One would be hard-pressed to talk about some of the most legendary gaming franchises of all time without mentioning the behemoth that is the Fallout series. Originally a product of Interplay Entertainment, Fallout switched publishers and ended up with Bethesda, which did a fine job of bringing over the complexity and nuance of the Fallout series into a first-person perspective with Fallout 3 and Fallout 4.
However, there’s a sizable section of the fanbase that believes that the Fallout series wasn’t really done justice by Bethesda themselves, but rather by another video game development studio that took over the reins and delivered a role-playing experience that was more in line with the franchise’s roots. It doesn’t take an expert to state that the studio in question here is Obsidian Entertainment, with their title Fallout: New Vegas being widely considered by many to be superior to Bethesda’s offerings.
Fallout: New Vegas – 31 Mods That Make It Feel Like A Brand New Game
While performance mods are fantastic, some of the most exciting mods are those that overhaul the feeling of New Vegas entirely and make it feel new.
However, this topic has been the subject of furious debate time and time again, with both sides putting forth valid points in favor of their preferred game. To contextualize this argument, here are five points each detailing out why one of these games surpasses the other in terms of quality.
Updated May 3, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: Fallout is one of the hottest gaming IPs right now, in no small part because of the significant boost given by the TV show. Players have fallen in love with the amazing world of this adaptation, and the significant boost in player count proves it. When players are thinking about jumping into this series, the two easiest titles to jump in include Fallout 4 and New Vegas. Both games have their strengths and are worth checking out, but players who want to make an informed decision and only invest time in a single Fallout game from the two will find these comparisons to be right up their alley.
17 FALLOUT NEW VEGAS — Gives More Context To The Show’s Ending
A Treat For Fans Of New Vegas
Fans of Fallout: New Vegas were up in arms about a background detail in the show that made them fear the canon the TV series was following. While a lot of this controversy was fabricated, New Vegas fans are understandably hoping that the series does justice to what they consider to be the best Fallout game ever made.
Thankfully, the ending of the series makes it clear that New Vegas is going to play a major role in season 2 of Fallout. Fans who want to acquaint themselves with this area before it’s shown in all its majestic splendor in the TV show will find it amazing to play through New Vegas and understand what makes this title so popular.
16 FALLOUT 4 — Channels The Power Armor From The Show
The Game’s Iteration Of Power Armor Is Similar To The TV Series
One of the best parts of the Fallout series is the way Power Armor is portrayed. The sheer power of this armor makes it a force to be reckoned with. Anyone with proper Power Armor training can traverse the wasteland without worrying about too many things going for their head.
This iteration of Power Armor is very much in line with the suit’s implementation in Fallout 4, which is a step above what New Vegas brings to the table. Carrying around individual Power Armor pieces isn’t the most stimulating thing, so it’s easy to see why players would love to step into the suit and seamlessly use the suit like a second skin, as it should be.
15 FALLOUT NEW VEGAS — The Superior Role-Playing Experience
The Perfect Amalgamation Of Old And New Fallout
If there’s one aspect of New Vegas that has received universal praise from fans, it’s the fact that the game’s systems are expertly crafted to help players get through, regardless of their build.
This means that every stat in the game is meaningful in some way, allowing gamers to engage in a role-playing experience unlike anything else released at that time.
14 FALLOUT 4 — The Superior Gameplay Experience
The Fallout Game With The Best Gameplay To Date
While New Vegas might emerge as the clear victor when it comes to the narrative, it falls short by quite a wide margin when it comes to gameplay.
Fallout 4: 10 Reasons The Main Story Makes No Sense
Fallout 4’s a great open-world RPG, but its main story is full of plot holes, inconsistencies, and things that simply don’t make sense.
As a modern product, Fallout 4 has refined its gunplay to a T, allowing gamers to enjoy a myriad of interesting combat situations that always put their skills to the test without feeling too boring or repetitive.
13 FALLOUT: NEW VEGAS — Craft A Personalized Tale
The Courier Genuinely Feels Like A Stand-In For The Player
Most of the systems present in Fallout 4 are somewhat rigid, meaning that gamers can’t really go through the game as they please. Compromises need to be made to adhere to the limits set by Fallout 4.
The same can’t be said for Fallout: New Vegas, which provides gamers with so many options to complete quests and tasks that the player truly feels like The Courier is an extension of their being.
12 FALLOUT 4 — An Engrossing Plotline With High Stakes
Trying To Find Shaun Makes For A Great Motivation
Fallout 4 might not have the level of freedom that New Vegas sports, but it makes up for this with an overarching goal that any player would find it easy to get behind — finding their lost son.
This makes the plot of Fallout 4 feel all the more personal, especially with the fully-voiced protagonist adding a level of emotion that was left unheard until this title.
11 FALLOUT: NEW VEGAS — The Side Content Is A Blast
Every Corner Of The World Houses Something Memorable
The best part about New Vegas is that the main plot isn’t the only section of the game that is narratively rich — the same can be said for pretty much every side story in the game.
This makes the exploration of the entirety of New Vegas an absolute must so that players don’t miss out on some excellent content.
