fallout

Fallout is a term with two principal uses. In real-world science, fallout refers to radioactive particles that descend to the ground after a nuclear explosion or reactor incident. It can contaminate air, water, soil, and food supplies, travel long distances, and cause short- and long-term health risks. Fallout also appears in popular culture as the title of a post-apocalyptic video game franchise.

Fallout is a long-running post-apocalyptic role-playing game series originally created by Interplay Entertainment and later developed by Bethesda Softworks. The setting depicts a retro-futuristic United States ravaged by nuclear war, emphasizing exploration, character development, and player choice. The first game, Fallout (1997), introduced isometric gameplay and branching quests. Subsequent main entries include Fallout 2 (1998), Fallout 3 (2008, the first to use a 3D open world), Fallout: New Vegas (2010), Fallout 4 (2015), and Fallout 76 (2018). Spin-offs include Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel (2001) and Fallout Shelter (2015). The series is known for its factional depth—such as the Brotherhood of Steel, the Enclave, and the New California Republic—and its blend of humor, retro 1950s aesthetics, and morally consequential choices that shape the game worlds. Locations featured across titles include the Capital Wasteland (Fallout 3), the Mojave Wasteland (Fallout: New Vegas), and the Commonwealth (Fallout 4).