Fallout Shelter

86%
Game Brain Score Based on 28,922 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • monetization
Fallout Shelter Game Cover
Fallout Shelter works best when played as a mobile game- get too addicted to it, and its lack of endgame, and shallowness of mechanics make themselves apparent, and start to create problems.
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"Fallout Shelter" is a free simulation game set in the "Fallout" universe. As the overseer, you build and manage a vault, guiding its dwellers to survive and thrive in a post-apocalyptic world. Balance resource production, happiness, and safety to expand your vault and protect your citizens from the dangers of the wasteland.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Android
  • Cloud
  • Mobile Platform
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

86%
Audience ScoreBased on 28,922 reviews
story325 positive mentions
monetization153 negative mentions
  • story1,897 mentions

    The story aspect of "Fallout Shelter" is generally viewed as minimal and lacking depth, with many players noting that the game primarily focuses on resource management and gameplay mechanics rather than a compelling narrative. While quests add some variety and humor, they often feel repetitive and lack significant storytelling, serving mainly as a means to gather resources and items. Overall, the game is more about managing a vault and completing tasks than delivering a rich, engaging story experience.

    • “With its diverse cast of characters and engaging storytelling, this game offers a unique and inclusive gaming experience that resonates with players on a personal level.”
    • “The addition of quests and exploration missions outside the vault gives the game more depth and variety, keeping the experience fresh and exciting.”
    • “The quests are fun, with daily, weekly, and special event quests providing additional goals and rewards, encouraging players to continue managing and expanding their vault.”
    • “The quests are a disgrace to any Fallout spirit whatsoever; the Fallout series is a masterpiece in the post-nuclear genre, being dark and hopeless, the wasteland is a harsh place, there are ideologies (Enclave, Brotherhood of Steel, etc.), fight for survival degrades any morale there is left after the nukes fell down.”
    • “The story is extremely minimal; you are the overseer of a vault, and your job is to build and maintain your vault.”
    • “The quests have little to no story so not for story fans.”
  • gameplay1,183 mentions

    The gameplay of *Fallout Shelter* is characterized by its addictive resource management and base-building mechanics, appealing to both casual gamers and fans of the Fallout series. While the game offers a charming aesthetic and engaging mechanics, many players find the gameplay repetitive and hindered by time-based mechanics and microtransactions, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite its simplicity and occasional frustrations, the game remains a fun and accessible option for those looking for a light, idle gaming experience.

    • “Even without knowing about the experiments back then, I loved the mix of gameplay elements—balancing resources, protecting dwellers, and sending them out into the wasteland for loot.”
    • “Initially launched as a mobile game, it has won over a broad audience thanks to its accessible gameplay, polished aesthetics, and strategic depth.”
    • “The core gameplay loop is easy to understand - as new citizens are born or recruited into your vault, you must dig into a mountain to construct living quarters for them to sleep, as well as water treatment plants and cafeterias to produce their food and water, and power plants to keep all these factories operating.”
    • “The gameplay is also pretty boring, but if you like sitting around and watching NPCs doing stuff and trying to kill everyone, it's good.”
    • “The game quickly devolves into a monotonous cycle of resource management and room expansion, lacking depth and variety in gameplay elements.”
    • “The gameplay is incredibly basic and lacks depth, leading to a loss of interest within just an hour of playing.”
  • monetization744 mentions

    The monetization model of "Fallout Shelter" has drawn mixed reviews, with many players noting the presence of microtransactions that can enhance gameplay but are not strictly necessary for progression. While some appreciate the optional nature of these purchases, others criticize the game for its grindy mechanics and perceived pressure to spend money to advance more quickly. Overall, the game is seen as a typical free-to-play title, where microtransactions exist but do not dominate the experience, allowing players to enjoy the game without spending real money if they are willing to invest time.

    • “Respectful monetization.”
    • “While optional in-app purchases for lunchboxes exist, they do not feel necessary for natural gameplay.”
    • “The game has in-app purchases but can be played and fully enjoyed without spending a dime on it.”
    • “Incredibly grindy, so many in-game purchases (it is a comedic amount), and so unbelievably bad; Bethesda at its worst.”
    • “The game's reliance on in-app purchases for progression undermines the sense of achievement and accomplishment, turning what should be a rewarding experience into a paywall-ridden grind.”
    • “It could have been a fun game, but it's too slow, and accelerating is hindered by a monstrous paywall of horrid microtransactions.”
  • graphics591 mentions

    The graphics of "Fallout Shelter" are widely praised for their charming, cartoonish art style that effectively captures the retro-futuristic aesthetic of the Fallout universe. While some players note minor graphical glitches and a lack of detail in animations, the overall visual presentation is considered appealing and well-suited for both casual gamers and fans of the series. The game's simplistic yet polished graphics contribute to its accessibility and enjoyment, making it a delightful experience for players.

