Post-apocalyptic games might be all the rage right now, but there was a time when this genre was fairly novel. It was around that time that the first Fallout game was released by Interplay Entertainment to positive critical and commercial reception. Interplay was the king of role-playing games at that point, and Fallout was a game that put all their amazing storytelling skills on display. However, Fallout wouldn't solely remain Interplay property for too long, and Bethesda would take over the reins later on.

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With the Creation Engine, Bethesda released two games that are beloved among the Fallout fanbase — Fallout 3 and Fallout 4. These two titles have their fair share of hardcore fans, with both groups fighting tooth and nail over the quality of both these games and debating the superiority of one title over the other. To shed some light on this debate, here are five reasons why Fallout 3 is the better game, coupled with five ways in which Fallout 4 surpasses its predecessor.

Updated March 14th, 2021 by Ritwik Mitra: The sheer manner in which Bethesda has grown as a studio in the time between Fallout 3 and 4 is truly amazing. While some changes have been for the better — while others are anything but — there's no denying that Bethesda is now one of the biggest names in gaming, and their merger with Microsoft is bound to be promising for the Xbox brand in many ways. In fact, one may even go so far as to say that the elements of Fallout 3 and its sequel are a great illustration of how the studio has evolved over time.

15 FALLOUT 3: Stepping Into The Ravaged Post-Apocalyptic World Is Amazing

There are many iconic moments in a slew of Bethesda games, and Fallout 3 is no exception to this golden rule.

After living out their entire life in a Vault, the very first moment the player steps out into the ruthless world of Fallout is one of the most memorable moments in video gaming.

14 FALLOUT 4: The Graphical Fidelity Is Brilliant

While most people did end up lambasting Fallout 4's graphics — with the bulk of the criticism levied on the textures — after its launch, one couldn't deny the fact that the game looked strikingly beautiful when all the elements were working right.

This contributing to an adventure that always had some striking discoveries present in some form or the other.

13 FALLOUT 3: Getting The Power Armor Feels Like A Significant Achievement

Fallout 4 might have a more engaging system when it comes to Power Armor, but one can't deny the fact that this suit of near-invincibility was way more special to attain in Fallout 3.

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In Fallout 3, you need to go through numerous and cross a ton of bridges before even getting a whiff of this legendary armor. Meanwhile, Fallout 4 gives players the Power Armor within the first hour of the game.

12 FALLOUT 4: The Combat Has Been Significantly Enhanced

The advancement of Bethesda as a game development studio can be clearly seen when one compares the gunplay of Fallout 4 to its predecessor. Pretty much everyone will be of the opinion that the former is infinitely better in this regard.

Aiming, sprinting, bashing, and chucking grenades feels just way smoother in Fallout 4, and contributes to some intense combat scenarios.

11 FALLOUT 3: Player Can Actually Enact The Role They Want To

What Fallout 4 gains in technical achievements, it loses when it comes to player freedom. The player feels more like they're experiencing a tale that has already been set up for them, instead of one that they create themselves. This is mainly due to the restrictive systems of Fallout 4.

The same can't be said for Fallout 3, where the player can actively get invested in the life of a character that feels like a projection of themselves in a post-apocalyptic world.

10 FALLOUT 4: A High-Stakes Story That Involves Tracking Down Your Child

While Fallout 4's story might feel more restrictive, there's no denying the fact that it's an absolute blast to play through regardless.

Going through the twists and turns that the story has in store for the player as they track down Shaun is quite entertaining, and actually compels the player to focus on the main story for once instead of getting distracted with all the side content... as is the norm for most Bethesda games.

9 FALLOUT 3: Actions Actually Have Real-World Consequences

Compared to the major decisions made in Fallout 4, one must say that Fallout 3 just feels more impactful when it comes to the role you can play in shaping the world through your actions.

A great example would be when the entire town of Megaton can be completely obliterated by your decisions during a particularly memorable quest in the game.

8 FALLOUT 4: The Crafting System Is Well-Implemented... For The Most Part

Fallout 4 includes a crafting system that can add some much-needed spice to the gameplay and make it all the more varied and interesting.

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This crafting system extends to the management of settlements as well, which can prove to be a fun distraction from the main story of the game.

7 FALLOUT 3: The Dialogue System Is Better

One aspect of Fallout 4 that was universally reviled was the unclear dialogue system, which trivialized the dialogue-heavy nature of the series and turned it into a mini-game where the player had to figure out what their character was going to say by reading a few words.

Fallout 3 is infinitely superior in this regard, providing players with some much-needed clarity when it came to what they were actually going to say in the game. Along with this, the Charisma options felt more ironclad and clear, as opposed to the rather rudimentary and unreliable dialogue choices present in the fourth game.

6 FALLOUT 4: The Artificial Intelligence Is A Significant Step-Up

The technical advancements in Fallout 4 simply can't be stressed enough, and its artificial intelligence should definitely be commended for the same. In Fallout 3, enemies used to just rush the Lone Wanderer with little to no concern about their own well-being.

This is not the case with Fallout 4, where enemies are way smarter and actually utilize cover instead of resorting to a kamikaze strategy all the time. It adds a whole new layer to the dynamic nature of Fallout's combat.

5 FALLOUT 3: One Of The Best Introductory Sequences In Gaming History

While it might seem rather rote and common at this point, there's no denying the fact that exploring Vault 101 as a child is still awe-inspiring to this day.

Living through the young definitive years of The Lone Wanderer feels like a treat in every sense of the word, and one must definitely laud the fact that the game pulls no punches when it comes to cementing the role-playing aspect of things in Fallout 3 from the get-go.

4 FALLOUT 4: The World Feels More Lived-In And Detailed

Given the fact that Fallout 4 is easily one of the most technically advanced games in the series, it's only a given that the game world would also feel like a massive upgrade over past games in the series as well.

This is precisely the case with Fallout 4, with each and every area in the game full to the brim with a ton of detail, making for a massively entertaining experience that never lets exploration be a second thought in any way, shape, or form.

3 FALLOUT 3: The World Is More Atmospheric And Personifies The Wasteland Moniker

However, while the Commonwealth might seem more lively, colorful, and engaging in Fallout 4, there's no denying the fact that its prequel definitely nailed the atmosphere of a barren wasteland that has been ravaged by nuclear war.

The post-apocalyptic vibes in Fallout 3 are truly immense and make for one of the most immersive open-worlds of all time.

2 FALLOUT 4: Settlement-Building Is A Surprisingly Fun Distraction

While there are many complaints that one may have about Fallout 4, there's no denying the fact that the act of constructing settlements from the ground up in the game can prove to be quite a fun task indeed.

The mechanics might seem simplistic, but it's the manner in which all the facets of settlement building come together that make it one of the highlights of Fallout 4.

1 FALLOUT 3: The Side Content Present In This Game Is Excellent

The main story of Fallout 3 is definitely quite compelling in its own right, even though a fair share of people can definitely complain about some aspects of its storytelling.

However, what makes Fallout 3 such a monumental game — to the point where it's still held in high regard to this day — is the fact that the side content present in this game is also brilliant in its own right and makes for an engaging distraction that will keep fans entertained and occupied at every step of the way.

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