Bethesda may make some one-of-a-kind experiences, but there are plenty of games like Fallout for us to enjoy. So, if you're getting your Wasteland fix with the recent release of Amazon's Fallout season 2 TV show, have recently replayed Fallout 4, or are anxiously waiting for Fallout 5 to launch, don't worry, we've listed the 10 best games that will scratch that RPG itch in the meantime.
Below you'll find some of the best RPG games that will make you forget the rad-filled dystopia as you find your bearings, and some of the best action games around for all you apocalyptic shotgun enthusiasts as well. This list prioritizes awesome adventures with fantastic worlds, fun combat systems, and unique character customization options – making sure you get everything that you love about Bethesda's series all in one neat little package. So what are you waiting for? Lose a few hundred hours in one of the best games like Fallout to play today.
The best games like Fallout to play today, starting with...
10. The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
Developer: Bethesda
Platform(s): PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2
The obvious go-to choice if you're after something similar to the Fallout experience is undoubtedly Skyrim. Also made by Bethesda, the Elder Scrolls series is like a fantasy take on the Fallout open-world formula, and it has a lot of similar combat and RPG elements that will make you feel right at home. As the legendary figure known as the Dragonborn, you're thrown into an epic adventure throughout the lands of Tamriel to stop the dragons who have started resurrecting back to life and returning to the skies.
With civil strife, expansive areas to explore, secrets to uncover, and endless quests to work through, you'll sink just as many hours into it as you did in Fallout. Skyrim is also rich in lore and can be a nice break from the bleak, radiated Wastelands. Instead of super mutants and Deathclaws, you'll face bears, dragurs, and, of course, plenty of dragons. Oh, and the sweet rolls are a lot more appetizing in Elder Scrolls with no rads to speak of. Yummy.
Read our Skyrim Special Edition review
9. The Outer Worlds
Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
Platform(s): PC, Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch
The Outer Worlds is published by Private Division and developed by Obsidian Entertainment, the latter of which is also responsible for 2010's Fallout: New Vegas. With this DNA, and as a first-person action-adventure game, The Outer Worlds feels very Bethesda/Fallout-flavoured and is set in an alternate future ruled by civil unrest, warring factions, and autocratic megacorporations.
With a sci-fi bent, The Outer Worlds sees this particular dysfunctional society colonizing in space and terraforming alien planets. It's a lot of fun, and we'd also recommend diving into its sequel, The Outer Worlds 2, after you've played this one.
Read our The Outer Worlds review
8. Horizon Zero Dawn
Developer: Guerrilla
Platform(s): PS5, PS4, PC
Guerrilla's unique take on the post-apocalypse in Horizon Zero Dawn is far less bleak than the various Wasteland settings you traverse through in Fallout, but it still has just as much intrigue, lore, and stellar storytelling to tuck into. The gorgeous vistas are inhabited by advanced machines that look like all manner of prehistoric creatures. You play as Aloy, a machine hunter who sets out to uncover her true origin and unravel the secrets that litter the landscapes.
Just like in Fallout, where you encounter different inhabitants in settlements around the world, you’ll meet many tribes and encampments filled with interesting characters and side quests. And if you’re a fan of exploration, you’ll enjoy exploring the snowy peaks and grassy fields and diving into the Cauldrons, which are not a million miles away from opening up a vault you’ve yet to explore. The combat is a little different, but you can modify your weapons and take different tactical approaches to best the robot dinosaurs.
Read our Horizon Zero Dawn review
7. Metro Exodus
Developer: 4A Games
Platform(s): PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One,
Metro Exodus is the Metro video game based on Dmitry Glukhovsky's novels of the same name, and takes place one year after the events of the first game, Metro: Last Light. Here, the year 2035 and this post-apocalypse portrays the most likely version of the doomsday scenario: nuclear war.
Filling the shoes of series protagonist Artyom once more, Exodus tasks the player with leaving the Moscow Metro subway encampment and setting off on a continent-roving journey east to hook up with some long-lost allies. Expect some pretty vicious company en route, as Artyom does battle with scores of irradiated creatures, disgruntled human survivors, and the harshest of elements amid nuclear winter.
