blind your screen which was an issue with the 360 cache, other than that it has solid gameplay and a little more enticing the the elder scroll series but i feel ripped off by how close it plays like them
  17. AnonymousMC
    Dec 2, 2008
    8
    Overall, a great game. With that being said, I have not played Fable 2 of any of the other Fallout games so I can only compare it to what I consider the best role playing game in Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. Basically, Fallout 3 is a better version of Morrowind. Everything has been streamlined and slightly improved upon. If you liked Morrowind the I recommend buying Fallout 3. IfOverall, a great game. With that being said, I have not played Fable 2 of any of the other Fallout games so I can only compare it to what I consider the best role playing game in Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. Basically, Fallout 3 is a better version of Morrowind. Everything has been streamlined and slightly improved upon. If you liked Morrowind the I recommend buying Fallout 3. If not, you may want to rent it first.… Expand
  18. SteveK
    Jan 15, 2009
    8
    Don't get me wrong, this is a very good game. But it is a little short of greatness in my mind. Well first of all, it will not be everyone's cup of tea. People who are looking for a shooter and are used to that fast pacedness of FPS's, but not fond of the repetition of RPGs, then stay far far away. For the detail oriented, it is hell, because you will feel like you have to Don't get me wrong, this is a very good game. But it is a little short of greatness in my mind. Well first of all, it will not be everyone's cup of tea. People who are looking for a shooter and are used to that fast pacedness of FPS's, but not fond of the repetition of RPGs, then stay far far away. For the detail oriented, it is hell, because you will feel like you have to check every damn storage box and look at every item, even though 90% of the items in the world are worthless. Is it realistic? Yes? But it is mind-numbing after a while to explore every locale and rummage through storage closet after storage closet. And even though it borrows heavily from Oblivion and the graphics are amazing, they are also wretchedly putrid and beak.... because that is the world that Fallout inhabits. Which is fine, but it is crazy just how good the graphics are to make something look so ugly. And personally I don't like the bleak wasteland of Fallout. It's depressing and drab. Not really a pick-me-up kind of game, but that's just personal taste. That being said, the detail in this game is amazing. There is a LOT to like. But in the end, the abrupt ending and just the whole feel of the game left me feeling unsatisfied. It was still well worth my $60 and the kind of game I'm very glad I played, but not quite the classic that Oblivion was.… Expand
  19. dupplawt
    Apr 25, 2011
    8
    Fallout 3 is a truly amazing video game. It is quite easy to get 60+ hours out of it on a single playthrough, if you explore every location and attempt as many side quests as you can; the main story line can become sidetracked by the sheer scale of the rest of the game. As a standalone package (minus DLC), once completed, you cannot continue to explore the wasteland; fortunately the GOTYFallout 3 is a truly amazing video game. It is quite easy to get 60+ hours out of it on a single playthrough, if you explore every location and attempt as many side quests as you can; the main story line can become sidetracked by the sheer scale of the rest of the game. As a standalone package (minus DLC), once completed, you cannot continue to explore the wasteland; fortunately the GOTY package includes the Broken Steel add-on, and with this there is a huge new story arc to complete and you can continue after the main story has reached it's conclusion. Every character you meet has something to say, many have quests to give and you can proceed to be a wasteland saviour, or a vault demon. The gameplay is FPS with some RPG elements such as perks and special abilities; my favourite of which is Bloody Mess, which speaks for itself really. Of the DLC, they are all fantastic and varied; Operation Anchorage takes you to the Arctic, The Pitt takes you to the fiery steelmills of Pittsburgh, and Point Lookout features a barren, abandoned fairground. I enjoyed all 5, and they make it well worth buying the Game of the Year Edition. Unlike my favourite games, however, I have not found much to go back and replay, as you need so much time to really feel like you're in the wastelands. There are also some technical issues I have heard of, but personally I can recall very few and by now many of the issues have been patched. Overall, an absolutely fantastic game, well-worth buying, 4/5.… Expand
