The game places the player in the role as a courier. The courier, while delivering a package with unknown contents, is found unconcious in a shallow grave after a failed assassination attempt by an unknown assailant. The courier is treated for injuries by a local caregiver, Doc Mitchell. Thereafter the player enters into character creation (defining skills and attributes, name, gender, age and appearance) before investigating the assassination attempt, recovering the stolen package, and exploring the world
The Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System, or V.A.T.S., will have the ability to use new special attacks Usage of certain melee weapons will trigger unique attack animations. For example, using 9-Iron (a golf club) would show up as "Fore" and sends the enemy reeling for a period. Also Obsidian Entertainment has added the ability to use the ironsight on all guns and rifles.