Read our Metro Exodus review
6. Red Dead Redemption 2
Developer: Rockstar
Platform(s): PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One
The Mojave Desert in Fallout: New Vegas isn't a million miles away from the world you'll gallop across in Red Dead Redemption 2. While it's not set after any apocalypse, exploring the Wild West promises to deliver a lot of adventures as outlaw Arthur Morgan, who's part of the Van Der Linde gang. In its massive open world, you'll have a lot of opportunities to go off the beaten track and play out your journey however you want.
With exploration, numerous activities that play out like mini-games, side quests, and a pretty engrossing main storyline, this is another time-stealer that will keep you occupied and then some. There's also lots of slow-mo shooting opportunities, so if you love using your VATS, you might get a kick out of the gun-slinging Dead Eye action. When you've had your fill of Nuka-Cola, and you're ready for a taste of something different - like some good old-fashioned saloon whiskey - you can grab your best cowboy hat and saddle up for a different kind of adventure.
Read our Red Dead Redemption 2 review
5. Cyberpunk 2077
Developer: CD Projekt Red
Platform(s): PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, Switch 2
Cyberpunk 2077 is a great feat in open-world design that's deep and brimming with detail. The term 'living, breathing world' has become a bit of a cliche when it comes to open-world games, but when it works, Cyberpunk's Night City is a jungle packed with mystery and drama, satisfying side quests, and interesting characters.
With splashes of stealth, full-blown firefighting, hacking, and a generous helping of dystopia, there's plenty here for Fallout fans – assuming your hardware is up to it. Cyberpunk 2077 may have had a rocky launch, but it's getting better all the time and is well worth your time!
Read our Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty review
4. The Division 2
Developer: Ubisoft
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One
Tom Clancy's The Division 2 is an online-only action RPG that drops players into a world on the brink of collapse. A virus named 'the green poison' is the culprit for said apocalyptic end-of-days scenario, and saving the world in this instance involves loads and loads of third-person cover shooting.
Building upon the foundations laid by its forerunner, The Division 2 has a clear focus on looting, akin to the likes of Diablo and Destiny, but its RPG mechanics and firefights are more than enough to excite the fans of Fallout among us.
Read our The Division 2 review
3. Mad Max
Developer: Avalanche
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One
Mad Max is another open-world adventure that takes place in a post-apocalyptic setting. While its story might be a little thin on the ground, and the voice acting isn't nearly as good as that of Fallout 4, the desert wastelands set the scene for some very fun vehicular combat. The combat mechanics differ from that of Fallout and consist of fight sequences where you have to hit the counters in time, as well as putting a focus on smashing and crashing your car in mad highway clashes with enemy groups throughout the many regions.
You can still get your exploration fix in this wasteland, though. The expansive landscapes are there for you to drive through and explore at your leisure, and as you upgrade your vehicle, weapons and bases, traversing the dusty roads becomes even more of a riot.
Read our Mad Max review
2. The Last of Us 2
Developer: Naughty Dog
Platform(s): PS5, PS4
Anyone who's after another immersive experience should look to Naughty Dog's stellar post-apocalyptic world, which will fill your story-driven adventuring needs to the brim. The Last of Us 2 might be more linear in structure, but its detailed world makes it feel just as impactful, and the narrative will keep you engrossed throughout. Set 20 years after a fungal-based pandemic hits, you follow the story of Joel and Elli,e who try to survive in a world that was torn apart and changed forever.
The fungus, which can be seen throughout the world, infects the human brain and essentially turns them into ghoul-like zombies. With fantastic combat that sees you use all kinds of different weapons that put your stealth tactics to the test, this is a no-brainer if Fallout left you hungry for another absorbing story in a desolate world with a whole host of interesting, fleshed-out characters.
Read our The Last of Us Part 2 review
1. Dying Light 2
Developer: Techland
Platform(s): PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One
Dying Light 2 isn't a traditional RPG, but it should have some appeal to Fallout fans who are looking for something a little different. You've got a zombie outbreak, a civilization at war with itself, and a post-apocalyptic world to explore.
With a Mad Max-style dystopia, Mirror's Edge-style parkour, and Fallout-lite RPG mechanics, there's a lot of fun to be had with one of the best games of 2022. Dying Light 2 has a tendency to lean a bit further into melee combat than the other games like Fallout, but if you can settle into its more aggressive rhythm, you'll have a riot.
Read our Dying Light 2 review
If you want something else sort of Fallout-y but different, then check out some Games like Fallout Shelter. Or check out our list of the best Fallout games of all time.
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