The timeline of Bethesda's Fallout franchise features some of the richest, most fascinating lore out there, and each game takes place at a different point after the Great War from the perspective of a different protagonist. Here's our handy guide that answers what year does fallout 4 take place in.
When does Fallout 4 take place in the series timeline?
Located in the northeast commonwealth area of Boston, Fallout 4 takes place in the year 2287. This places it furthest into the established post-apocalyptic timeline, 10 years after the events of Fallout 3 and 6 years after New Vegas.
Fallout 4 took a decidedly different approach to introducing its narrative premise, starting with a rare glimpse into the retro-futuristic world before the bombs dropped. Of course, that peace is short-lived as the game's protagonist soon witnesses the beginning of the nuclear holocaust and struggles to escape into nearby Vault 111 with his family. The beginning of Amazon Prime's highly acclaimed Fallout series followed the same strategy, although through the eyes of Howard Cooper.
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What is Fallout 4 about?
Every Fallout game gives the protagonist an iconic nickname for them to go by (eg – Lone Wanderer, Courier, etc), and in Fallout 4 you are the Sole Survivor. After waking up from a cryogenic sleep inside the Vault and witnessing the death of your wife and the kidnapping of your son by mysterious invaders, so begins your main quest to find and rescue him.
As the latest flagship title in Bethesda's acclaimed franchise, Fallout 4 broke the mold of the previous games by using a new engine, which allowed it to incorporate new features such as more detailed character creator and settlement base building. It is also the first title in the series to feature full-length voice acting for the protagonist of Sole Survivor, adding a new narrative dynamic to the experience.
Thanks to the incredible hype created by Prime's Fallout show, games like Fallout 4, Fallout 76 and even the older titles like New Vegas are experiencing a huge increase in player activity for the first time in years.
Be sure to check out all our latest Fallout guides and features as fans spot Todd Howard Napoleon painting the Prime TV show.