    • “The game adopts the characteristic aesthetic of Fallout, with a charming retro-futuristic design and smooth animations.”
    • “Charming visuals: the game features charming, cartoonish visuals that capture the retro-futuristic aesthetic of the Fallout universe.”
    • “The graphics are visually stunning, with every corner of your vault being meticulously designed.”
    • “This is a great game on paper, however the visuals are so buggy and under-optimized.”
    • “The controls are inaccurate, the graphics are pretty lackluster and the sound monotonous.”
    • “It promises more than it really delivers, gameplay is long and boring (for most of the time all you can do is sit and wait for something to happen...), graphics are not what one would expect from Fallout.”
  • grinding379 mentions

    The grinding aspect of Fallout Shelter is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and time-consuming, especially in the later stages of the game. Many players find the need for constant resource management and the slow progression to be frustrating, often leading to a repetitive experience that feels more like a chore than enjoyable gameplay. While some appreciate the game's addictive nature and the satisfaction of grinding for achievements, the overwhelming sentiment is that it requires significant time investment, often prompting players to consider microtransactions to alleviate the grind.

    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “One long, tedious grind.”
    • “Not tedious like some other games.”
    • “Incredibly grindy, so many in-game purchases (it is a comedic amount), and so unbelievably bad; Bethesda at its worst.”
    • “Progression in Fallout Shelter is marred by tedious and time-consuming mechanics that feel more like a chore than an enjoyable gaming experience.”
    • “The whole game is designed to waste your time in a parasitic predatory manner, making you feel the pressure to spend real money to speed this tedious experience up.”
  • humor330 mentions

    The humor in "Fallout Shelter" is a standout feature, characterized by its dark, quirky, and often absurd comedic elements that resonate with fans of the Fallout franchise. Players appreciate the witty dialogue, humorous character interactions, and the amusing scenarios that unfold within the game, all of which enhance the overall experience. While the humor is generally well-received, some players note that it can become repetitive over time, but the game's charm and lightheartedness keep it engaging.

    • “The humorous dialogue and interactions add personality and charm to the game, enhancing the overall experience.”
    • “The game's charming cartoonish art style and quirky humor are delightful, and the constant stream of tasks and challenges kept me hooked for hours.”
    • “From the witty banter of the vault dwellers to the humorous incidents that occur within the vault, every moment is filled with personality and character, making it a joy to play.”
    • “This is so unfunny, why did I comment this?”
    • “Not funny at all.”
  • stability163 mentions

    The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous users reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and various glitches that significantly hinder gameplay. Many players have experienced issues such as corrupted save files and unresponsive controls, particularly on PC, leading to frustration and a lack of confidence in the game's reliability. While some users find enjoyment in the game despite these problems, the overall consensus is that it suffers from severe stability issues that detract from the experience.

    • “It's the best game ever; no glitches or anything! I even played it on my iPad!”
    • “Thus far, I have found no glitches and still have so much to do.”
    • “The game runs great on it, Windows 7.”
    • “My experience was buggy, no vsync, no support.”
    • “The game is so interesting with so much stuff to do I am very surprised that it's free actually... but it's a bit buggy with clicks on PC, the flamethrower does not even work on incidents.”
    • “It's a good game but it's very buggy and it crashes often.”
  • music149 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its nostalgic 1950s vibe, effectively complementing the Fallout aesthetic and enhancing the overall atmosphere. However, some players find certain tracks, particularly those associated with specific characters, to be repetitive or annoying over extended play sessions. While the soundtrack is enjoyable and immersive, there are calls for more variety and options to customize the audio experience.

    • “The soundtrack, filled with catchy tunes reminiscent of the 1950s, perfectly complements the game's atmosphere, though it can become repetitive during extended play sessions.”
    • “The music doesn't try to overwhelm the player, and most of the background noise isn't annoying.”
    • “The character designs and animations are charming, and the sound design complements the game's atmosphere with the iconic Fallout soundtrack and sound effects.”
    • “As for the music, it's practically non-existent, which is bad, because Fallout is known for its music, after all.”
    • “Minus 69 points for their respective music becoming annoying after 50+ hours.”
    • “The annoying circus music of Bottle and Cappy can't be turned off without hurting the experience.”
  • replayability63 mentions

    Fallout Shelter exhibits a mixed reception regarding replayability. While many players praise its charm, addictive gameplay, and randomized events that enhance replay value, others criticize the game for lacking long-term content and depth, leading to diminished replayability after initial play. Overall, it is seen as a fun experience with potential for replay, but it may not sustain interest for extended periods without significant updates or new content.

