I didn't really get into Fallout until Fallout 3, so I can't say anything about the previous games. But, I do prefer Fallout 3 and NV to Oblivion. I feel the same way about Skyrim as I did Oblivion, it is fun, but it can get old very fast. I found myself constantly playing Fallout 3, even after I leveled my character to the max. I don't find myself doing the same thing in Skyrim, I log onto it sometimes, but I only play for like an hour, then I log off to play some Battlefield.