Fallout 76 first came out in late 2018, not too long after Fallout 4. This surprising release was made even more shocking by the poor state of the online service, MMO-like RPG. However, several years later and the game is in a much different state. After the release of the Fallout Prime show, is it worth playing Fallout 76 in 2024?
The short answer is a resounding yes Fallout 76 is worth playing now. This game is much, much better than its release; I know as I was one of the unfortunate ones who checked it out at the launch. That said, I am able to appreciate what it’s become. It is less of the lonely survival game it once was and more like the online Fallout experience some fans wanted.
In fact, I would go so far as to say those who were fans of the Fallout TV series should absolutely give Fallout 76 a try, especially if they have Game Pass since it’s free with that anyway. It is perhaps the closest to the TV show in terms of feel. Though Lucy is the main character, the series also follows Brotherhood of Steel Soldier Maximus and The Ghoul in almost equal measure.
While all of the games in the series emphasize excellent characters, this online game feels like a TV show in how there are multiple protagonists. Sure, you are the hero of your own story, but there are also a couple dozen other players exploring the wastelands of West Virginia alongside you.
With the 2020 Wastelanders expansion, NPCs are now back in the game. As such, Fallout 76 is much more worth playing in 2024 due to addressing its major issues. It plays well now and there aren’t nearly as many performance problems. And with NPCs now in the game, it feels like an alive and more immersive world now.
I am enjoying my time with the game for the first time ever now. Perhaps the most surprising part is how Fallout 76 feels so similar to New Vegas with Atlantic City. This alone makes it worth checking out for fans of the TV show since, well, how the first season ends.
That said, there are some hiccups you should know about. For one, the game doesn’t have nearly the same level of online survival game to it these days. In fact, some may be disappointed by how populated the world feels now. In addition, it is an online game. If you prefer solo experiences, you might not love this title in 2024. However, you can still play most of the experience on your own and ignore others if you like.
We also need to discuss the One Wasteland update. This update brought level-scaling to the game, but it is still in rough shape. Sure, you can pretty much enjoy this experience like The Elder Scrolls Online, but not without some weird caveats. For one, shared XP between players is still awkward at times.
Worse still, there aren’t many consequences for stealing from NPCs. In addition, you can’t murder NPCs like you do in the mainline games. But I would still say Fallout 76 is more worth checking out today in 2024 than ever before. And if you don’t know if you’ll like it, try it out with Game Pass. That way, you don’t lose much if you don’t enjoy it like the Fallout TV show.
Fallout 76 is available now for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. It is also available on Game Pass.
