Are you new to Fallout? Never played the games? Looking to understand what's going on in the Fallout TV series? You've come to the right place. This article will get you up to speed on the basics of Fallout lore.
What is Fallout about?
The Fallout franchise is set in an alternate timeline that diverged from our own shortly after World War II. While real-world technology moved toward miniaturisation and digital computing, Fallout’s world doubled down on atomic energy, vacuum tubes, and massive industrial machines. This created a unique retro-futuristic aesthetic inspired by 1950s Americana—optimistic on the surface, deeply paranoid underneath.
By the 21st century, this world had become defined by resource scarcity, nationalism, and unchecked corporate and government power. Global petroleum reserves were exhausted by the mid-21st century. Nations turned to nuclear power, but competition for remaining resources (especially uranium) sparked worldwide conflict.
The world from 2050s to 2077 (nuclear apocalypse)
As scarcity increased, Europe descended into chaos, culminating in a limited nuclear exchange. China invaded Alaska to secure remaining oil reserves. The United States annexed Canada to protect supply lines. As a result, technological development exploded, particularly in power armour, robotics, and AI.
Vault-Tec and the Vault Program
Vault-Tec was a massive technology conglomerate who promoted underground shelters (known as Vaults) as humanity’s salvation with the impending threat of global nuclear war. However, unbeknown to most, the Vaults were actually designed as elaborate social experiments designed to test human behaviour under extreme conditions—often cruel or unethical. These experiments would aid the global elites in fine-tuning their next settlement off-world, to begin a new, more controllable society elsewhere once the Earth was rendered inhabitable.
The Great War – October 23rd, 2077
At 9:42 AM, nuclear missiles were launched worldwide, initiated by China. The war lasted less than two hours and civilisation collapsed in an instant. Major cities were annihilated, infrastructure was vaporized and governments ceased to exist. Survivors of the initial strikes were either sealed into Vaults or left to face the wasteland - in many cases facing a reality worse than death.
The Wasteland (Post-War America, 2100s–2300s)
Over the course of a few centuries, survivors emerged from Vaults around America only to discover the world they once knew was now a desolate wasteland shaped by radiation, mutation, and lost technology.
The effects of Radiation on Humans & Wildlife
Humans who survived the initial attack mutated into what are known as Ghouls. Some Ghouls retained their human intelligence while others became what are known as Feral Ghouls. The rest of Earth's wildlife evolved into monstrous creatures: Deathclaws, Radscorpions, Super Mutants, and more.
The Different Factions in Fallout
The wasteland birthed a new age of humanity and as groups emerged from their Vaults and ventured out into the world, they formed their own unique factions. Each faction's aim was to reclaim the wasteland for themselves, establishing new societies governed by their own unique ideologies. These factions were split up into the following:
The Brotherhood of Steel (B.O.S.)
The Brotherhood of Steel are a techno-militaristic order descended from U.S. Army remnants. Their goals are to preserve and research advanced technology in preparation to reintroduce it to society once the population is ready. They believe unchecked technology like A.I. caused the apocalypse.
The Enclave
The Enclave are remnants of the pre-war U.S. government and corporate elite. They are an ultra-nationalist and authoritarian regime who view wasteland survivors as genetically “impure”. The Enclave are essentially the antagonist group of the entire franchise.
The New California Republic (NCR)
The NCR is a democratic republic attempting to rebuild civilization to its glory days. They represent both hope and the flaws of old-world governance and expand their reach via military and bureaucracy.
Caesar’s Legion
As the name suggests, this faction is a brutal slaver empire inspired by ancient Rome. They reject technology and prefer to operate as the ancient world did - through imposing fear and control. They believe strength and order are justifiable means for their cruelty.
The Institute
The Institute are probably the most fascinating faction of them all. They're a highly secretive, underground technocracy. They are the masters of robotics and synthetic humans (“Synths”) and seek to control through manipulation rather than using brute force.
The Fallout Timeline
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Fallout (2161): California; the Master and Super Mutant threat
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Fallout 2 (2241): Rise of NCR and Enclave
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Fallout 3 (2277): Capital Wasteland; Enclave resurgence
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Fallout: New Vegas (2281): Power struggle over Hoover Dam
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Fallout 4 (2287): Synths and the Institute
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Fallout 76 (2102–2104): Earliest post-war setting; rebuilding Appalachia
Other notable terms and references
The humanoid monstrosities known as Super Mutants were not a natural evolution of prolonged radiation exposure like the Ghouls. Instead, Super Mutants were the result of the Forced Evolutionary Virus (FEV)—a pre-war virus/vaccine-driven technology designed to accelerate human evolution. The result was increased size, strength, and radiation resistance at the cost of intelligence and severe physical deformities.
Creatures of the Wasteland
Deathclaws
The Deathclaw is one of the most feared creatures in the post-nuclear wasteland. Towering, fast, and brutally intelligent, Deathclaws combine overwhelming physical power with surprising cunning. They are instantly recognizable by their massive, sickle-shaped claws, reptilian hide, digitigrade stance, and predatory posture — a living embodiment of humanity’s hubris before the Great War.
Contrary to wasteland myths, Deathclaws are not a product of radiation, but of deliberate genetic engineering conducted by the U.S. government before 2077. Created from a base of Jackson’s chameleon DNA, spliced with genetic material from various predatory species, they were engineered to serve as frontline shock troops during the escalating Sino-American War. However, The Great War interrupted deployment, and surviving specimens escaped or were released into the wild.
Radscorpions
Radscorpions are gigantic, mutated descendants of common scorpions, scaled up to horrific proportions by prolonged radiation exposure. Though less intelligent than Deathclaws, they are equally feared due to their ambush tactics, venomous sting, and ability to burrow underground.
Mirelurks
Mirelurks are amphibious mutated crustaceans with heavy, armored shells. They are common near coastal and swamp regions, making waterways some of the most dangerous travel routes in the wasteland.
Yao Guai
Yao Guai are irradiated bears mutated into hyper-aggressive, heavily muscled predators. Unlike Deathclaws, Yao Guai are driven by instinct rather than strategy — but their raw strength makes them equally lethal.
Cazadores
Cazadores are among the deadliest creatures per pound in the wasteland. Created at Big Mountain Research Facility using mutated tarantula hawk wasps, they combine speed, venom, and pack hunting.
Centaurs
Centaurs are among the most grotesque lifeforms in the wasteland — failed byproducts of early Forced Evolutionary Virus experiments. Created when multiple organisms were exposed to FEV simultaneously, Centaurs are living proof of the chaos inherent in uncontrolled mutation.
Fog Crawlers
Fog Crawlers are towering crustacean monstrosities native to the irradiated fog of Far Harbor. They are the undisputed apex predators of the region.
Hermit Crabs
Hermit Crabs are massive mutated crustaceans that repurpose abandoned vehicles, buses, and shipping containers as mobile shells. Their deceptive appearance makes them deadly ambush predators.
Gatorclaws
The Gatorclaw is a horrific hybrid of Deathclaw and alligator DNA, engineered as a theme park attraction turned containment failure. It combines the worst traits of both species.
Wanamingos
Wanamingos are insectoid creatures of unknown origin, found deep underground. Their anatomy bears no clear evolutionary lineage, fueling theories of alien involvement.
Now you're all caught up on the basics of Fallout! The games are extremely immersive, so if you haven't played them yet, we highly recommend doing so. If you're a new fan thanks to the Fallout series on Prime, this guide will help you better understand the terms, themes, and historical impacts that shape the show's plot.
