Prime Video’s Fallout has pushed the games into the mainstream again — and season two leans hard into New Vegas lore. If you’ve been watching the show, the impulse to jump back into the games (or finally try them) is real. Here’s a friendly guide to what the show borrows, where to start playing, and how to snag the best deals while the hype is hot.
The show is a scavenger hunt
Episode three alone is bursting with details that will make longtime players grin. Caesar’s Legion appears in full Roman regalia — centurions, vexillarii, frumentarii scouts with wolf-skins, and a Legate called Lacerta — and the series even nods to in-game punishments like crucifixion. Victor, the Securitron, shows up at the House Resort and Country Club, the same Robert House estate New Vegas players will recognise. You’ll also catch small things: El Diablo’s roller coaster silhouette in the distance, Sunset Sarsaparilla bottle-cap harvesting (caps = currency), the blue “Star” caps that echo the Legend of the Star side quest, T-60 power armour, a Mark II Securitron, and even a rocket-powered Super Sledge.
Writers and prop teams are clearly dipping deep into the games’ iconography; IGN’s breakdown of episode three lists two dozen game-specific easter eggs that tie character, faction and item design back to New Vegas and earlier entries. Those details make the show rewarding whether you’re a veteran courier or a series newcomer.
How many Fallout games are there — and where do they sit in the timeline?
Short answer: a lot. Most roundups count at least nine released titles across main entries and spin-offs: Fallout 1 & 2 (the originals), Fallout Tactics, Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel (console spinoff), Fallout 3, New Vegas, Fallout 4, Fallout 76, and mobile/management hit Fallout Shelter. Bethesda has also confirmed Fallout 5 is greenlit, though it’s not on any immediate release schedule.
If you prefer playing the story in-universe chronological order rather than release order, modern guides place Fallout 76 at the start (it’s set in 2102), followed by the classic CRPGs, then Fallout 3 (2277), New Vegas (2281), and Fallout 4 (2287). Different outlets sometimes present this ordering slightly differently, but starting with Fallout 76 gives you the earliest-in-universe snapshot of the postwar recovery.
Where to start playing (and what to prioritise)
If you’ve only got time for one pick while season two leans on New Vegas lore, play Fallout: New Vegas. It’s widely regarded as the series’ richest role‑playing experience and directly informs much of season two’s worldbuilding. If you want the roots of the franchise, try Fallout 1 and 2 — they’re older, isometric CRPGs with the original tone and dark humour.
For newcomers who want modern mechanics and an easier on‑ramp, Fallout 3 and Fallout 4 are the most accessible. If you like sharing the experience online, Fallout 76 has become a surprisingly content-rich option since the Wastelanders update.
Obsidian — the studio that made New Vegas — has heard the calls for a follow-up, but as they've said, their focus is on other projects right now; fans can read coverage on those developer priorities in context at Obsidian’s community reporting and commentary (/news/obsidian-original-ip-over-new-vegas).
Deals, platforms and portable play
Good timing: the franchise often gets discounts whenever the show hits TV. Right now you can find steep sales across storefronts like Steam, GOG and PC retailers — bundles for the classics and Game of the Year editions for Fallout 3, New Vegas and Fallout 4 drop frequently. Fallout titles are also available on Xbox Game Pass, which is a great way to try several entries cheaply.
If you want to play on the go, the Steam Deck remains a strong portable option for many Bethesda titles, and recent handheld-friendly updates make longer sessions more convenient — a handy read if you plan to binge the games between episodes (/news/steam-deck-display-off-downloads).
Prefer a console experience? The current generation is well‑suited to Fallout’s open worlds; the new PlayStation hardware is an option for console players — search for a PlayStation 5 Pro if you’re thinking of upgrading your setup.
A few nitty-gritty tips
- If you care about story consequences, play New Vegas before Fallout 4 — they sit differently on the timeline and deliver very different faction politics.
- Want the authentic look and feel? Play the originals (1 & 2) for the isometric, choice-heavy flavour.
- Watch the show with the games in mind: small props (a flag variant, a piece of armour, a brand of soda) often signal which parts of the lore the writers are mining.
Whether you’re revisiting the Mojave or stepping into it for the first time, Season 2 has become a live guidebook — one that rewards players who know where to look. Crack open a bottle of Sunset Sarsaparilla, queue up an episode, and let the easter eggs lead you back to the games.