  20. Ravenous
    Nov 21, 2010
    8
    This game is good, but it falls short of great. It offers an interesting world that can be freely explored, and a story that is bolstered with strong dialogue and interesting character choices. The main problem is the excessive tedium required to find one's way through a lot of these maps. Any indoor/underground map instantly becomes a pain. Instead of the player having separateThis game is good, but it falls short of great. It offers an interesting world that can be freely explored, and a story that is bolstered with strong dialogue and interesting character choices. The main problem is the excessive tedium required to find one's way through a lot of these maps. Any indoor/underground map instantly becomes a pain. Instead of the player having separate two-dimensional maps for each level of a given three-dimensional structure, each level is mapped onto one single two-dimensional image. This makes navigating indoors using the map almost completely pointless, and adds hours and hours to the game that consist of nothing but wandering in exasperation. Overland/outdoor exploration, on the other hand, is an absolute blast.… Expand
  21. Kuzmen
    Jan 30, 2011
    8
    A fun game, however one has to remember that it is a ROLE-PLAYING game. This is a VERY hard game to role-play. I'm still waiting on two perks to be released for it, one that reduces the chance of random crashes by 10%, and the other that makes the NPCs talk like they haven't had their brains replaced by bicycle pumps.
  22. TigusVidiks
    Aug 20, 2011
    8
    Make no mistake, fallout is as good as good as everyone says. Lots of quests, side quests, enormous game, massive duration, amazing scenery, good voice acting, , great systems that blend together for awesome fighting system and exploration. It's all there, no doubt about it. Then -you ask- why the 8/10 rating, why not 9/10 or 10/10? Well... I can't get myself to give it more to game thatMake no mistake, fallout is as good as good as everyone says. Lots of quests, side quests, enormous game, massive duration, amazing scenery, good voice acting, , great systems that blend together for awesome fighting system and exploration. It's all there, no doubt about it. Then -you ask- why the 8/10 rating, why not 9/10 or 10/10? Well... I can't get myself to give it more to game that is SO SO riddled with bugs as Fallout 3 is. Even after so many patch releases, it's still impossible to make a play trough, without finding yourself overwhelmed by them, one way or the other. If you consult game forums, in different sites, you'll find that if some bugs are generalized and most people will point them, it's also true that almost everyone who played it found exclusive bugs , almost like if there was a hidden bug generator in the game, for each playtrough. I have to say, the first time I played Fallout 3, I had to start over from the begining after 60 hours of gameplay (!) , after suddenly realising that I could not complete the main story quest, because of a bug who prevented the game from recognizing the completion of a simple task , even though I had done it already. I could not do it again, since I had already, and so, the only solution was to start over after 60 hours. That, my friends, can ruin the mood to finish a game.… Expand
  23. CarsonRGB
    Oct 4, 2011
    8
    Story: 7
    Characters: 6
    Graphics: 7
    Setting: 7
    Multiplayer: N/A
    Soundtrack: 7
    Audio: 9
    Gameplay: 9
    Re-Playability Value: 8
    Fun Factor: 9

    Score: 7.6/10 = B
  24. sympathy4saren2
    Apr 1, 2012
    8
    A good rpg with the classic Bethesda touch. While for me not as engrossing as a TES, its engrossing nonetheless, giving you miles upon open miles of open world exploration in a dangerous post-nuclear fallout wasteland. Looting and exploration are phenomenal...story, customization and combat is good. Particularly V.A.T.S. turn-based combat. Enemies can be creepy, and while there are someA good rpg with the classic Bethesda touch. While for me not as engrossing as a TES, its engrossing nonetheless, giving you miles upon open miles of open world exploration in a dangerous post-nuclear fallout wasteland. Looting and exploration are phenomenal...story, customization and combat is good. Particularly V.A.T.S. turn-based combat. Enemies can be creepy, and while there are some things that Fallout 4 can address to make it even better, Fallout 3 is a great game. Can't wait to get my hands on FO: NV!… Expand
  25. ConnKon
    Jan 24, 2015
    8
    It's a huge openworld RPG with an amazingly crafted atmosphere and setting with a good storyline along with it. It took me about 6 hours before I really got into it and started enjoying it though, it's not just a game you pick up.
