We’ve all watched a post apocalyptic movie and thought, “I could totally survive that.” Well, Fallout Shelter is your chance to actually prove it without the hassle of real radiation sunburns. It hands you the keys to a massive, 2,000 foot deep underground bunker and basically says, “Good luck, don’t let everyone die.” It’s an incredibly addictive offline simulator that takes the gritty, beloved Fallout universe and shrinks it down into a pocket sized management hustle.

PLAYING GOD WITH VAULT TEC

You aren’t just slapping down a few concrete walls here. As the Overseer, you are entirely responsible for keeping your underground society from collapsing into total chaos. You get to hollow out the bedrock and build a sprawling, multi level utopia. From futuristic power generators to classic retro diners and radio stations, every room serves a specific purpose. You even get to play matchmaker to keep the population growing, which is exactly as hilarious and awkward as it sounds.

KEEPING YOUR DWELLERS ALIVE AND KICKING

Your shiny new vault is absolutely useless without the people inside it. Every single Dweller has their own specific S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats, meaning you actually have to pay attention to who does what. You want to stick your smartest guy in the science lab and your strongest gal in the power plant. If you want them to survive brutal raider attacks or random, terrifying radroach infestations, you have to craft the right weapons, throw them in the barbershop for a fresh look, and deck them out in heavy duty gear.

BRAVING THE WASTELAND

Eventually, you’ll need resources you just can’t manufacture underground. That means opening the heavy vault door and sending your bravest (or unluckiest) Dwellers out into the blasted Wasteland. It’s a brutal adventure out there. They will scavenge for rare armor, level up, and bring home fat stacks of bottle caps. Just remember to pack enough survival gear, or they will meet a very swift, unspeakable end. Cracking open lunchboxes to score legendary franchise characters like Lucy MacLean, Sarah Lyons, or Abraham Washington is a massive rush when you desperately need some heavy hitters on your squad.

EXPERIMENTAL SEASONS

Once you finally get the hang of keeping your main vault from constantly catching on fire, the game throws new curveballs at you. You can jump into limited time shelter Seasons. These are separate, highly experimental vaults that really test your management skills. Knocking out these base building challenges scores you exclusive, season specific loot that makes the daily grind totally worth it.

If you love the idea of micromanaging a bizarre, retro futuristic society while fending off mutant attacks on your daily commute, this is an absolute must play. Grab your clipboard, put on that blue and yellow suit, and start digging.