From fully fledged expansions that provide entirely new factions and questlines to explore, to smaller DLC that simply offer ways to enhance the base game experience, there are plenty of Fallout DLC that are worth revisiting if you never had a chance to before, or while waiting for the series’ rumored shadow drops.
15
Contraptions Workshop (Fallout 4)
Compared to the story-focused or gameplay-expanding DLC of its predecessors, Fallout 4 had several DLC packs that focused much more heavily on its settlement building. Contraptions Workshop, unfortunately, was one of the weaker ones.
While the idea of being able to create complex machinery with conveyor belts, elevators, and more, Fallout 4‘s Contraptions Workshop DLC only really appealed to a small portion of the fanbase, while also struggling within Fallout 4‘s oftentimes clunky building systems.
14
Wasteland Workshop (Fallout 4)
As another settlement-focused DLC, Wasteland Workshop was far more eye-catching with its grungy aesthetic, and it offered the ability to capture monsters in cages and make them fight in your very own combat arenas. The systems themselves, however, lack the necessary depth to let them reach the DLC’s full potential.
While there’s certainly some fun to be had for those who can dedicate the time towards its larger-scale projects, there’s not a lot of complexity or meaningful progression to make it as engaging as the other DLC in the series.
13
Vault-Tec Workshop (Fallout 4)
Although Fallout 4‘s Vault-Tec Workshop is yet another settlement-based DLC for Fallout 4, it easily stands out for letting you build and manage your very own vault. With plenty of themed items and even a few questlines to make it more engaging, it’s definitely the best out of Fallout 4‘s settlement DLC.
Even with the ability to carry out some of your very own horrific vault experiments, the fantastic concept is once again held back by not being very well implemented. Not only do you have to build the vault from scratch yourself, but the questline is also one of the weaker Fallout 4 offerings.
12
Mothership Zeta (Fallout 3)
While adding aliens to the Fallout franchise sounds like a recipe for an incredibly unique DLC, Fallout 3‘s Mothership Zeta is still a fun premise. Sadly, it’s ultimately a bit of a shallow experience with fairly repetitive combat encounters.
This isn’t to say that Mothership Zeta isn’t still a cool premise with some interesting weapons to bring back home, but the linear gameplay structure and lack of player choice don’t take advantage of Fallout‘s unique roleplay mechanics.
11
Operation Anchorage (Fallout 3)
As the first DLC added to Fallout 3, Operation Anchorage was another incredibly creative concept brought to life in the world of Fallout. This expansion places you right in the middle of a simulated battle between America and China before the bombs dropped, fleshing out the franchise’s unique setting even more.
Being one of the incredibly rare times we get to see the pre-nuclear side of the Fallout universe, Operation Anchorage excels at being an excellently thematic DLC. On the other hand, its overreliance on combat and linear story once again hasn’t done the experience too many favors in the long run, with far less replayability than some of Fallout‘s other post-launch offerings.
10
Broken Steel (Fallout 3)
Fallout 3‘s Broken Steel is one of the few DLC in the franchise that offers a direct continuation after the credits have rolled. Offering an alternative ending to let the Lone Wanderer survive the finale of the base game, Broken Steel also adds new questlines to explore, even raising the level cap beyond its initial 20 all the way up to level 30.
Broken Steel has faced some criticism for its portrayal of both the Enclave and Brotherhood of Steel in its linear one-man-army storyline that is more similar to Call of Duty than Fallout. Even so, the DLC still manages to tie itself into the base game quite well, going as far as to incorporate utilizing some decisions you made in the original story to affect the Capital Wasteland afterward.
9
Automatron (Fallout 4)
Despite being the very first DLC added to Fallout 4 back in 2016, Automatron still stands as one of the better offerings from the next-generation entry, thanks to both the unique mechanics and story expansion in a way that takes great advantage of Fallout 4‘s foundation and emphasis on player customization.
Allowing you to create your own robot companions with a massive amount of variety between them and their swappable parts, Automatron features a surprisingly solid story involving defending the Commonwealth from an invasion of killer robots on top of everything else. It may be one of the smaller-scale DLC stories overall, but it’s a good time overall.
8
Dead Money (Fallout New Vegas)
It’s no secret that Fallout New Vegas is one of the most beloved entries in the franchise, but the first addition of Dead Money is one of the more controversial additions to the classic RPG. Taking place in the ruins of the Sierra Madre Casino, the Dead Money DLC is dripping with atmosphere and style that offer an unforgettable first-time experience, even if it lacks in the replayability department.
Offering somewhat of a survival horror experience in Fallout with the addition of resource scarcity and terrifying enemies, Dead Money‘s unique but linear premise is definitely a hit-or-miss experience for many players. When it clicks, it can be incredibly enjoyable, and it provides some memorable choices and themes at the end of its grand casino heist.
7
Honest Hearts (Fallout New Vegas)
Offering not only some incredibly unique and beautiful environments, but also one of the most iconic characters in the franchise through the tortured Joshua Graham, Honest Hearts is easily one of the most memorable DLC stories that Fallout New Vegas has to offer.
Despite featuring a shorter story that lacks the same grand scale as the other offerings in the series, Honest Hearts still has plenty of decisions to make surrounding the fate of its post-apocalyptic tribes. Touching character moments help to make it a fan-favorite, even if it still faces some criticisms for being on the slower side.
6
Nuka World (Fallout 4)
Although Fallout 4 didn’t get many major story expansions for its DLC, Nuka World showed how much potential the franchise still has for unique self-contained stories. Some incredibly creative level design let players explore a post-apocalyptic Fallout-themed amusement park filled with some downright evil raider factions.
Taking the fan criticism that Fallout 4 didn’t have as many ‘evil’ options as previous games and flipping it on its head, Nuka World sees you become the boss of several unique and deadly raider gangs. Nuka World has the potential to let you become a complete villain depending on who you side with throughout its betrayal-heavy storyline, depending on how you manage the three gangs and which ones you choose to favor or even destroy,