    The best things about this game for me were the characters and all the ways you could interact with them, the fantastic post-apocalyptic setting with 50s/60s    It's a huge openworld RPG with an amazingly crafted atmosphere and setting with a good storyline along with it. It took me about 6 hours before I really got into it and started enjoying it though, it's not just a game you pick up.
    The best things about this game for me were the characters and all the ways you could interact with them, the fantastic post-apocalyptic setting with 50s/60s (Bioshock-esque) themes and the huge world with so much to explore.
    The combat mechanics were satisfying and so was equipping yourself with cool new gear. The story kept me intrigued and certainly had it's moments (especially if you influenced them), but the ending wasn't too grand in my mind.
    Technically it's a good looking game but it does suffer from quite a few issues. Slight screentearing and random glitches do plague this game, but it's no game-braker. The original score didn't impress me either though the old school music made up for it in a way. One thing that did annoy me throughout the game is the LARGE focus on looting/grinding. It felt like I spent half my time 'playing' this game sorting my inventory and buying/selling stuff. Getting a companion in the game helps a lot carrying stuff so get one ASAP.
    Also I felt like there was just too much content in the game. If you're a huge openworld RPG fan and like to drop hundreds of hours in a game, you can with Fallout 3. But for someone that just wants to play an awesome game and then move on to the next they could've streamlined Fallout 3 a lot in my mind.
    Conclusion: If you like these kind of games and have some time to spare, certainly pick it up. To compare: it's better than Bioshock but not as good as Half-Life 2 in my opinion. 8.4/10    … Expand
  26. Rox22
    Feb 15, 2013
    8
    There is no doubt that allot of love went into making this game. The story is brilliant and fits the universe perfectly. The first person (elder scrolls-esque) perspective fits in really well and is an improvement on the old turn based system of Fallouts 1 and 2. Stunning visuals and an impressive post apocalyptic rendition of D.C. So why don't I sound more excited by it? Because,There is no doubt that allot of love went into making this game. The story is brilliant and fits the universe perfectly. The first person (elder scrolls-esque) perspective fits in really well and is an improvement on the old turn based system of Fallouts 1 and 2. Stunning visuals and an impressive post apocalyptic rendition of D.C. So why don't I sound more excited by it? Because, generally speaking, it is a bit bland and can be a little boring at times. The dull colors really do add to the atmosphere and set the mood nicely, however, they also make everything look the same. Again I state this is a great game that just really needs a bit more color and life to it. Because as it stands, it feels like a black and white version of the Mona Lisa. Overall: A fantastic game that falls just under brilliance thanks to its overdone monochromatic and dirty tones. They're done well, and serve their intended purpose well, but perhaps a bit too well. Thanks Bethesda for keeping the series alive, and making such a great game.… Expand
  27. Scion1337
    Apr 10, 2013
    8
    Although it is a rather fun game with the V.A.T.S. for the "shooter impaired" like me I found myself repeatedly thinking of Oblivion and the ilk. It may as well be titled "Apocalypse: The Elder Scrolls" for its huge similarity. Just like every other Bethesda game I've played you really need to keep at least 3 saves in case of some weird glitches (Combat save, level entry save, town save)Although it is a rather fun game with the V.A.T.S. for the "shooter impaired" like me I found myself repeatedly thinking of Oblivion and the ilk. It may as well be titled "Apocalypse: The Elder Scrolls" for its huge similarity. Just like every other Bethesda game I've played you really need to keep at least 3 saves in case of some weird glitches (Combat save, level entry save, town save) but if you can get past that it is a truly enjoyable experience. The cinematic cam for when you make an incredible shot like sniping a Raider from half mile away just feels so satisfying… until all the other raiders come after you and you can't do anything since your stuck in the 'kill cam' mode. (That combat save is rather important) The game is solid enough to support your play style, I even made a second character just to try a more frontal approach instead of the stealth I usually do. (Thief and Dishonored style gaming will always be in my first approach) The levels are well designed