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Fallout 2

94%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
graphics, stability
94% User Score Based on 5,878 reviews

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PCMac OSWindows
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About

Fallout 2 is a single-player, comedy open-world RPG set in post-nuclear California. As the Chosen One, you'll explore a vast world filled with diverse tribes, factions, and civilizations in a quest to find the Garden of Eden Creation Kit. The game offers turn-based tactical combat, branching dialogue trees, and an awesome soundtrack. Despite some bugs and grinding, the delightful atmosphere, humor, and high replayability make it a must-play.

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Fallout 2 screenshot
Fallout 2 screenshot
Fallout 2 screenshot
Fallout 2 screenshot
Fallout 2 screenshot
Fallout 2 screenshot
Fallout 2 screenshot
Fallout 2 screenshot
Fallout 2 screenshot
Fallout 2 screenshot
Fallout 2 screenshot
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94%
Audience ScoreBased on 5,878 reviews
story451 positive mentions
stability96 negative mentions
  • story
    1,239 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of Fallout 2 is widely praised for its depth, humor, and engaging narrative, continuing the legacy of its predecessor while expanding the world and character interactions. Players appreciate the branching storylines and the impact of their choices, which can lead to multiple endings and varied quest outcomes. However, some critiques highlight that the main quest can feel less focused compared to the first game, with a mix of compelling side quests that often overshadow the primary storyline. Overall, the game is celebrated for its rich storytelling and immersive world, making it a classic in the RPG genre.

    • “The story of Fallout 2 is engrossing, especially for those who played the original or for those who have wondered about Fallout's more foundational lore.”
    • “The story is genuinely insane, like I wasn't expecting it to be so good (due to its age I expected a bit of corniness) but I felt genuine connections to these dumb pixels with such little visual detail.”
    • “Fallout 2 is a masterpiece in world building and giving weight to the player's actions, and everything you do really does tie into other branching storylines.”
    • “The only problem I have with it is the overall main story doesn't really go anywhere until the very end and the tone is very inconsistent.”
    • “The story is mostly a rehash of Fallout 1's story, but much worse.”
    • “While there are still some characters and quests that suffered from the rapid production cycle the game had to go through, the writing of the characters is still a step up from the original Fallout.”
  • gameplay
    542 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Fallout 2 is often described as dated and challenging, with many players noting its turn-based combat and isometric perspective as a significant departure from modern gaming standards. While some find the mechanics frustrating and clunky, others appreciate the depth and complexity they offer, particularly in character development and decision-making. Overall, the game is praised for its rich storytelling and immersive world, but potential players should be prepared for a steep learning curve and a gameplay style that may not appeal to everyone.

    • “It has enticing characters, a compelling story, and some brutally hard but enjoyable gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is archaic like Fallout 1, but unlike the streamlined first game, Fallout 2 added many useless skills, unnecessarily bloating the already massive list of skills.”
    • “Once you actually get going in Fallout 2, you will feel glued to your screen, by the story alone; the dated gameplay is completely outshone by the story.”
    • “Yes, unfortunately the gameplay is so bad in this game it really sinks the whole experience, even for a game from 1998.”
    • “An impressive world throttled by a poor gameplay loop that leaves your victories up to chance over any skill or thought.”
    • “The gameplay is archaic like Fallout 1 (which was already old-fashioned when it came out), but unlike the streamlined first game, Fallout 2 added many useless skills, unnecessarily bloating the already massive list of skills.”
  • graphics
    285 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of Fallout 2 are widely regarded as outdated, reflecting its 1998 release, with many players noting their pixelated and isometric style. While some appreciate the nostalgic charm and artistic design, others find the visuals difficult to engage with, especially when compared to modern standards. Despite these graphical limitations, many reviewers emphasize that the game's rich storytelling and gameplay more than compensate for its visual shortcomings, making it a classic worth experiencing.

    • “The pixelated characters and environments give the game a certain charm that just can't be replicated by modern-day graphics.”
    • “Considering its age, Fallout 2's graphics hold up surprisingly well.”
    • “The isometric 2D visuals are detailed and well-designed, with a wide variety of environments and character models to explore.”
    • “The graphics are plain awful as well.”
    • “The graphics may be outdated, but the gameplay and writing more than make up for it.”
    • “The graphics are old, even for the time.”
  • humor
    251 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in Fallout 2 is a standout feature, characterized by its dark, edgy, and often absurd comedic elements that blend seamlessly with the game's post-apocalyptic setting. Players appreciate the witty dialogue, pop culture references, and the ability to engage in morally questionable actions, all while navigating a world filled with bizarre and humorous quests. However, some critiques note that the humor can be hit-or-miss, with certain jokes feeling dated or overly reliant on sophomoric themes, which may not resonate with all players. Overall, the game's unique blend of humor and storytelling contributes significantly to its charm and replayability.

