Starfield vs. Fallout: A Sizeable Comparison
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
Starfield is undeniably the largest Bethesda game to date, dwarfing both Fallout 4 and Fallout 76 in terms of overall explorable area. While Fallout 4’s map is confined to a single, relatively small landmass, Starfield offers over 1,000 planets to explore, albeit with varying degrees of hand-crafted content versus procedurally generated landscapes. The actual explorable surface area in Starfield, considering all planets, is exponentially larger than anything seen in the Fallout series, with Starfield being roughly 20 percent larger than Fallout 4.
Starfield’s Scope: A Galactic Playground
Starfield’s massive scale isn’t just about a bigger map; it’s about a fundamentally different approach to world design. Instead of a single, contiguous world like Fallout 4’s Commonwealth, Starfield presents a galaxy with numerous star systems, each containing multiple planets and moons. This allows for a diverse range of environments, from barren wastelands to lush, alien ecosystems.
The key difference lies in the combination of handcrafted content and procedural generation. While major locations, like the cities of New Atlantis, Akila, Neon, and The Key, are meticulously designed with unique stories and quests, the surfaces of many planets are generated using algorithms. This allows Bethesda to create a vast, seemingly endless universe without sacrificing the detail and narrative depth that their games are known for.
Think of it this way: Fallout 4 gives you a beautifully detailed, hand-painted canvas. Starfield, on the other hand, gives you a massive planetarium with a few exquisitely painted exhibits scattered among procedurally generated stellar displays. The sheer volume of potential exploration in Starfield surpasses anything in Fallout, even considering the expansions and DLC.
Fallout’s Focused Fidelity
Fallout games, particularly Fallout 4 and Fallout 76, focus on crafting intensely detailed and interconnected environments. The world design prioritizes meaningful encounters, hidden locations, and intricate level design. While not as spatially vast as Starfield, these games offer a denser experience, packing a surprising amount of content into a smaller geographical area.
Fallout 4’s Commonwealth, for example, is teeming with secrets and stories woven into the landscape. Every building, every alleyway, every ruined settlement has a purpose and a history. The post-apocalyptic setting is expertly realized, creating a sense of place that’s both captivating and unsettling.
Fallout 76 expands on this formula with a larger map and the addition of multiplayer elements. While the reception was initially mixed, the game has evolved into a sprawling online world with a dedicated community. Its map is sizable, but still dwarfed by Starfield’s universe.
Comparing Story Length and Content
Starfield offers over 250,000 lines of dialogue and its main story is about 30 to 40 hours long. However, to appreciate Starfield’s full value, you should experience the side quests and explorations, which is more like 60 hours of total content.
Bethesda stated that Starfield’s main story quest would probably take players around 30-40 hours to complete, claiming it to be the biggest campaign in Bethesda history.
Combat and Gameplay Mechanics
Both Starfield and Fallout 4 share DNA in their combat systems. Combat design in Starfield feels a lot like Fallout 4’s shooter gameplay but much smoother.
The Verdict: Different Approaches to Scale
Ultimately, the question of “bigger” depends on how you define it. In terms of sheer physical space, Starfield wins hands down. The potential explorable area across its 1,000 planets is astronomical. However, Fallout offers a more densely packed and intricately designed world, where every corner feels handcrafted.
Starfield is a space exploration epic, emphasizing the thrill of discovery and the vastness of the unknown. Fallout is a post-apocalyptic survival story, focusing on the struggles and triumphs of humanity in a broken world. Both offer unique and compelling experiences, and the “better” game depends entirely on your personal preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Starfield bigger than Fallout 76?
Yes, Starfield’s map is significantly larger than Fallout 76’s. While Fallout 76 features a large, open world based on West Virginia, Starfield offers the opportunity to explore over 1,000 planets, each with potentially vast explorable areas.
2. How does Starfield’s map size compare to Skyrim?
The possible size of Starfield’s map has not been officially confirmed, but it has been estimated to be anywhere from 100 to 1,000 times larger than Skyrim’s map. This means that the possible size of Starfield’s map could be anywhere from 1,450 square miles to 14,500 square miles.
3. Will Starfield really have 1,000 planets?
Yes, Starfield does feature approximately 1,000 planets. However, not all planets are created equal. Some are barren and lifeless, while others contain quests, valuable resources, and even life. About 10% contain life in addition to quests and valuable raw materials.
4. How many cities are in Starfield?
Starfield has four major cities: New Atlantis, Akila, Neon, and The Key. The Key is a space station run by the Crimson Fleet, and the other three are capitals of Jemison, Akila, and Volii.
5. Can you go to Earth in Starfield?
Yes, you can visit Earth in Starfield. You’ll need to travel to the SOL star system, which is located near Alpha Centauri. Earth is accessible early in the game after delivering the first Artifact to Constellation.
6. Is Starfield better or worse than Fallout 4?
Whether Starfield is better or worse than Fallout 4 is subjective. Starfield improves upon many mechanics from Fallout 4, but each game offers unique experiences. Starfield emphasizes space exploration, while Fallout 4 focuses on a post-apocalyptic narrative in a detailed, hand-crafted world. Think of Fallout 4 as a dry run in implementing new features and mechanics, and Starfield is the actual performance. Pretty much all the typical Bethesda gameplay trope has been improved and incorporated better in Starfield.
7. Is Starfield better than Fallout 76?
While both games have their merits, Starfield is generally considered to be a more polished and engaging experience than Fallout 76, especially at Fallout 76’s launch. However, Starfield has now fallen below Fallout 76 to become Bethesda’s lowest-rated game on Steam. With a review rating of 71.37%, it trails behind Fallout 76’s rating of 71.76%.
8. How long is the Starfield campaign?
Starfield’s main story takes around 30 to 40 hours to complete. However, players who engage with side quests and exploration can easily spend over 60 hours in the game. You can complete it in as few as 23 hours if you insist on powering through the game without breaks for story elements.
9. Does Starfield have building like Fallout 4?
Yes, Starfield has a similar building mechanic to Fallout 4, allowing players to establish and customize outposts on different planets. This expanded settlement feature offers limitless customization.
10. Will Starfield be as good as Skyrim?
Whether Starfield will be as good as Skyrim is subjective and depends on individual player preferences. While Starfield is an excellent and vast experience, players are still struggling to come to grips with everything it has to offer. It’s so starkly different from similar games that even something as similar as exploring can feel daunting and, at times, less rewarding than it does in Skyrim.
11. What makes Starfield different from Fallout?
Starfield differs from Fallout in its setting, gameplay focus, and overall scope. Starfield is a space exploration RPG set in a vast galaxy, while Fallout is a post-apocalyptic survival game in a smaller, more detailed world. The tone and themes also differ significantly.
12. What is the world’s largest open-world game?
Minecraft has the largest land-based open world to explore out of any game. The world of Minecraft is approximately 1.5 billion sq. miles.
13. How big are Starfield’s planets?
Starfield’s planets are estimated to be about 5% of the size they ‘should’ be, with a ratio of 1:20 between explorable area and realistic scale. However, this is a broad estimate.
14. Is Starfield the biggest Bethesda game ever?
Yes, Bethesda has announced that Starfield is now its biggest launch title ever.
15. What file size can I expect for games like Starfield?
Modern, high-fidelity games can have massive file sizes. ARK: Survival Evolved, for example, can take up to 250 GB.
By understanding these differences and similarities, you can better appreciate what each game has to offer and decide which one suits your gaming preferences. Both Starfield and the Fallout series offer unique and captivating experiences in their respective genres.
Want to learn more about the educational potential of games? Check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org to see how games are being used to revolutionize education and learning.