Fallout Fans Won't Want To Miss This Free Open-World RPG

5 days ago 23

Published Apr 18, 2026, 12:00 PM EDT

James is a gaming writer from London who has spent thousands of hours exploring titles from every genre. Though he has a particular affinity for multiplayer titles like World of Warcraft, Destiny 2 and League of Legends, he has also put thousands of hours into single-player experiences, from deep RPGs to epic PC strategies. When he's not playing or writing, he can usually be found supporting his beloved Brentford FC.

Fallout might be at a bit of a high point in terms of popularity right now, thanks in no small part to the excellent Prime Video adaptation's second season, but the sobering reality is that we're not going to get a new game in the single-player series for a long while yet.

Bethesda Entertainment is locked in on The Elder Scrolls VI right now, and we've barely seen any of that game up to this point, despite it being announced all the way back in 2018. Todd has already made it clear that Fallout 5 is coming after TESVI, but it would be a huge surprise if we got to play it before 2030.

That leaves us looking to pick up the same vibe from elsewhere, and there's an option out there that might be worth your consideration if you're looking for something of the same ilk.

If You Like Fallout, Check Out This Free RPG

Over on Steam, you should be able to find the store page for Stalcraft: X, an online open-world RPG that takes players to the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, where all kinds of mutants and other anomalies roam free after the famous nuclear disaster left the area uninhabitable (for normal folk).

In that sense, it's very much like the Stalker series, only this time it comes with social elements for those of you who prefer a less solitary experience in what is a very frightening game world. With over ten years of development on the game now behind it, it's in a pretty solid state, and one that warrants a chance if the genre suits.

Stalcraft: X features a non-linear story where your choices make a difference to how everything plays out. Players are able adopt different archetypes and approaches to the game, and on an hour-by-hour basis you will be "exploring territories and caches, trading, science, banditry, faction wars and [completing] a huge variety of other PvP and PvE activities," according to the developer.

Reviews Are Mixed, But It's Free To See For Yourself

Feedback on the game so far has been Mixed over on Steam, with players bemoaning the grind required to compete in some areas, and the fact that PvP is always on, leading players with better gear to kill newcomers. That said, it's totally free to try it out, so there's no reason to not give it a go if the general premise looks like it appeals.