Apocalypse World vs Fallout: The Roleplaying Game
Compare Apocalypse World and Fallout: The Roleplaying Game side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, cost, and more.
| Apocalypse World | Fallout: The Roleplaying Game | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Post-Apocalyptic | Post-Apocalyptic |
| Play Style | Narrative, Rules-Light, Collaborative, Improvisation, Low-Prep, Drama, Theater of the Mind, Roleplay-Heavy, Playbook-Driven | Tactical, Exploration, Survival, Character Building, Cinematic |
| Core Mechanic | Roll 2d6 + stat. 6−: MC makes a hard move, 7–9: succeed with cost or complication, 10+: full success. Playbook moves trigger from the fiction. The MC follows Agendas and Principles instead of plotting. | Roll 2–5d20 against a target number (Attribute + Skill). Each die at or under the target scores a success. Compare successes to difficulty (1–5). Extra successes become Action Points to buy bonus dice, extra damage, or information. |
| Dice | 2d6 | 2d20 + d6 |
| Complexity | Low | Medium |
| Accessibility | Medium | High |
| Runnability | High | Very High |
| License | CC BY 4.0 (Powered by the Apocalypse) | All Rights Reserved |
| Cost | $$ | $$$ |
| Publisher | lumpley games | Modiphius Entertainment |
| Year | 2016 | 2021 |
| Best For | Groups who want raw, character-driven post-apocalyptic drama where the fiction leads and the MC never plans ahead. | Fallout fans who want to explore the Wasteland at the tabletop with SPECIAL attributes, perks, Action Points, and the iconic post-apocalyptic setting. |
| Highlights | Genre-defining design that launched the entire PbtA movement, playbooks with built-in dramatic hooks, MC framework provides detailed GM guidance, highly hackable | Faithful Fallout experience with S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats and perks, Action Point economy creates tactical depth, Combat Dice handle damage cleanly, well-supported licensed setting |
| Considerations | Can feel directionless without strong character flags, 2nd edition layout is dense and hard to reference, move trigger ambiguity requires frequent MC judgment calls, harm mechanics can cascade quickly | The 2d20 system carries a learning curve, with an Action Point economy to track alongside the dice. Tight ties to the Fallout IP constrain homebrew settings that stray from the license. Rules detail can feel crunchy for groups who want a lighter game. |