    • “One of Fallout Shelter's greatest strengths lies in its replay value.”
    • “Fallout Shelter successfully translates the essence of the Fallout universe into a compelling mobile-to-PC experience, offering addictive gameplay, charming visuals, and endless replayability.”
    • “The game's replay value is high, with randomized events, room upgrades, and dweller customization options.”
    • “Empty game, fun for about 10 to 15 hours max. No replay value, no additions to the game, no updates.”
    • “Once players have mastered the basic mechanics, there is not much else to discover or explore, leading to a lack of long-term replayability.”
    • “There is very little replay value once you get past the initial unlockings (which you can accomplish in a day if you try).”
  • optimization55 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, particularly on PC, where it is described as poorly optimized and prone to stuttering and crashes. While some users note that it runs smoothly on mobile devices and certain platforms, the overall consensus indicates that the game struggles with optimization, especially as the complexity of gameplay increases. Despite its appealing visuals and mechanics, the lack of proper optimization detracts from the experience for many players.

    • “Finally, the game runs smoothly on most gaming systems and it's free!”
    • “Game is well optimized and runs smoothly.”
    • “Higher frame rates, short load times, easy controls, low performance impact, and general ease of use make me want to keep playing it.”
    • “Very poorly optimized for PC.”
    • “The game client unfortunately suffers from horrendous performance issues.”
    • “This game is a horrible phone port that is not optimized for the PC at all.”
  • atmosphere36 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and nostalgic qualities, effectively capturing the charm of the Fallout universe through polished graphics, cartoonish animations, and a fitting retro soundtrack. Players appreciate the vibrant environments and the ability to build and explore, which enhance the overall experience, although some note that the soundtrack can become repetitive over time. Overall, the game successfully blends fun gameplay with a captivating atmosphere that resonates with fans of the series.

    • “I also appreciate the game's simple yet polished graphics and the familiar Fallout charm, from the cartoonish animations to the atmospheric sound effects.”
    • “The soundtrack, filled with catchy tunes reminiscent of the 1950s, perfectly complements the game's atmosphere, though it can become repetitive during extended play sessions.”
    • “The retro-inspired graphics, with their vibrant colors and playful animations, create a unique and nostalgic atmosphere.”
    • “Not real keen on the atmosphere of these ghouls and zombies type games due to its mostly non-eye candy scenes.”
    • “Although we have bright visuals, the game retains the fallout atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is cute and comical (even deathclaws) and the script is corny.”
  • emotional30 mentions

    Players express a profound emotional connection to the game's narrative and characters, often leading to intense feelings of sadness and attachment, particularly during moments of loss. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke tears and deep investment in the story, while some also note the emotional turmoil caused by gameplay mechanics that can lead to frustration and heartbreak. Overall, the emotional experience is described as both captivating and, at times, overwhelming.

    • “Players are invited to delve into a narrative rich with emotional depth and compelling character development, creating an experience that is both captivating and thought-provoking.”
    • “There is such a wholesome feeling about it, caring for these pixels so much that when my first character died, I was actually sad.”
    • “I've never been so emotionally invested in a game's story before.”
  • character development13 mentions

    Character development in the game is highlighted as a strong point, with players forming deep connections to well-crafted characters through engaging narratives and emotional depth. While the game features charming animations and distinctive designs, it lacks the rich storytelling found in core Fallout titles, focusing instead on a blend of strategy and character progression. Overall, the character development is praised for enhancing the gameplay experience, making it both captivating and thought-provoking.

    • “Players are invited to delve into a narrative rich with emotional depth and compelling character development, creating an experience that is both captivating and thought-provoking.”
    • “The character development in this game is so well-crafted; you really connect with them.”
    • “The game combines character development and storytelling with a tightly-strategized management game.”
    • “The character development in this game is so poorly executed that it feels like a missed opportunity to create deeper connections with the characters.”
    • “The game's character development lacks depth, making it hard to feel invested in the characters' journeys.”
    • “Character development is minimal, and the interactions feel superficial, leaving players wanting more substance.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

63% average critic score

Buy Fallout Shelter

Play time

47hMedian play time
69hAverage play time
17hMain story
89hCompletionist
12-100hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 136 analyzed playthroughs

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