Fans tickled by Prime Video’s Fallout series are in luck because the subscription service is offering the first chapter in the modern saga for all its users to play at no extra charge. Following the show’s successful premiere on the streaming platform, the entire post-apocalyptic RPG franchise has been reinvigorated as veterans return to their favorite moments and newcomers seek out what inspired the story of Lucy MacLean. While the first two Fallout games may not be included in the most recent Amazon Prime Gaming drop, the third installment is actually the perfect place to start.

Announced on the Amazon Prime Gaming blog, the service confirmed that Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition is one of the titles headlining May’s offerings. The first title in the series to be developed by Bethesda, this version comes bundled with all the DLC expansions that were released in the months after its initial launch, including Operation Anchorage, Mothership Zeta, The Pitt, and Point Lookout. For those who want to check out the origins of the modern Fallout franchise, the third game is the best place to start as the first two entries are significantly harder to play.

Fallout 3 Is An RPG Titan

It Served As A Gateway Game For Many

While the original Fallout game and its sequel are excellent RPGs that still boast dedicated player bases, the third game made the jump from an isometric camera to a first-person view, tweaking many elements to make the experience more accessible on consoles. Many began their love of of the series with Fallout 3 and while its role-playing systems may often be diminished when compared to the likes of Fallout: New Vegas, it’s still a phenomenal game. It’s difficult not to love its original, quirky take on a post-apocalyptic America that’s trying to build itself from the ashes.

For those players taking advantage of Amazon Prime Gaming’s May offer, it’s worth noting that while Fallout 3 is a landmark title that introduced many current fans to the franchise, it hasn’t necessarily aged too well. Even when it launched in 2008, reviewers were especially critical of its combat which, much like most of Bethesda’s older RPGs, is floaty and lacks any kind of impact, something that’s especially prevalent when using melee weapons. It’s also worth recalling that over 20 years later, Fallout 3 isn’t exactly impressive when it comes to its visuals, despite its excellent art direction.

Fallout 3 Is A Game That’s Difficult To Forgot

Some Parts May Not Have Aged Well Though…

Built on the classic Creation Engine that Bethesda has used for decades, Fallout 3‘s green color scheme, muddy textures, and wonky animations might send impatient players to try the more modern Fallout 4 instead. Yet those who stick to the classic are in for a treat because the Capital Wasteland is dripping with unique character and fantastic aesthetics. Of course, if those hurdles end up being massive roadblocks for even the most enthusiastically curious player, there is a way to make the game a little more palatable: Mods.

The modding community that has established itself around Bethesda’s catalog, and especially Fallout 3 and New Vegas, is one of the most active groups creating original content for the older games that are no longer a priority for the studio. Using these fan-made add-ons can often result in a fundamentally better experience, given that years have gone into creating mods that overhaul graphics, mechanics, and even narrative beats that may not have been so effective in the base game. While it may sound daunting to inexperienced users, Fallout 3 is remarkably easy to fine-tune to obtain the desired experience.

Fallout Is Going Mainstream

A Successful Adaptation Does Wonders For Sales

The Fallout franchise is having a moment in the spotlight now as Prime Video’s adaptation continues to draw in new fans. The series has proven so popular that Bethesda released a new “next-gen” update for Fallout 4 that added in new items and an entirely original questline. Even Fallout 76, the much-maligned multiplayer survival game is shining as its player base’s numbers continue to increase steadily.

Fallout 3 isn’t the only great title available for Amazon Prime Gaming subscribers in May as Bethesda’s RPG is joined by other stellar games like The Forgotten City, Tomb Raider: Game of the Year Edition, LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars, and Electrician Simulator to name but a handful. The slow-paced, often sluggish combat of Fallout 3 should offer a decent contrast to the more explosive action of Tomb Raider. On the other end of the spectrum, The Forgotten City will please those players who want to sink their teeth into a compelling historical mystery.