I shouldn't hold it against Fallout 3 for my weird experience when I played it a bunch of years ago but it has been my only time through the game so it does make a difference in how I feel about it. Basically, I left the vault and started wandering around the world getting up to hijinks and doing some side quests. Then I thought maybe I ought to pay attention to the story for a bit and, after a handful of main missions, found myself at the end of the game not even having put 20 hours into it. Felt weird, especially since Fallout 3 came out at a time when few games like this allow you to go back into the game afterwards to do clean up. I could go back to my last save but it just felt off putting. It's still a really good game but I'd rather play Fallout 4.

Fallout 3 is a game that I think is overhated, but also isn't genre defining by any means. I like the Capital Wasteland as a world to explore. The characters and side quests are fun enough, though I wouldn't say many are memorable. The DLC are all pretty interesting and fun. The main story feels a bit uninspired. There are memorable moments, but overall I'm not very interested in completing it. The main story also only takes you through about half of the main world, with no incentive to explore the other half of the world outside of curiosity. That being said, I often found myself rewarded with skill books for exploring random locations or unmarked houses, which I really appreciated. Many of the perks are just skill point increases, which is very lame. The game and gunplay feels stiff which is partially the point, but can still feel bad to play at times, mainly in the early game. Fallout 3 is alright, but it's nowhere near perfect.

A great first entry in Bethesda's Modern RPG formula. This one compared to Fallout New Vegas has aged like milk, yet when compared to similar RPG games by other publishers, stands above.

Main game ending pre DLC was a copout and exists to sell you Broken Steel which provides a half-assed "ending" anyway. The Pitt was alright, even if you engage in Infant cannibalism. Point Lookout is your average expansion, nothing really crazy notable. Mothership Zeta is the same way, although fighting aliens was cool back in the day.

Fallout 3 will always be a 5 star rating in my heart. Fallout is my favourite franchise (with Metal Gear and Zelda) and Fallout 3 was my entry to the saga. But it's important to say that this game is not perfect and hasn't aged well. The setting of the Wasteland is magnificent - probably the best one - but the dungeons aren't good. There are a few exceptions (Dunwich Building, the metro), but in general in the dungeons there is no lore and there are just enemies to kill.
Now, because this is a little review of the goty edition, just a few words for the DLCs.
Operation Anchorage: pretty interesting, but not that good. God tier overpowered loot.
The Pitt: best DLC of Fallout 3. Great setting, great characters, great loot, best questline in the game.
Broken Steel: bad. With this DLC the level cap becomes 30.
Point Lookout: I always think that this DLC is overrated as hell. However, it's good and Point Lookout is pretty nice to explore.
Mothership Zeta: pure shit. God tier overpowered energy weapons.

Great environment, music (great music never ages), story and awesome DLC!

I was born and raised in DC so it was great to actually walk through many familiar locations (odd that the capital of the free world is rarely in video games).

Difficulty Played: Normal

[Main Story] + [DLC]
**
An open world to explore, with multiple communities and people with their own stories to tell. This game gives the player the freedom to go and be whatever he wants, having consequences for his actions which will influence the course of the game.

The two big groups in this game are the brotherhood and the enclaves, where in this playthrough I helped the brotherhood.

However, there are some DLC to do if the player wants to invest time before focusing on the Main story.