Fallout: The Board Game Review | Survive the Wasteland One Hex at a Time

Explore a post-apocalyptic wasteland, complete quests, and navigate warring factions in this narrative board game based on the hit video game series.

Players: 1-4   |   Time: 2-3 hours   |   Age: 14+   |   My Rating: 5 out of 5 cupcakes

What Is Fallout: The Board Game?

If you’ve ever played any of the Fallout video games, you already know the feeling this game is going for. The wasteland. The radiation. The factions. The moral gray areas. The vaults full of weird experiments. Fallout: The Board Game, published by Fantasy Flight Games in 2017, nails all of that.

It’s a narrative adventure game for 1 to 4 players that can be played solo or cooperatively, though players can also compete for the most influence. Games typically run 2 to 3 hours.

How It Works

Players start at the edge of an unknown map. The board uses face-down hex tiles that you flip over as you explore, which means you never fully know what’s coming. You’ll encounter enemies, complete quests, collect loot, and level up your survivor’s skills along the way.

The game includes four different scenarios based on Fallout 3 and Fallout 4, each with its own storyline, objectives, and set of quests. Quests drive the narrative and earn you influence points. Who wins depends on who has the most influence when the game ends, which happens when one faction gets pushed to the end of its power track.

Factions Matter

Like the video games, you’ll have to decide which factions to support or oppose. Push one faction to power too quickly and the whole wasteland falls under their control, ending the game early. Balancing that tension is part of what makes the game so interesting. You’re not just playing for yourself. You’re constantly monitoring the state of the world.

The Vaults Are a Highlight

Scattered across the map are vaults, just like in the games. Discovering one opens up a whole new encounter deck with a self-contained story inside. They’re often bizarre, sometimes unsettling, and always memorable. Finding a vault and seeing what’s inside is one of the best moments the game offers.

Who Is This For?

Fallout fans will get the most out of this one, but it’s genuinely enjoyable even without that background. The storytelling is strong enough to carry anyone into the world. Just know it leans more toward narrative adventure than pure strategy.

Do I Recommend It?

Yes. It’s a rich experience with excellent theme integration and plenty of replay value across the different scenarios. Set aside enough time, grab some snacks, and enjoy the wasteland.

And again, just like Firefly, because this is now also a TV show…we’ve been known to play it while we watch the show.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Cupcakes

A fantastic narrative adventure with incredible theme. Fallout fans will love every minute.

I definitely love playing this one with my husband. Any time we’ve played, we end up leaving it set up for several days because we’ll play it a while, stop, and then come back later to finish it. We take a long time to play games like this because of how into it we get!