For a released, native total-conversion-style campaign, choose Fallout: New California. It gives New Vegas a new worldspace, an original prequel-style story, branching paths, companions and extensive voiced dialogue. Fallout: The Frontier is the larger expedition: a separate, DLC-scale project with several faction campaigns and a custom driving system. If you want Fallout 3 and New Vegas in one continuous game, Tale of Two Wastelands is the clear crossover choice.
These projects are not interchangeable. New California is a self-contained campaign launched from the New Game menu; The Frontier is a demanding, large-scale expedition; Tale of Two Wastelands merges two games rather than replacing New Vegas; and Fallout 4: New Vegas is a remake for Fallout 4, not a plug-in for the New Vegas engine. Several other ambitious projects remain in progress and belong on a watchlist rather than an install-now list.
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Quick comparison
| Project | What it is | Campaign and world scale | Voice acting or special systems | Maturity | Main installation concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fallout: New California | Native New Vegas total-conversion-style campaign and unofficial prequel | New world, original story, branching narrative, companions | Hours of voiced dialogue | Released; version 2.3.1, listing updated 9 April 2020 | PC-only; install from the New Game menu and check DLC and mod-manager requirements |
| Fallout: The Frontier | Huge DLC/new-game-scale expedition for New Vegas | Large new setting with multiple faction campaigns and branching quests | Extensive voice work and custom driving system | Released project, but current compatibility should be verified | Large file and load order; treat it as a separate campaign and test compatibility |
| Tale of Two Wastelands | Fallout 3/New Vegas crossover framework | Fallout 3 and its downloadable content joined to New Vegas in one playthrough | Uses the two games’ existing content rather than replacing them with one new total-conversion story | Actively documented community project | Requires compatible PC installations, DLC and a careful conversion process |
| Fallout 4: New Vegas | Remake of New Vegas in Fallout 4’s Creation Engine | Intended to rebuild New Vegas rather than add a New Vegas worldspace to the original game | Depends on Fallout 4’s engine and project development | In development | Not a drop-in New Vegas mod; requires Fallout 4 and its own future release instructions |
| Fallout Chicago, Fallout: Revelation Blues and Fallout Atlanta | Separate ambitious projects listed on ModDB | DLC-sized or otherwise large proposed settings and campaigns | Features and scope depend on each project’s current build | Alpha, demo or in-progress status; check each listing | Availability, prerequisites and stability can change |
“Total conversion” is used loosely in the New Vegas community. A strict total conversion replaces most of the original game, while some projects add a new worldspace and campaign but still rely on New Vegas systems, assets or the base executable. The table therefore distinguishes a native campaign, a crossover framework and a remake rather than treating every large mod as the same kind of overhaul.
1. Fallout: New California — best released native campaign
What you get
Fallout: New California is the strongest answer to “What is the best total conversion for Fallout: New Vegas?” Its project description presents it as a massive mod with an all-new story, a new world, hours of voiced dialogue and multiple branching narrative paths. It is structured as an unofficial prequel to New Vegas and is launched from the game’s Main Menu rather than by continuing a normal Mojave save.
#1 Best Overall
- Beyond the Wasteland: The world of New Vegas is more expansive than ever. Each new distinct area presents a fresh set of branching-quests, remarkable personalities and more chances to play the Savior or the Pariah to the natives of New Vegas.
- Dead Money: Lured into a trap masquerading as the Sierra Madre Casino, you are thrown into a high stakes game where you'll have to work with three other lost souls if you want to survive.
- Honest Hearts: An expedition into Utah's Zion National Park goes horribly wrong and you become embroiled in a war between tribes and put into a conflict between a New Canaanite missionary and the mysterious Burning Man.
- Old World Blues: Transported to the Big MT research crater, you are enlisted by the Think Tank to save them from their own science experiments that have gone horribly out of control.
- Lonesome Road: Ulysses, the original Courier Six, contacts you and promises to answer why he refused to deliver the Platinum Chip at the start of Fallout: New Vegas, but only if you make one last journey into the treacherous canyons of the Divide.
The new setting, narrative choices and companion-focused structure make it feel closer to a standalone role-playing campaign than to a conventional quest mod. You begin a separate story, make decisions that can send the plot in different directions, and experience a purpose-built worldspace instead of simply receiving another quest line in the Mojave. That makes it the best fit for a reader who wants “mods like Fallout: New California”: look for projects that provide their own opening, setting and campaign loop, not only a collection of side quests.
Release status and limits
The official Nexus listing identifies version 2.3.1 and records a last update of 9 April 2020. Those are the safe, dated metadata points; they do not establish a current playtime, download count or rating. The project is PC-only, so console versions of New Vegas cannot use it.
Because the listing is dated, check the current project page and its installation notes before downloading. Confirm that your game edition, installed downloadable content and mod manager match the requirements shown there. Do not assume that a modern utility or another large overhaul is compatible simply because both are designed for New Vegas.
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- Choose New California when you want an original, prequel-style campaign inside the New Vegas ecosystem.