10 FALLOUT 4 — The Environments Can Be Truly Breathtaking
Arguably The Most Beautiful Fallout Game To Date
Fallout 4‘s graphics look incredible, especially when compared to the games that preceded it. Roaming around the wasteland feels incredibly immersive due to the amazing graphical fidelity present in the game.
Fallout 4: Every Shotgun, Ranked
Though Fallout 4 doesn’t feature many shotguns, some can prove to be incredibly useful. Here’s how they compare to one another.
No player can be blamed for getting lost in the hypnotic landscapes of The Commonwealth, which is easily the most beautiful yet bleak setting present in any video game.
9 FALLOUT: NEW VEGAS — Memorable Characters
Memorable Writing Helps Personalities Stand Out
One thing that absolutely needs to be commended in Fallout: New Vegas is the diverse cast of interesting characters, each of whom is an absolute blast to interact with.
Taking part in the quest lines of all these characters is an absolute must for anyone who’s just getting into the game and wishes to make their experience as memorable as possible.
8 FALLOUT 4 — Weapon Mods Personalize Combat Even Further
Makes The Game’s Combat More Dynamic And Exciting
Fallout 4 combat’s enough of a joy as is, but Bethesda didn’t stop there — they also gave the player options to attach weapon mods to their firearms, making combat even more dynamic and interesting as a result.
Unloading on enemies with a powerful weapon that is customized with state-of-the-art upgrades is one of the most satisfying moments in the entire game.
7 FALLOUT: NEW VEGAS — Moral Choices Are Woven Into The Narrative
Another Example Of The Game’s Stellar Writing
There’s a pretty solid reason as to why Fallout: New Vegas is considered to be a role-playing masterpiece by most people who’ve experienced the title — the game is legendary for featuring some of the greatest writing ever seen in any video game.
Fallout New Vegas: 10 Pieces Of Cut Content (That It’s So Unfair We Never Got)
Fallout: New Vegas is regarded as one of the best in the series, but these amazing pieces of cut content might have made it even better.
Morality has never been as grayer in any game as in New Vegas, no action is completely “right,” with things rarely being black and white — something that can’t be said for Fallout 4, where the writing is somewhat more simple by comparison and the distinction between good and bad is way clearer.
6 FALLOUT 4 — Settlement-Building Is A Fun Distraction
A Great Optional Addition
One thing that Fallout 4 should definitely be applauded for is giving players a ton of things to do. These fun side activities serve as a fun distraction from the main plot of the story and provide a much-needed breath of fresh air.
The most prominent mechanic that hammers in this point is the settlement building and managing present in the game. This allows for a whole new level of environmental interaction that can be quite a blast indeed.
5 FALLOUT: NEW VEGAS — Companions Are Fleshed Out And Unique
Every Companion Is A Blast To Hang Out With
People who love Bioware games will definitely be well aware of how interesting the companion quests in the game really are.
This is exactly why these people love Fallout: New Vegas as well — all the companions in the game are unique in their own right, and this impact is further bolstered by the fact that the Courier’s friends also have their own unique stories that can be unlocked after developing a bond with them.
4 FALLOUT 4 — There’s Actually A Post-Game
Lets Players Enjoy Everything The Commonwealth Has To Offer
One thing that would definitely irk most players of Fallout: New Vegas is the fact that, after the main quest of the game is completed, the game just… ends. There’s little to no option for players to still explore the world of the Mojave Wasteland after finishing the central questline.
This isn’t even remotely the case in Fallout 4, where the game still continues and players can still tackle a whole host of sidequests in Fallout 4 even after the main quest is well and truly done.
3 FALLOUT: NEW VEGAS — The DLC Boasts Another Brilliant Story
Features Some Of The Best Expansions Ever Released
The main and side quests in New Vegas have a ton of character of their own, but what makes this game all the more enthralling is the fact that the DLC released for this title is also an excellent addition as well!
Dead Money, Honest Hearts, Old World Blues, and Lonesome Road are all excellent story expansions that will keep the ball rolling long after gamers have done everything there is to do in the base game.
2 FALLOUT 4 — Using The Power Armor Is A Blast
The Best Depiction Of The Power Armor To Date
The technical advancements present in Fallout 4 mean that the combat is the best the series has seen… especially when it comes to using the Power Armor in the game.
The Power Armor is accessible pretty early on in Fallout 4 and allows players to truly make the most of this armor, with everything from improved suits to full-on customizations making for one of the most engaging applications of the iconic Power Armor in Fallout 4.
1 FALLOUT: NEW VEGAS — The Best Dialogue System In A 3D Fallout Game
Players Can Choose Responses Based On Their Build
If there’s one thing that can definitely be commended in Fallout: New Vegas — especially when compared to Fallout 4 — it’s the game’s diverse and engaging dialogue system.
Featuring a whole host of skill checks and unique interactions, the dialogue system in New Vegas will keep fans of good writing engaged for hours on end.
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Fallout 4
- Released
- November 10, 2015
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Fallout: New Vegas
- Released
- October 19, 2010
