Fallout 3 remains not only one of Bethesda's best games, but arguably one of the best games in the entire series. It is a triumphant open-world shooter, one with a truly bleak apocalyptic atmosphere that nevertheless manages to be extremely entertaining, hopeful, and, at times, even hilarious. Naturally, players have been clamoring for a Fallout 3 remaster or even remake for quite some time, and, fortunately, those hopes aren't entirely wishful thinking.

Alongside the Oblivion Remaster, which not only turned out to be real but also one of the most successful remakes of all time, there were also rumors of a Fallout 3 remake. Those remain unconfirmed, but considering just how well Oblivion Remastered appears to be doing, it would be foolish for Bethesda and Xbox to leave Fallout 3 untouched. After all, it is reaching its 20th anniversary, and is in dire need of an Unreal Engine 5 glow-up.

Fallout 3 Remastered Should Be Next After Oblivion

It Would Capitalize On The Success Of Oblivion Remastered

The moment Bethesda shadow-dropped Oblivion Remastered, it truly felt like anything was possible. A project this big definitely felt as if it needed a huge build-up, and yet Bethesda kept its lips relatively sealed about it up until the very last second. It has given fans hope that the developer is doing the same with a Fallout 3 remaster, one similarly built from the ground up using a combination of the Creation Engine and Unreal Engine 5 that looks significantly better and benefits from a handful of gameplay improvements.

While many may want another Elder Scrolls game remastered, like Morrowind, it actually makes more sense for Bethesda to target Fallout 3. Despite releasing after Morrowind, it hasn't aged as well, with its gunplay feeling clunky compared to Fallout 4, and its visuals far too gunmetal-gray for a modern audience's liking. It is also a far more accessible title, meaning that it may gel better with those unaccustomed to Morrowind's lack of handholding and extremely alien world.

Fallout 3 Remastered Would Help With The Wait For Fallout 5

Fallout Fans Need A New Game

It is also worth noting that there hasn't been a new Fallout game since Fallout 76 released in 2018. While that has been getting a steady stream of updates and is disappointing Fallout 4 next-gen update.

Considering how transformative Oblivion Remastered is, a Fallout 3 remaster given the same amount of care and attention, would feel like a new game for everyone, even hardcore fans.

With Fallout 5's release date likely a long way away, fans need something else to play while they wait. A Fallout 3 remake would absolutely help with that, as it would, like it has with Oblivion, give them a new way of exploring their favorite open world and offer newcomers an exciting new experience. Considering how transformative Oblivion Remastered is, a Fallout 3 remaster given the same amount of care and attention, would feel like a new game for everyone, even hardcore fans.

It's A Huge Mistake If Bethesda Doesn't Remaster The Game

It Absolutely Needs One

Fortunately, it does seem like a Fallout 3 remaster is real, if the rumors are to be believed. It wouldn't be surprising to see more news pop up throughout the year. If it ends up not being real, it would be a huge shame, not just because of how well Oblivion Remastered is doing, but also because Fallout 3 desperately needs one. As aforementioned, it hasn't aged the best visually, nor mechanically. Playing it in 2025 isn't nearly as fun as it was back in 2008, largely thanks to the limited combat, dull visuals, and somewhat inconsistent exploration.

That being said, it is still one of the best Fallout games, as, beneath its rocky and dusty exterior, lies a truly remarkable foundation, one that was simplified far too much for its sequel. Fallout 3, much like New Vegas, has some excellent writing, quest design, and locations to explore, as well as an extremely memorable cast of characters fans would love to see again. The game isn't available to purchase digitally either, at least on PS5, and can only be accessed via the PS Plus subscription service.

It really feels like now is the time to bring back Fallout 3 in the same way that it was the right time for Oblivion Remastered. The world needed more high fantasy RPGs, and it needs a really strong, spooky, and often hilarious apocalyptic RPG as well. With Fallout season 2 on the horizon and Fallout 5 too far away to truly get excited about it, Bethesda should finally release a remaster of Fallout 3 and give the fans what they've always wanted.