- Expect a separate start from the New Game menu rather than a continuation of your existing Courier.
- Keep a clean profile or separate mod list for it; mixing several worldspace overhauls makes troubleshooting harder.
- Use the project’s own load-order and compatibility guidance as the authority for optional patches.
2. Fallout: The Frontier — best huge expedition
Why it stands apart
Fallout: The Frontier is described as a gigantic DLC/new-game project rather than a small conversion. Its appeal is breadth: multiple faction campaigns, voiced and branching quests, a substantially different expedition setting and a custom driving system. If your definition of “biggest New Vegas overhaul” is the amount of new campaign material and systems, The Frontier is the leading candidate among the released projects listed here.
The driving system is especially important to expectations. It is not merely decorative transport between vanilla locations; it is a custom gameplay feature that changes how the new campaign is traversed. The faction structure also means that your first choice affects which quest lines you see, so it is better approached as a dedicated campaign than as an add-on to an already crowded Mojave load order.
Compatibility and installation risk
The project’s scale increases the number of moving parts. Verify its current compatibility guidance before installation, including supported game edition, required DLC, mod-manager method and any prerequisite utilities. Install it into a clean or separately managed New Vegas profile, and do not begin by stacking other major quest, weather, UI or worldspace overhauls on top of it.
A project can be released and still require current compatibility checking. The Frontier’s listing and community guidance should be treated as the source of truth for the version you are installing. If an older guide recommends files that the current instructions no longer use, follow the current project instructions instead.
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- Choose The Frontier if you want a large expedition with several faction campaigns and a bespoke vehicle system.
- Reserve a separate playthrough; its scale and campaign structure make it a poor candidate for casual mid-save insertion.
- Expect a longer setup and a greater chance of conflicts than with a conventional quest or companion mod.
- Test the opening sequence before adding optional graphics, gameplay or interface changes.
3. Tale of Two Wastelands — best Fallout 3/New Vegas crossover
How the crossover works
Tale of Two Wastelands is the clearest answer to “Which New Vegas mod adds Fallout 3?” Community documentation describes it as merging Fallout 3 and its downloadable content with Fallout: New Vegas into one playthrough. Rather than replacing New Vegas with one new campaign, it lets you move through both games’ content in a shared framework.
This distinction matters. New California and The Frontier are new campaigns created for the New Vegas environment. Tale of Two Wastelands is a conversion and integration project: it combines two full games, their quests and their downloadable content. Your installation therefore depends on having compatible PC copies of the required games and DLC, and the conversion process is more involved than enabling a single mod archive.
Documentation you should use
The project’s official site provides installation, FAQ, development, release and troubleshooting sections. Read those pages before touching your files. Community guides can explain the same process in different words, but the official documentation should determine supported versions, conversion steps and known issues for the release you are using.
Best use case
- Pick Tale of Two Wastelands when your priority is one character and one playthrough spanning Fallout 3 and New Vegas.
- Plan the installation before adding other overhauls; a conversion framework is the foundation of the load order.
- Keep backups of unmodified game files and saves, and use a dedicated mod profile.
- Do not describe it as a total conversion of New Vegas: it is a crossover that preserves and connects both games’ content.
4. Fallout 4: New Vegas — a remake, not a New Vegas mod
Fallout 4: New Vegas aims to remake New Vegas in Fallout 4’s Creation Engine. That makes it conceptually different from every project above. You cannot install it into the original New Vegas executable as a drop-in worldspace or campaign. It belongs to Fallout 4’s mod ecosystem and will have its own engine, assets, dependencies and release instructions.
For that reason, it is a watchlist project rather than a current recommendation for someone who wants to play a complete New Vegas conversion today. Follow the project’s official development channels for release information, and do not download unofficial packages that claim to be a finished replacement.
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5. Other large projects to watch
Fallout Chicago
ModDB lists Fallout Chicago among ambitious projects connected with the New Vegas modding scene. Its status and available build should be checked on the current listing. Treat it as in progress unless the page clearly identifies a playable release with installation instructions.
Fallout: Revelation Blues
Revelation Blues is also listed on ModDB as an in-progress project. A project page can describe a large planned campaign without providing a complete, stable download. Check whether the current entry is an alpha, demo or full release before planning a playthrough.
Fallout Atlanta
Fallout Atlanta belongs in the same watchlist category. Its scope may be described as DLC-sized, but planned scale is not proof of a finished campaign. Verify the current release status, prerequisites and compatibility notes on ModDB.
These projects are worth following if you enjoy development updates, but they should not displace New California, The Frontier or Tale of Two Wastelands when the goal is a playable, documented installation now.
How to choose the right project
| Your priority | Best fit | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| A new story and world inside New Vegas | Fallout: New California | Native prequel-style campaign with branching paths, companions and voiced dialogue |
| The largest released expedition | Fallout: The Frontier | DLC/new-game scale, multiple factions and custom driving |
| Fallout 3 plus New Vegas in one character’s journey | Tale of Two Wastelands | Connects Fallout 3 and its DLC with New Vegas |
| A rebuilt New Vegas using a newer engine | Fallout 4: New Vegas | Future remake for Fallout 4’s Creation Engine, not an original-engine mod |
| Experimental or unreleased projects | Chicago, Revelation Blues or Atlanta | Follow development and verify whether a playable build exists |
Installation checklist for any large overhaul
Large projects fail most often because the foundation is wrong, not because the campaign itself is defective. Use this order before launching a new game.
