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One of Fallout's best games is completely free to play

One of Fallout's best games is completely free to play

A little bit of Fallout for free

If you want to dip into the world of Fallout but aren’t quite ready for the full RPG experience, you can get a nice taster from this free game from Bethesda.

Playable on mobile, Steam, and consoles, Fallout Shelter allows players to build an underground vault, much like the vaults in the mainline games, filled with different rooms, services, and townspeople. Played completely in 2D, with a casual learning curve, this is a perfect game for those wanting a taste of the post-apocalyptic world.

Fallout Shelter is a great way to experience Fallout on the move

Using the cartoony visuals that always illustrate Vault Boy in the Fallout games, Fallout Shelter feels casual in every sense, though it has become a lot deeper over the years since its release. Gameplay is a simple affair of harvesting or collecting materials, building rooms for your vault shelter, and attracting survivors to come live with you.

Of course, it’s not a peaceful life and you’ll find your days can be filled with radioactive creatures knocking down your doors, or rampaging humans trying to take down your utopian society. As long as you keep breeding your villagers, like a benevolent overseer, you’ll have plenty of people to defend your vault or work their days bringing more resources and currency to your vault. There’s something here for everyone - humour, tactical gameplay, Sims-like survivor management, and more. And it doesn’t get any better than being free-to-play.

Playing in snatches of time on mobile is a great way to experience this slice of irradiated life, but there’s enough to keep you going, unlike an idle sim, so it works on Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch quite well too. The best thing about Fallout Shelter is the introduction to Fallout, a beloved franchise that offers a level of humour alongside a devastated world. The series has a certain charm and Shelter really leaned into this.

Featured Image Credit: Bethesda

Topics: Fallout, Free Games