*UPDATE*
+ player choice
+ more skill checks than all of fallout 4
+ cryptids still fun as ♥♥♥♥
+ base building and vending
+ freaking epic mode map
+ companions
- still a buggy game
- can't romance the mothman
- can't ♥♥♥♥ the mothman


*NOTE* This is all recorded pre-wastelanders, but still felt valuable. I have around 350 hours logged on the Beth Launcher. I'm sure wastelanders will fix some of the issues listed here, and will update this review when I've played through the expansion.


Don't get this game if you absolutely cannot stand:

Inventory management,

The crafting and base-building of Fallout 4,

Survival (having to eat, drink, etc),

Sometimes painful RNG,

The prospect of seeing xXVault_Girl69Xx walking around the same game-world as you,

Lore retcons and inconsistencies,

Radiant quests that simply involve wiping out pests for often DEAD characters,

Pricy cosmetic items like Fortnite,

Little annoying bugs, trust me in saying that it used to be SO, SO, SO MUCH WORSE.

and last but not least, listening and slogging through literal HOURS of audio-logs & holo-tapes--these are all skippable but the bulk of the vanilla story is told through this medium.


Get this game if you:

Need a co-op open-world, survival-rpg with enough content to keep you busy through these trying times, even though that content can sometimes be lifeless fetch quests--it can still be really fun along the way with the right people.

Love exploring vast, colorful, and detailed worlds (visually I think this is the best Beth map to date).

Love Inon Zur's amazing atmospheric and ambient soundtracks.

Love unique monster designs and the idea of hunting real-world cryptids with your friends (seriously my favorite part of the vanilla game, praise mothman)

Love setting up shops and interacting with other players.

Don't mind lore inconsistencies as long as there's new lore to support the changes.

And of course, if you enjoy inventory management, the crafting+building of FO4, you will probably enjoy this game thoroughly.


WASTELANDERS & EVERYTHING WE KNOW:
The vanilla content mentioned above is still present, although refined with NPC interactions and older things patched up.
Wastelanders adds a completely new, traditional, main fallout quest-line.
Dialogue with real skill-checks akin to FO3 and NV--VAST improvement over FO4.
Faction reputation returns.
Real choice and consequence, with at least two different endings to support these claims.
Killable NPCs, unlike many in FO4.
Romanceable companions that hang around your camp and join you for a specific few quests.
And much more, but that's the bulk of what you should know before going into this.

*UPDATE* + player choice + more skill checks than all of fallout 4 + cryptids still fun as fuck + base building and vending + freaking epic mode map + companions - still a buggy game - can't romance the mothman - can't fuck the mothman *NOTE* This is all recorded pre-wastelanders, but still felt valuable. I have around 350 hours logged on the Beth Launcher. I'm sure wastelanders will fix some of the issues listed here, and will update this review when I've played through the expansion. Don't get this game if you absolutely cannot stand: Inventory management, The crafting and base-building of Fallout 4, Survival (having to eat, drink, etc), Sometimes painful RNG, The prospect of seeing xXVault_Girl69Xx walking around the same game-world as you, Lore retcons and inconsistencies, Radiant quests that simply involve wiping out pests for often DEAD characters, Pricy cosmetic items like Fortnite, Little annoying bugs, trust me in saying that it used to be SO, SO, SO MUCH WORSE. and last but not least, listening and slogging through literal HOURS of audio-logs & holo-tapes--these are all skippable but the bulk of the vanilla story is told through this medium. Get this game if you: Need a co-op open-world, survival-rpg with enough content to keep you busy through these trying times, even though that content can sometimes be lifeless fetch quests--it can still be really fun along the way with the right people. Love exploring vast, colorful, and detailed worlds (visually I think this is the best Beth map to date). Love Inon Zur's amazing atmospheric and ambient soundtracks. Love unique monster designs and the idea of hunting real-world cryptids with your friends (seriously my favorite part of the vanilla game, praise mothman) Love setting up shops and interacting with other players. Don't mind lore inconsistencies as long as there's new lore to support the changes. And of course, if you enjoy inventory management, the crafting+building of FO4, you will probably enjoy this game thoroughly. WASTELANDERS & EVERYTHING WE KNOW: The vanilla content mentioned above is still present, although refined with NPC interactions and older things patched up. Wastelanders adds a completely new, traditional, main fallout quest-line. Dialogue with real skill-checks akin to FO3 and NV--VAST improvement over FO4. Faction reputation returns. Real choice and consequence, with at least two different endings to support these claims. Killable NPCs, unlike many in FO4. Romanceable companions that hang around your camp and join you for a specific few quests. And much more, but that's the bulk of what you should know before going into this.