enough, although cover is sort of scarce for a shooter. Although there is plenty of things to pick up, not much of it is really worth attention. Tin Cans abound but you can't do anything with them for example. One thing that I really didn't like at first was the weapon and apparel durability. It makes sense, but it wasn't something in a game I really wanted. Later I found that it made me use different and new weapons during different parts of the plot. Like how Raiders use plenty of assault rifles and hunting rifles to repair yours with but you might want to use energy weapons against The Enclave since that's what they use. Healing items are rather plentiful and you'll find you don't really need them all once you get a good handle on how the game plays but get them all anyway. Your going to need them in the DLCs just to stay alive most of the time. Which pretty much sums the game up, its all about thinking about trying to survive the wasteland between the part scavenging, hostile inhabitants, and radiation. Planning your next step is always a forethought throughout the game.… Expand
  28. Rem
    Oct 15, 2014
    8
    Stepping out of the Vault, players undertake a breathtaking journey through the Wasteland in Bethesda's rendition of the Fallout series. One thing that Bethesda always promotes with each of their games is the growing amount of freedom to play the game how you want. Go anywhere, befriend or kill anyone, ignore the main quest altogether it's up to you. Along the way you soak in the stunningStepping out of the Vault, players undertake a breathtaking journey through the Wasteland in Bethesda's rendition of the Fallout series. One thing that Bethesda always promotes with each of their games is the growing amount of freedom to play the game how you want. Go anywhere, befriend or kill anyone, ignore the main quest altogether it's up to you. Along the way you soak in the stunning view of a decimated Washington D.C., but look too closely and you'll see that the textures are rough and pop-ins are frequent. Many complain about technical problems ruining their games like corrupted files and freezing, but none of those were present for me. Instead I only got clipping, pop-ins, and excruciatingly long load times, nothing good but they're not as bad as people say.… Expand
  29. WyattTheAwesome
    May 30, 2013
    8
    Fallout 3 is a wonderful game and has a classy feel every time I play it. While exploring may be disappointing because everything is destroyed, I still had a lot of fun looking around the ruined world. A lot of skill trees to level up so it makes great replay value and I've put in about 120 hours into it. It's still has its fair share of glitches, but I can't be too harsh on it. DefinitelyFallout 3 is a wonderful game and has a classy feel every time I play it. While exploring may be disappointing because everything is destroyed, I still had a lot of fun looking around the ruined world. A lot of skill trees to level up so it makes great replay value and I've put in about 120 hours into it. It's still has its fair share of glitches, but I can't be too harsh on it. Definitely worth picking up.… Expand
  30. mcmanusaur
    Sep 7, 2013
    8
    ---Rating---
    Design: 4 /5 (slightly incoherent mechanics, the narrative falters after a good introduction)
    Polish: 4 /5 (the grey-brown color palette detracts from the otherwise interesting visuals)
    Value: 4 /5 (open world with more replay value than most "shooters", but less than most RPGs)

    ---Review---
    To be added.
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Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2008
3
#3 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2008
2
#2 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
93

Universal acclaim - based on 84 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 83 out of 84
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 84
  3. Negative: 0 out of 84
  1. GamingExcellence
    95
    Fallout 3 is an experience in itself, and while it may not offer as much replay value as Oblivion, it’s so much more then an “Oblivion with guns”.
    Read full review
  2. Kikizo
    90
    From the hollow wind blowing down through subway tunnels, to the radioactive dust clouds swirling throughout the wasteland, up to the buzzards circling the encampment where the bodies of 30 slave traders lie; Fallout 3 is as much a game as it is a training sim for the coming apocalypse.
    Read full review
  3. GameSpot
    90
    In fact, Fallout 3 is leaner and meaner than Bethesda's previous efforts, less expansive but more intense, while still offering immense replay value and quite a few thrills along the way.
    Read full review
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