The Fallout series of video games has always had a very close place in my heart. Since the first game debuted in 1997, I’ve loved it’s exceptionally atmospheric mix of post apocalyptic roleplaying meets 50’s kitsch world building. I’ve really valued it’s presentation of a morally grey universe that is sprinkled with dark humor and wit. Post Apocalyptic storytelling isn’t something new, but the wonderful texture and density of the Fallout games goes unparalleled.

It’s also one of the few major gaming IP’s that combines those three wonderful things I love: Jazz, Drinking and Cigars. Throughout the wasteland you can to listen to a lot of amazing trad Jazz and Pop. The first two games used tracks from both The Ink Spots and Louis Armstrong to intro the games. Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas have entire selections of Golden Era music to listen to. Like the BioShock series of games, the music licensing is really amazing stuff. Also like the BioShock games, the Fallout series uses plenty of alcohol to further establish a realistic adult universe.

But what about cigars? Both cigars and cigarettes can be found throughout the wasteland in Fallout, but are mainly atmospheric pieces rather than usable items. Unlike the BioShock series, cigars don’t have much of a branding or associated identity. I do love the atmosphere they create when you do come across a smoky bar somewhere and you spot the cigars wafting pale smoke around the room. It’s funny how something so simple can really produce an instant connection to a space.

The Fallout games act more as a combination of these great pastimes, whilst also making us yearn for a more free (albeit very scary) world. I guess if there if there is anything we can really be thankful for, is that narrator Ron Perlman is an avid cigar smoker. Combining the voice of Fallout with cigars is as good a connection as you can get.