This is Objection Network’s countdown of the top 25 video game series of all-time. We’re counting down to the best franchise ever on March 31. For more info on the voting process, click here.

15) Fallout (3 votes, 94 points)

Chris: I have a lot of borderline hoarding in my genes, and it’s never been more apparent than when I played Fallout 3.

I mean, picking up as many things as possible in an RPG isn’t exactly unique. But I’m obsessive about this stuff. Optional items laying on the ground, like in Tales of Berseria or Blue Dragon? Best believe I’m gonna grab every one of those suckers. Tantalizing possessions left unsecured in your house, like in Skyrim or Legend of Zelda? Those are mine now, and thank you for the donation.

Fallout was different because of its motif. It’s one thing to put my hands on everything in sight for enjoyment or profit; it’s another entirely when the world is a wasteland and survival is king. Now I’m rooting through trash cans looking for anything of value, yoinking battlecaps off of dead super mutants and constantly pushing my carrying capacity to the max. To some, that process would be tedious; I actually enjoyed it.

Bathesda might be the king of open-world experiences, particularly in its more recent titles (3, New Vegas, 4). There’s always a new area to explore or an interesting sidequest to pick up — or you can ignore all of that and plunge down the main storyline. Before that, Fallout 1 and 2 featured sharp writing and surprisingly engaging turn-based combat.

Even though 4 was considered a bit of a disappointment, particularly from folks who enjoyed the more heavy role-playing aspects of New Vegas, it was still a good game in its own right. Now the question becomes where the series goes next. I guess we’ll find out in about 2020 or so — assuming an actual apocalypse hasn’t happened before then.

Shaun: My immersion in Fallout is directly related to character progression. The dense world waiting to be explored, the interesting side characters, the captivating side quests (which are normally better than the main quests): these are all great, but what keeps me hooked is earning those levels, seeing how I get strong, and adding more of the addictive perks, slowly building to a place where, like a damn Terminator robot, I can walk into an enemy encampment, slaughter all those foolish enough to engage me, and take what is rightfully mine.

“Remember me, from the Vault? How your level 3 dogs ripped me to shreds? Well, today is a new day, and now it’s my turn to sic my dogs on you, except my dogs are this revolver, and it’s time….oh your head just exploded. Damn, sorry. I guess I don’t know my own strength.”

-Quote from Dibbi, Vault survivor and current Ruler Supreme of the Wasteland

Cary: Fallout 4 was my first foray into this beloved series, and it was a mistake. Not that it was a bad game – it wasn’t, and it still isn’t for all the millions still playing it – but I found it a little overwhelming and intimidating. Though I tried to venture into the Commonwealth, I never really got past building my own settlement. Thank goodness a friend encouraged me to pick up Fallout: New Vegas in its wake, because it is one hell of a goddamn good game. That game really hit all the right notes – it had a tighter and more interesting story, great companions, choices that felt like they mattered, and a beautiful if desolate desert environment. Since then, I’ve also gotten into Fallout 3, which isn’t as good as New Vegas, but it’s still been really enjoyable so far.

Bethesda knows how to make a good RPG. It’d be nice to see a bit more difference between the environmental assets in each game (I swear that the same set of burnt out trailers is in each game), but that I can forgive against the inclusion of some great mechanics and the excellent VATS system. However, can I just say GLITCHES? Damn if the series just isn’t full of ‘em.

RELATED LINKS:
(16) Persona
(17) Tales
(18) Saints Row
(19) BioShock
(20) The Sims
(21) Grand Theft Auto
(22) Halo
(23) Animal Crossing
(24) Silent Hill
(25) Donkey Kong
#50-26
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