Fallout 4 10th Anniversary

Without wanting to make everyone feel horrifically old all of a sudden, Fallout 4 released 10 whole years ago today.

Yes, Bethesda's open world RPG is officially one decade old — and we still haven't had a Fallout 5!

But we're not here to bang on about potential sequels. We're here to ask for your thoughts on Fallout 4, now that we're so far removed from its initial PS4 release on the 10th November, 2015.

Fallout 4 was and still is a bit of a weird case. It received incredibly positive reviews at launch and it sold like crazy — but it would soon come to be known as a very divisive instalment in the post-apocalyptic series.

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In a nutshell, Fallout 4 is often heavily criticised for its general lack of role-playing. You're plopped into the well-worn shoes of a mostly established character — a pre-nuke survivor on the search for his or her son.

While you can shape the survivor's personality throughout their quest for the truth, dialogue options feel watered down. A voiced protagonist leads to some rather restrictive choices, and many fans feel as though this goes against what made past Fallout titles so memorable.

Having said that, it's not like Fallout 4 doesn't have player choice. Siding with different factions can completely alter the game's ending and what post-story adventures look like. There are also plenty of side quests that present you with difficult decisions.

But generally speaking, some weak writing and a cast of bland characters — outside of a few companions — can rub players the wrong way. Plenty of people would argue that Fallout 4 just doesn't feel as engaging as its predecessors on a narrative level.

On the gameplay side of things, Fallout 4 definitely has the best gunplay in the series. But then the combat is, potentially, offset by a levelling and perks system that never really forces you down a certain path — another factor in why many fans question the game's quality as an RPG.

Again, it's a tough one. For what it's worth, we think Fallout 4 does get a bit of a bad rap sometimes. Despite its shortcomings as a role-playing entity, it's still an atmospheric and addictive open world jaunt.

But what do you think of Fallout 4, 10 years on? Is it underrated? Or is it rightfully remembered as something of black sheep? Vote in our polls, and then keep an eye on your radiation levels in the comments section below.

What are your thoughts on Fallout 4, 10 years later? (878 votes)

  1. It's one of my all-time favourite games12%
  2. I think it's a great game19%
  3. It's flawed, but pretty good27%
  4. It's just okay15%
  5. It's still a disappointment12%
  6. I think it's pretty bad overall6%
  7. It's absolutely rubbish3%
  8. I haven't played it7%

How much time have you spent playing Fallout 4 in total? (766 votes)

  1. Over 100 hours38%
  2. Between 50 and 100 hours26%
  3. Between 25 and 50 hours16%
  4. Under 25 hours11%
  5. I've never played Fallout 49%
What score would you give Fallout 4 (PS5)?

Please note voting will score the game in your games collection