Fallout Fan Discovers Rare Chess Set at Thrift Store

A dedicated Fallout enthusiast stumbled upon a rare treasure while exploring a local thrift store: a chess set inspired by the beloved post-apocalyptic series. Since its debut in 1997, the Fallout franchise has expanded to include six main games and an award-winning television series, attracting a devoted fanbase eager to collect unique memorabilia.

Over the years, Fallout has produced a wide array of limited-edition merchandise, including iconic power helmets, Pip-Boys, and even Nuka Dark Rum to celebrate the launch of Fallout 76. For fans who wish to enjoy family time while remaining immersed in the franchise's captivating post-nuclear atmosphere, there are also several Fallout-themed board games available. Titles like Yahtzee: Fallout Vault Boy Edition, Fallout Monopoly, Nuka-Cola Checkers, and Operation: Fallout cater to this niche, not to mention the existence of a Fallout chess set.

Recently, a user named boxx-1 shared their exciting find on the Fallout subreddit. They discovered an officially licensed Fallout 4 chess set, which was released in two variations in 2017 and 2018: the first as a GameStop exclusive and the second as a general release. The chess set includes 32 vinyl pieces, with the GameStop version featuring irradiated green pieces for the white side. boxx-1 was fortunate enough to uncover the public release version, still sealed in cellophane. Their research revealed that similar new sets are selling for around $200 on online auction platforms.

Unique Chess Board Features Dogmeat as the Queen

In this Fallout chess set, the white pieces are cleverly designed, with Knights represented by the Brotherhood of Steel's Knights. The player character, known as the Sole Survivor from Fallout 4, takes on the role of the King, while Dogmeat is depicted as the Queen. Mr. Handy figures act as the Rooks, Brotherhood of Steel scribes represent the Bishops, and Vault dwellers ironically serve as the Pawns. For the black pieces, a Super Mutant Master is designated as the King, and a Deathclaw serves as the Queen, accompanied by Sentry Bots, Protectrons, feral Glowing Ones, and Raiders.

This isn’t the first instance of video games colliding with chess, as evidenced by the many engaging chess video games available today. For example, one Starfield player creatively designed their spaceship to resemble a giant chessboard, while a Minecraft fan utilized the game’s sandbox capabilities to construct an enormous chessboard with blocky pieces. Furthermore, Fallout fans can find chessboards scattered throughout the Wasteland, and in Fallout 3, players can assemble a complete chess set that includes whimsical garden gnome pieces.