- Use a PC copy of Fallout: New Vegas. Console editions cannot load these PC projects. The Fallout: New Vegas Ultimate Edition for PC is the straightforward base package to investigate, but marketplace availability and the exact included DLC should be checked when you buy.
- Confirm the edition and DLC. Read the selected project’s current requirements. Some installations expect all New Vegas downloadable content; Tale of Two Wastelands additionally requires Fallout 3 and its DLC. Do not infer requirements from a different mod guide.
- Start clean. Update or verify the game files, remove old unmanaged mod files and create a separate profile in a current mod manager. A clean baseline gives you a known recovery point.
- Read the project’s own instructions. New California, The Frontier and Tale of Two Wastelands each have project-specific procedures. Follow their supported file versions and installation order instead of copying a generic “install every utility” list.
- Install prerequisites first. Add only the utilities and libraries the project names. Restart the mod manager or game when the instructions require it, and resolve missing-file warnings before adding optional content.
- Install one major project at a time. Do not install New California, The Frontier and Tale of Two Wastelands into one profile. Their campaign files and assumptions are different; separate profiles prevent accidental cross-contamination.
- Check the load order. Use the order specified by the project documentation, then inspect warnings from your manager. A plugin that loads successfully can still conflict with a worldspace, script or UI overhaul.
- Launch the intended entry point. New California is launched from the New Game menu. A crossover installation follows Tale of Two Wastelands’ documented start procedure. The Frontier has its own campaign entry and should not be tested by loading an unrelated late-game save.
- Run a short smoke test. Start a new game, reach the opening quests, save, quit and reload. Test dialogue, transitions, inventory and the project’s signature systems before installing cosmetic additions.
- Keep backups. Preserve the clean game files, mod profile and first test save. If an update breaks the installation, roll back the profile rather than trying to repair a heavily modified save.
Common failure modes and fixes
The game crashes before the menu
Disable the newest major mod and return to the clean profile. Confirm that the game edition, DLC and required prerequisites match the project’s current instructions. A crash at startup usually points to a missing dependency, invalid plugin or incompatible installation rather than a quest choice.
Rank #4
- Officially licensed Fallout video game merchandise. Survive the post-apocalyptic landscape as the vault dweller in this highly rated series. Just beware the rogue ghouls and super mutants.
- Perfect graphic merchandise for fans of Video Gaming, Apocalypse, Vault Boy, Nuka Cola, Gamers, TV Shows, Ghoul, Streetwear, and Trendy fashion. Our Fallout gaming designs are made with fans like you in mind.
- Lightweight, Classic fit, Double-needle sleeve and bottom hem
The campaign does not appear
Check that the plugin is enabled and that you are using the documented entry point. New California is selected through the New Game menu; loading an existing Mojave save will not start its campaign. For other projects, verify the release’s start instructions and load order.
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Reproduce the problem in the dedicated profile with optional mods disabled. Script-heavy campaigns are sensitive to conflicting overhauls and outdated patches. If the issue remains, consult the project’s troubleshooting section and provide the exact version, load order and save stage requested there.
A guide recommends files that no longer exist
Use the current official project documentation and release notes. Dated guides can refer to retired installers, old prerequisite versions or compatibility patches that have since changed. Do not substitute a random mirror for a missing dependency.
An update breaks an existing save
Large campaign mods should be treated like separate games. Avoid updating in the middle of a playthrough unless the project explicitly says it is safe. Restore the previous profile and backup, or begin a new game on the version recommended by the developers.
What “best” means for this list
The recommendations separate released, playable projects from alpha, demo and remake work. “Best” is therefore a match between the reader’s goal and the project’s form: New California wins for a native original campaign; The Frontier wins for expedition scale and custom systems; Tale of Two Wastelands wins for a Fallout 3 crossover. Fallout 4: New Vegas, Chicago, Revelation Blues and Atlanta remain development projects to monitor rather than substitutes for those currently documented choices.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install New California and The Frontier together?
Use separate mod-manager profiles and separate playthroughs. Both are large campaign projects with their own worldspaces, scripts and compatibility assumptions, so combining them is not a sensible starting configuration.
Does Tale of Two Wastelands replace Fallout 3 or New Vegas?
No. It is a crossover framework that connects Fallout 3 and its downloadable content with New Vegas in one playthrough. Follow its official installation and troubleshooting documentation for the supported game and DLC versions.
Is Fallout 4: New Vegas playable as a New Vegas mod today?
No. It is a remake project for Fallout 4’s Creation Engine, not a drop-in mod for the original New Vegas executable. Its release status and requirements must be checked with the project.
Quick Recap
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