Fallout games and Arcanum play very similarly in my opinion but the Fallout games are overall better designed games and also came out first. Arcanum is much bigger and has a better story than both games though but I think gameplay wise fallout is better. Also, if you decide on Fallout 2 may as well get Fallout as well since even though Fallout 2 is bigger I think Fallout has in a sense the better story. (out of the games mentioned fallout 2 probably has the worst story even though the writing is good, the actual story is a bit cheesy compared to the first Fallout.) Edit, just read that you played Fallout 3 and fallout New vegas and liked them if so then definitely at least some time get the first 2 Fallouts.

Planescape: torment, I would think of it as that in that game, the story IS the game play. If you don't want to read a lot don't bother with the game but if you don't mind reading tons and have the most fun in RPGs selecting dialogue choices that PLanescape: Torment is the best one I can think of. Planescape: Torment is also much more linear than either Fallouts or Arcanum.Note, Planescape: torment does have some issues with its combat but consdiering most of the time you will be in conversations or reading stuff it doesn't really matter. Edit- Some may disagree with me but I would compare Planescape: torment most to Star WArs KOTOR II. With its more philosophical bent to its narrative compared to most RPGs (but Planescape: Torment is still much more focused on the story.)

To sum it up in my opinion- If you want a great story but relatively linear game then go with Planescape: torment. If you want the best balance between story and gameplay get Fallout and being less linear. If you want a bigger game but not as good story then go with Fallout 2. If you want a huge game with some gameplay issues but with the second best story then go with Arcanum.

Haven't gotten around to Arcanum yet, so can't comment on it.

As for F2 and PST, IMO:

F2 has by far the better gameplay and replayability.

PST has the better story and atmosphere. Hope you like reading dialog, cause there's a LOT of it.

My three favorite 2D CRPGs, easily. Fallout 2 is probably the best but only by a hair.

Planescape definately.

Make sure you check the gog forum for PST, for links to patches and gfx upgrades.

Argh, Steam! Yesterday I got Planescape and Fallout (and am enjoying both) and today Steam is having a sale on the Fallout collection. I'm gonna buy it anyway though, for Tactics and 2 and gift the copy of 1 to a friend of mine. So I intended to get 1 RPG and now I have 3 and 1 RTS. D:

You can get the Fallout Collection (1, 2, and Tactics) in Wal-mart (or at least I've seen it in the local one) for like under $20. To the best of my knowledge, they don't contain DRM or require one to use Steam.

True, but the entire collection is on sale for 6.78 or something, which is a pretty awesome deal. I use Steam a lot anyway, so it's not that big of a deal.

Arcanum is one of my fave games. Sure it's a bit unpolished, but the roleplaying mechanics, the story, atmosphere, setting, characters, and music are all simply amazing. Some aspects of the game are lacking, but in the aspects where it excels, Arcanum is the best of the RPG genre, at least that I've ever played.

I have not played Planescape yet though. I did recently buy it from GOG and installed it but I haven't play it yet. As for Fallout 2, I bought it over a decade ago but I still haven't gotten around to playing it yet either.

They don't. That's the version I'm currently using, it's a DVD with the three games on it but no copy protection or DRM or anything of any kind. I got it for $11, and it wasn't even on sale.

Personally I would say that Fallout is probably the easiest to get into, followed by Planescape and then Arcanum. They're all great games, but they're all somewhat buggy and none of them are really well-balanced (Arcanum in particular is very poorly balanced). I would suggest starting with Fallout 1, as IMO it's the best of the Fallout games, and it also has the fewest bugs out of all of them. If you like it, follow up with 2 and/or Planescape, and finish with Arcanum. F2, PS:T and Arcanum were all pretty much made by the exact same people, too, so they have a very similar feel to them.

This.

Then that's the version I would go with, provided one doesn't want to get the original cd versions that come with those neat manuals.

No DRM + hardcopy trumps Steam every day of the week, IMO.

Planescape, Planescape, Planescape.

If you insist on trying Fallout, get the first game first. The second game can be fairly difficult, even for a veteran.