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. 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 then death.
No definitive answer exists as to who fired the first bomb, a mystery that reinforces Fallout’s central theme: war never changes.
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 some 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 horde and control advanced technology and 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, the Institute, and identity
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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 a result of what was known as the Forced Evolutionary Virus (FEV). It was a virus/vaccine-driven technology developed pre-war in an attempt to speed up Human evolution - creating a more powerful being. The result however, was reduced intelligence but increased size and strength which also came with deformities and a resilience to radiation.
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 in Prime, this guide will help you better understand the terms, themes and historical impacts which shape the show's plot.
