Fallout Shelter: The Board Game Review - with Tom Vasel

Tom Vasel takes a look at a worker placement game of collecting dwellers and building shelter rooms!

00:00 - Introduction
01:21 - Overview
08:36 - Final Thoughts

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[Spudkitty]

For Fallout fans like me, the game box is very significant as an icon from the video games. In the video game, when you find a Vault-Tec lunchbox, it explodes and reveals a random object to be used in the game. In addition, the lunchboxes can be used to craft a very powerful bottlecap mine. The tin lunchbox isn't just a game box ... it's a reminder of this item's importance in the video game.

[mrness]

Enjoying this game currently. Not a bad video but it should be noted that the top row was not arranged properly in this demo. These rooms are numbered and organized the same way everytime. For reference, why is The Wasteland next to the elevator?

[XSiberia]

Since when did Vault Tec ever care about dweller "happiness?" I'll wait for the misery and insanity based expansions.

[koriakin]

I really adore this game. It is amazing pack for small price. I would love to see some expansions, but as is, it's still terrific and have great success teaching and playing with all kind of people with this one.

[leenak.]

I played this game yesterday. I like Fallout 2 (PC) and Fallout 4 (PS4) games, so I was curious to try this board game. I like the graphics of the game and the thematic tin box. In the box there is enough space for the cards even the cards with the plastic card sheets. The purpose of the game is interesting: the choose the next overseer based on who makes the Vault dwellers most happy. There are many ways to get happiness: by getting resources and using them to get items (some of the items give more happiness based on the other items, resources, dwellers or spaces, for instance), getting rid of the threats, healing dwellers and building spaces in the Vault. Players may block other players by setting their dwellers on the spaces, so it matters who is the starting player (in the beginning it is the player who was the most recently underground) since he/she starts placing dwellers in the spaces first. It seems important to get resources, items giving you bonus to get more resources and bonus to fight with threats and more dwellers at the beginning of the game. Then the player has resources to build spaces which give happiness and more space. It is also important to educate the dwellers so they get double resources or happiness during the next turn. There is not just one superior strategy to get happiness, so it's good to see what other players do and react their game movements. The game is not pure strategy but there is some luck needed when rolling the dices. The rule book is thin and light: it doesn't take long to read the rules and get the game started, but there is some obscurity in them, like how to build the new spaces in the Vault (it is by placing a dweller in an elevator and paying the price of the space in the bottom of a certain space card). I think the game is entertaining and not too heavy. I like this better than the Fallout board game (the basic game without expansions). I recommend this game for people who like the Fallout world and who like board games.

[LabrnMystic]

The second I saw it was a tin, I knew you would hate that, but at least you pointed out it's thematic from the game.

I am also happy to see clear cards being used. Barely any games have them and they're a fun addition.

[bagusnaga]

Can I point out that your room placement is wrong? the wasteland and the entrance suppose to be on the left side according to the small number shown in front of each of that Red designed card ( see the back side of the card )

bought it, tested it and loved it.

[simonadams]

I can perhaps understand the dislike of tins from someone who has a thousand games and, for the most part, isn't interested in the ornamental value of a product's box, but I think it is likely that the average person much prefers the visual and tactile aesthetic of a tin to a cardboard box.

[The_Bulette]

I hope the game will get expansions. As I love this idea and would love to see it expanded much more with larger developed rooms and more.

[andrewgrant]

Tom... I think there are numbers on the spots in each room that correspond to the die rolls... not just counting out 1-2-3-4-5... look for the spot with 5.

[sloketamang]

"This dog" lol. it's a horse.

[mrbastos]

Glad to hear it is fun. I enjoyed Fallout Shelter as an app. Will definitely order.

[brianbett]

Fun fact: the designer of this game was just on this season of Nailed It on Netflix

[jtex]

Looks way more fun than I expected it to be

[jodycamper]

You putting the top cards out of order really bugged me

[vlpngvn]

If it's a true bethesda game, then on the first time opening the tin it should just unleash a swarm of locusts.

[jjcc]

Can you place workers at other player's rooms? Or are they just for their own exclusive use?
Didn't get that, might be an important detail.
It looks ... surprisingly decent. The aesthetics are correct and the transparent dangers is a great choice.
Will have to spend quite a bit on sleeves tho.

[JohnnyLeyenda]

Kinda disappointed there's no solo mode apparently

[TheLimestoneCowboy]

so is it like a worker-placement Imperial Settlers?

[goffchr]

Great review and I'm excited about this game. That said, most of this video's close-ups were out of focus and could've been shot a little better.