    • “The conversations you have with them are both hilarious and informative.”
    • “It's like you're living in a world where everyone has a sense of humor, even in the face of certain death.”
    • “Man, what a journey, the second installment of the Fallout series is filled with dark humor, pop culture references, lots of wacky (and extremely well-made) quests and overall one of the best games I've ever had the joy to play!”
    • “The game is so goddamn unfunny; for some reason, the designers thought 1,000,000,000 references to pop culture in the 80s was a good substitute for the dark humor of the first game.”
    • “The story is uninspired and absurd, there are typos and grammatical errors everywhere, and it makes constant attempts at reference humor that come across as nothing but aggressively unfunny.”
    • “I often get tired of when my friend Igor keeps saying the same unfunny jokes over and over again, so to combat that, I play this.”
  • atmosphere
    141 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of Fallout 2 is widely praised for its rich, immersive world that blends dark humor with a post-apocalyptic setting, creating a unique tone that distinguishes it from its predecessor. While some players prefer the more oppressive atmosphere of Fallout 1, many appreciate the depth, character variety, and engaging storytelling that Fallout 2 offers, enhanced by a haunting soundtrack and detailed environments. Overall, the game successfully captures the essence of the Fallout universe, providing a compelling atmosphere that resonates with fans.

    • “The atmosphere, writing, characters, companions, voice acting, gameplay, strategy, humor, are perfection, pure and simple, and it will leave you thinking about it for days after you beat it, I know I did.”
    • “A haunting ambient soundtrack sublimates its unique atmosphere, from the nostalgia of Modoc to the ominous lure of New Reno.”
    • “The atmosphere is so powerful - alternately depressing, creepy, hilarious, and desolate.”
    • “Even though they are working with a limited color palette, the graphics seem to squeeze out every shade of gray and brown available to create a truly oppressive atmosphere.”
    • “I found Fallout 2 to be much weaker than its predecessor and many of the great things that were in Fallout 1, like its bleak atmosphere and harsh world, have been replaced by lame jokes and pop culture references.”
    • “The atmosphere from Fallout 1 - haunting, chilling, and depressing (which is backed by an absolutely incredible OST) - is present here, although I'd say Fallout 1 still wins in this department.”
  • music
    111 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, with many praising the soundtrack as a significant enhancement over its predecessor. While some tracks are reused, they fit well within the game's context, and new compositions have been highlighted as particularly brilliant. Overall, the soundtrack effectively complements the game's narrative and setting, contributing to a memorable and engaging experience.

    • “The music in this game is fantastic and it always gives me the proper apocalyptic vibe.”
    • “The soundtrack, atmosphere, voice acting, story, and sound design make this game so memorable and a blast to play!”
    • “The ambient soundtrack sets the tone for everything.”
    • “The music grows very tiring, and the visuals become a chore to look at due to lack of variation in color and tone.”
    • “Music tracks don't play properly, leaving most areas of the game near-silent.”
    • “4/10 garbage soundtrack and decent enough story.”
  • stability
    99 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of the game is widely criticized, with numerous users reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and glitches that can significantly hinder gameplay. Many recommend saving often to mitigate the impact of these issues, and while some players find the game enjoyable despite its flaws, the overall consensus is that it suffers from a buggy engine that detracts from the experience. Despite the charm and depth of the game, its technical shortcomings are a persistent source of frustration for players.

    • “Just like the original, a very polished game with few to no glitches.”
    • “Runs great on new systems, plays well, and has aged like fine wine.”
    • “Classic, mostly bug-free experience.”
    • “The game is buggy, might crash; I recommend saving often.”
    • “It crashes frequently, freezes often, is unplayable in windowed mode, saves corrupt frequently; the list goes on.”
    • “While it's not as heavily bugged, Fallout 2 has some really buggy moments that can affect the way one plays and completes quests.”
  • replayability
    68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Fallout 2 is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, attributed to its extensive character customization, branching storylines, and meaningful choices that significantly impact gameplay. Players appreciate the game's depth, variety of builds, and the numerous ways to approach quests, making it feel almost infinitely replayable. Despite some limitations in the ending, the overall consensus is that the game offers a rich and engaging experience that encourages multiple playthroughs.

