- New Vegas is more accurately labeled an RPG with shooting mechanics as opposed to Fallout 4 and Starfield, which are shooters with some RPG elements.
There is quite a bit of combat, but you can beat the game without killing a single thing if you want.
- Some mods I use and recommend:
Necessary
NVAC (New Vegas Anti Crash) - Hard recommendation.
FNV 4GB Patcher - Hard recommendation.
NVSE (New Vegas Script Extender) -- Necessary for most mods.
YUP (Yukichigai Unofficial Patch) - Bugfixes.
Mod Configuration Menu - Lets you configure mods in-game.
New Vegas Stutter Remover - Hard recommendation.
Necessary for More Mods
JIP LN NVSE Plugin
lStewieAl's Tweaks and Engine Fixes -- Absolute ton of QoL improvements and options.
JohnnyGuitar NVSE
kNVSE Animation Plugin
Not Necessary, but I Like Em
More Perks -- Adds more perks and traits to the game. Not necessarily super balanced.
Fallout Character Overhaul -- Makes the game much less ugly.
New Vegas Enhanced Camera -- Allows you to view your torso and legs in first-person.
JVS (Just Vanilla Sprint) -- Allows you to sprint, using your AP as a sort of stamina bar.
Perk Every Level -- Definitely unbalanced when considering what the developers were shooting for, but I'd personally much rather have a perk every level than every two. Even better with More Perks.
There are more. I would recommend checking out New Vegas' most popular mods on NexusMods..
Plenty of other cool stuff, like new weapons, side-quests and companions. The game is genuinely great vanilla, too, though, and I wouldn't recommend anything too crazy for your first run.
Not so vanilla you go without the anti-crash and stutter mods, though. Great game. Runs like hot garbage.