Parents' Guide to

Fallout: New Vegas

By Marc Saltzman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Mature action RPG with gore, sex, profanity, and drug use.

Game PlayStation 3, Windows, Xbox 360 2010
Fallout: New Vegas Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

  • Fallout: New Vegas Game: Screenshot #1
  • Fallout: New Vegas Game: Screenshot #2
  • Fallout: New Vegas Game: Screenshot #3

Community Reviews

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age 13+

Based on 32 parent reviews

Nicolas I.
Nicolas I. Adult
February 5, 2022
age 14+

Classic RPG with Surprisingly Deep Lessons

Right off the bat it is clear why this game has an M rating, there is blood and gore, profanity (one character uses the "f" word about ten times in one sentence at one point), references to sex and depictions of alcohol and drug use. However, it is entirely in the hands of the player to decide how to interact with this world, one can (and I have) play this game without harming another person or creature once. This game also provides surprisingly deep quests which test not just the player's resolve and skills, but their morality and politics. For example one quest has you uncover where stolen water is being sent and the culprits are only stealing it so that their community can remain independent from the governments vying for power, can theft be tolerated if it is being done to feed the starving and keep people free? Each major faction also has a political stance and are more than happy to share their philosophy with the player. When the leader of the shockingly evil slaving faction (the legion) is asked how he justifies his atrocities he busts out Hegelian dialectics and ancient history to support his cause, when citizens of the flawed and struggling republic (the NCR) are asked why they support their government they might respond with either a patriotic speech or an intellectual defense of the virtues of liberty and egalitarianism. While playing this game you will constantly be forced to make tough decisions that are engaging on an intellectual, philosophical, and emotional level which is an important thing for teenagers to be doing. Another important thing this game does is treat sexuality with respect. Two companions in this game are gay and they aren't treated any differently for it. They aren't ashamed to mention it when it comes up and there is no dialogue option to treat them with incredulity for it, few games treat gay characters with such respect and equality today and this game is over a decade old! This game is extremely engaging and can really test not just a teenager, but also an adult's perceptions of the world and right and wrong. While the game is beginning to show its age, if someone wants to try it out I cannot recommend it enough so long as you are aware of the violence on the surface and heavy themes underneath.

This title has:

Great messages
1 person found this helpful.
Lickme218
Lickme218 Adult
July 16, 2021
age 14+

The Best Video Game Ever

Fallout: New Vegas is the best game ever and is ok for tweens and teens. Let's be real, the game was created 10 years ago, so the violence is not that graphic. The game is really difficult to play, but if you are familiar with Star Wars: Jedi Fallen then Fallout shouldn't be too dificult for you.

This title has:

Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 32 parent reviews

What’s It About?

From the opening sequence -- where you'll find yourself kneeling in front of a freshly dug grave and with a gun pointed to your head -- to an "explosive" climax much later on in the game, Fallout: New Vegas is a thrilling single-player adventure that doesn't mess much with the formula used for its acclaimed 2008 predecessor, Fallout 3. The game takes place in the year 2281, a few years after the events of Fallout 3, and 200-odd years following a nuclear war that destroyed much of the earth's civilization. While unraveling what got you in the deadly predicament at the start of the game, you'll learn about your role as a courier, the power struggle between local feuding factions, and how to best navigate treacherous Las Vegas and the Mojave Desert (collectively referred to as the "Mojave Wasteland").

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (32):
Kids say (90):

It's good game, though very similar to Fallout 3. Played from a first- or third-person perspective (it's up to you), you'll take on many dozens of missions, pick locks, charm characters, play mini-games (including casino games), and, most importantly, use a variety of weapons to engage in combat against enemies, such as mutant creatures and robots. As with Fallout 3, you can attack baddies in real-time or press the right shoulder button on the controller to enter the V.A.T.S. targeting system for a turn-based approach.

More so than in its predecessor, the choices you make come with consequences and can shape the direction of the story. Along with new weapons, characters, and locations, Fallout: New Vegas"also includes an optional "hardcore mode," which adds an even greater challenge for skilled players. This game is a great pick for fans of the franchise.

Online interaction: The game doesn't support multiplayer matches but players will be able to download additional content over time.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether adult themes are more tolerable in games with a futuristic, post-apocalyptic setting than in those set in contemporary times, such as the Grand Theft Auto series. Does this fictional setting make a difference in terms of age suitability? Or is blood and gore always disturbing, no matter how it is dressed up?

  • Families can also discuss the depiction of sexuality in games. How do you feel about frank discussions of sex and nudity as opposed to its visual depiction? Should this distinction make a difference in terms of how games are rated?

Game Details

  • Platforms: PlayStation 3, Windows, Xbox 360
  • Available online?: Not available online
  • Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
  • Release date: October 19, 2010
  • Genre: Role-Playing
  • ESRB rating: M for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
  • Last updated: August 30, 2016

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