    • “This game really does have infinite replay value due to the depth of the world, insane character customization which leads to all the different ways of solving quests, and actions having meaningful consequences.”
    • “Fallout 2 is the real deal when it comes to roleplaying, and its open-ended nature makes it far more replayable than the average game of the genre.”
    • “Crazy how a game that's nearly 20 years old has more content and replayability than our AAA titles today, but it has to be seen to be believed.”
    • “Very replayable in many aspects except the very ending of the story, which ties your hands and forces you down very similar paths.”
    • “The replayability of this game is endless.”
    • “Even if you have completed this game a number of times before, this adds a tremendous replay value.”
  • grinding
    60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and time-consuming, often leading to frustration among players. Many reviews highlight the slow-paced combat, excessive random encounters, and the need for repetitive grinding to progress, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game. While some players appreciate the nostalgic elements and storytelling, the overwhelming sentiment is that the grinding mechanics can make the experience feel arduous and unenjoyable.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Among other things, the inventory menu isn't tedious to use, you can now trade money in sums containing five figures, and you have much greater control over your companions' battle tactics/equipment.”
    • “I really want to like it, but playing this game through was one of the most tedious, arduous, tiring, and mood-ruining experiences I've ever had with a video game.”
    • “The quests are somewhat enjoyable, although once the map starts to get bigger, it starts to get tedious because it takes a while to get between places and there are too many random encounters typically ending in your death.”
    • “An amazing story wrapped in an imaginative narrative hamstrung by irritatingly, needlessly difficult and tedious gameplay.”
  • emotional
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of Fallout 2 is highlighted by its ability to evoke a wide range of feelings, from laughter to deep sadness, as players engage with its impactful story and character-driven narratives. Many reviewers noted the game's thought-provoking dialogue and the weight of player choices, which foster a strong emotional connection to the world and its inhabitants. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to create a haunting yet rewarding experience that resonates with players long after they finish.

    • “Where do I even start: the graphics, used sparingly but effectively; the music, ominously absent; the story, heart-wrenching and I yet couldn't look away; the open world, some of the best and most subtle world building in gaming history.”
    • “The reason Fallout 2 remains my second favorite game of all time (behind New Vegas) is that it manages to be a game that brings up ideological questions, gets you emotionally attached to characters, and has you make important choices with actual consequences.”
    • “Finally, the story is very emotional if you take the time to delve into the characters and their stories.”
  • character development
    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews highlight that the game excels in character development, offering a captivating story and extensive customization options that allow players to shape their characters both morally and skill-wise. Many players appreciate the depth and freedom of character progression, which enhances the overall gameplay experience, despite some minor bugs and limitations in character backgrounds. Overall, the combination of engaging storytelling and robust character development is a standout feature that resonates with fans of classic games.

    • “I love classic games, character development, storytelling, and this game has all of that and more.”
    • “Countless possibilities for character development in any direction you like, both on a skill level and on a moral level.”
    • “It has the perfect combination of character development and story with the usual dark humor.”
    • “My only major complaint is that your character is of tribal origins, which limits some character development/backgrounds for the unimaginative (me).”
    • “Allows a freedom of character development that later Fallout games lack.”
    • “Gameplay is identical to the first with updated character development and skill trees.”
  • optimization
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant stuttering and performance issues, particularly on modern PCs and non-Steam versions. While many users report smooth performance exceeding 60fps after initial hiccups, others struggle with bugs and framerate drops, indicating that additional effort may be required to achieve optimal performance. Overall, the game's performance can vary widely depending on hardware and installation method.

    • “They run smoothly on most computers and have very few issues.”
    • “It does take a little bit of extra work to get it optimized to run on modern machines, though (if you're not buying it through Steam or GOG).”
    • “Smooth and crisp transitions between areas, depending on hardware performance.”
    • “It has a really slow performance and there are stuttering problems, after that absolute banger of a game.”
    • “I must warn you, that at least on a modern PC and Windows 10, this title also has its fair share of bugs and performance issues.”
    • “My only complaint is the performance issues from the Bethesda version and framerate drops.”
  • monetization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviewers express a nostalgic sentiment, noting that earlier game developers prioritized narrative and storytelling over monetization strategies and photorealistic graphics. This focus on engaging content is seen as a more effective form of advertisement compared to modern monetization schemes.

    • “Back in the days, developers weren't focused on photorealistic graphics or concealed schemes for monetizing the game. Instead, they emphasized the narrative and the story, and that proved to be the best advertisement there could ever be.”
    • “The monetization model feels exploitative, as it prioritizes profit over player experience, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
    • “It's frustrating to see a game that could be great bogged down by aggressive monetization tactics that push players to spend more just to keep up.”
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31h Median play time
68h Average play time
30h Main story
84h Completionist
7-60h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 22 analyzed playthroughs
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