Fallout Season 2 Boosts Player Counts as Fallout Tactics Surges and Fallout 3 Trails Behind

While Fallout 76 is a multiplayer-focused departure from the series’ roots, its status as the most frequently updated title makes it a natural destination for fans seeking fresh adventures. Bethesda’s Todd Howard has even encouraged players to start there, as the studio continues to pour resources into its ongoing evolution.

The popularity of Fallout 4 and New Vegas on Steam remains consistent for a reason. These games represent the pinnacle of modern single-player Fallout, and their massive modding communities provide endless ways to customize and extend the experience long after the main quest concludes.

The fact that Fallout: Shelter is outperforming Fallout 3 might seem odd, but it becomes clearer when considering that Shelter is free-to-play and offers a low-stakes, management-sim loop that is easy to jump into. You simply cannot beat the accessibility of a free title.

As for the legacy titles, the original Fallout and its sequel are somewhat challenging for modern players to master. Furthermore, these Steam-specific statistics don’t account for users playing on GOG or other DRM-free platforms. Meanwhile, someone at Bethesda is likely thrilled to see Fallout Tactics back in the triple digits after all these years.

Interestingly, the 2004 console-exclusive Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel remains absent from these metrics, as it never received a PC port or a modern re-release. While fans clamor for New Vegas or Fallout 3 remasters, this forgotten chapter remains a curiosity. Perhaps it’s time for Bethesda to bring it into the modern era.

Read more: Bethesda is “looking into” Fallout 76 crossplay, but “huge technical hurdles” mean it’s not coming soon.