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After the release of the excellent Fallout TV series, many have wanted to return to the franchise and play the games they’ve missed. One of the most contentious entries in the series happens to be Fallout 76, and if you are interested in giving it a go, you’re probably wondering if it’s worth your time. Does Fallout 76 have a good story? Does it have good gameplay? Is it worth playing in 2024? Well, read on to find out everything you need to know before sinking your teeth into Fallout 76.
Upon the release of Fallout 76 back in 2018, the prequel had a generally mixed reception, marred with technical problems, uninteresting gameplay direction, and even the absence of non-playable human characters. But now that so much time has passed, and Bethesda has addressed many of the issues that plagued the game at launch, it might be worth your time.
Does Fallout 76 Have a Story?
The short answer is, yes, it does have a narrative-driven campaign. Fallout 76 opens with the aftermath of a devastating nuclear war, set in the year 2102, only 25 years after the bombs dropped, ravaging the landscape. Fallout 76 takes place before all the other games in the series, as players fill the shoes of a resident of Vault 76, a fallout shelter in West Virginia.
After coming out of the vault of Reclamation Day, you start a journey to rebuild civilization after the nuclear cataclysm. But what sets Fallout 76 apart from its siblings is its unique, often quirky, emphasis on a player-driven narrative. In this world, the humans you will run into are other players. This compounds the isolation since there aren’t any familiar faces like factions or raider gangs that you’re used to.
The main story revolves around the Overseer of Vault 76, who has recorded her time in the post-apocalyptic West Virginia. That is the driving force of the story and delivers the horrors of the inhabitable terrain, often with a hint of dark humor.
But that’s not all, Fallout 76 has a lot of side quests, lore, and exploration options scattered throughout the world. You will be investigating abandoned towns, and unraveling the mysteries of political scandals. Playing through those gives the world more life and character.
Is the Fallout 76 Story Worth It?
While it most certainly does have a narrative and commendable world-building, its quality is still up for debate. Being different from other mainline entries, it may or may not be to your liking, depending mostly on your expectations. It lacks the recognizable dialogue trees, memorable NPCs, and other mainstays of the franchise. But if you go into it with an open mind for a fresh take on the Fallout universe, you might find yourself having a great time.
