Interested in a Fallout 3 review 12 years after its release? Well, read on! Recently I've been on a gaming spree where I replay some of the older games and see how they hold up. One of the games I revisited was Oblivion and how it holds up in 2020. After Oblivion I decided to stay with Bethesda for a while. That's how I ended up revisiting Fallout 3 in 2020. After leaving the Vault 101 (again) I started exploring everything the game has to offer to see how Fallout 3 holds up twelve years later. I mean, it was a good game. A very good game. But is it still a good game? There is much to talk about in that regard, so let's get started!

A brief overview of a Fallout 3 Review

Some of you might not have played Fallout 3. That's not so surprising when talking about games that are over a decade old. I, for one, played it for the first time in 2015. So who am I to judge? Fallout 3 is the first game in the Fallout series to use 3D graphics. It was a major leap forward from the 2D isometric world of Previous Fallout games, Fallout 1 and Fallout 2. It is also the first game in the series that was created by Bethesda Game Studios.

The game is set in a post-apocalyptic open world around Washington D.C. in the year 2277. It also featured a lot of what made the previous games great, such as the SPECIAL system, but it also introduced elements that would become the staple of the franchise in the future, such as the V.A.T.S. Upon its release it was praised as one of the best video games of all time. Of course, you'd expect much of that to hold up today.

The story of Fallout 3 in 2020

As far as the story of Fallout 3 in 2020 is concerned, there is so much depth and I have to say, it aged very well. Which is not so surprising given the amount of awards it received for it. The main quest remains solid and engaging. But as we all know, Fallout series really shine when talking about the side-quests and characters.

The side-quests and faction quest lines remain great to this day. Of course, some of them will appeal to you more than the others. But that's just the matter of personal preference when it comes to faction philosophies and other stuff that makes them what they are. Even the first hubs that offer you side-quests and characters you can meet have a lot to offer. Just take a look at Megaton. It is undoubtedly the most recognisable spot of Fallout 3. Not only does it serve as the first showcase of what has really been happening outside the vault, but it also provides you with some side-quests you can use to learn more about the game itself and how to handle yourself in the wasteland.

Furthermore, it is also the place of the first major choice you get to make in the game. I won't spoil anything, just in case you haven't had the chance to play the game yet. But it is a perfect example of what the game will keep on offering you – meaningful choices. The developers really wanted to give you the ability to make impactful choices, and they succeeded. Overall, the writing of Fallout 3 in 2020 is still an utterly wonderful game that should be experienced first-hand.

What about the gameplay?

Unfortunately, the gameplay of Fallout 3 in 2020 remains a bit of a mixed bag. Don't get me wrong, its deep role-playing system is still very good. It remains a superior game to many contemporary role-playing games in its genre. Indeed, there are a lot of things that hold up great, such as V.A.T.S. and customization. And, it certainly delivers fantastic combat. However, you can feel the game is limited by the technology of its time.

But here is the thing: how dated the gameplay will feel for you depends on whether you've played newer Fallout titles, such as Fallout 4 or Fallout 76, or not. Of course, you can't expect the older game to have the polish of a new one. But if you've spent hundreds of hours in Fallout 4 going back to the shooting and somewhat clunky movement of Fallout 3 might be a problem for you.

Personally, I'm not bothered by it. The shooting doesn't feel as good but that doesn't make it bad. It just takes some getting used to. And willingness to use V.A.T.S. whenever it recharges. However, if you want to modernise your experience there is a whole bunch of mods that can help you with that.

However, one thing that does hold up well is the enemy AI. Granted, it's not the standard „take cover and periodically peek out to shoot“ type of AI most modern shooters have, but it fits the game rather well. Fallout 3 AI is more focused on dodging your shots when available and overpowering you. It fits the experience the game presents to you and as such still holds strong even 12 years later.

Looking at Fallout 3 in 2020

Graphics are always a big deal when discussing older games. Some people just don't care about them, and others won't even consider trying the game if it doesn't have a better resolution than real life.

Here is the thing, Fallout 3 is 12 years old, and so are its graphics. Unfortunately, they don't hold up. Once again, I'm personally not the type of person to be bothered by that. After all, it can't look like Red Dead Redemption 2 with the technology that was available back then. But there is nothing wrong with wanting to make it more pleasant to look at. That's why the modding community is here. For those of you wanting a better visual experience you can always download the Fallout 3 Beautification Project mod. It might take a bit of tweaking but you can get a really fresh and amazing look for Fallout 3 in 2020.

So here is the solution for those of you that care about visuals. And those of you who don't care? Well, you won't have a problem in the first place so it's all good for you!

Compatibility issues of Fallout 3 in 2020

This is something only a small portion of players might encounter but I thought it warranted a mention either way. Depending on your operating system a small number of players might encounter various issues. Mainly, the problem seems to be appearing when running Fallout 3 on Windows 10. Don't worry, the fix is easy.

First, you should make sure you're running the game as administrator. To do that you just have to locate the executable on your computer, open up the properties, go to the compatibility tab and check „run as administrator“. While you're there you might as well check the „run in compatibility mode“ and select Windows XP (Service Pack 3) option. It won't affect your performance on newer systems but might eliminate potential problems.

However, if you're still having problems with running the game you might want to download the Intel HD Graphics bypass package mod and install it. Essentially, it modifies the way Fallout 3 is run to get it to run on an Intel GPU. As I said above, only a small portion of the players will encounter problems when playing Fallout 3 in 2020 (I had no issues with running it), but it's good to be prepared.

The verdict

So what's the verdict about playing Bethesda Games, Fallout 3 in 2020? Honestly, I think you should go for it. It's a good game, and it holds up very well. You can easily fix the places where it doesn't. If you played Fallout 4 and enjoyed the world and writing, definitely go and play Fallout 3. And if you're new to the franchise it's a solid starting point, along with Fallout: New Vegas. In conclusion, there is no reason not to grab yourself a nice cold nuka-cola and go explore the wasteland from Vault 101!