Everything you need to know about Fable

Fable is a series of PC and Xbox games set in the fictional land of Albion. The games are known for their strong focus on choices and a satirical, fairy-tale take on fantasy inspired by British folklore. What’s truly unique about the Fable series is that your actions influence how the world reacts to you, from small details to the gameplay and the story itself. This is tracked by a kind of morality meter. If you treat the villagers like punchbags, you may find yourself paying higher prices in shops over time and children will run away from you screaming. On the other hand, you gain access to weapons, skills and spells that are exclusive to players with a morality meter in the red. Whether you choose to be the embodiment of goodness or you want the world at your feet: in Fable, both paths in life pay off!

The new Fable game is often referred to as Fable 4, but in reality it’s a reboot of the series. It’s not yet clear whether there will be references to the earlier games, but the game is set in the same world. As a player, you take on the role of a child in the peaceful village of Briar Hill, where your life takes a different turn when your powers emerge in a moment of danger. Shortly afterwards, disaster strikes and you are sent out into the wide world of Albion. As you progress through the game, your character also grows older. For the first time, Fable becomes a truly open-world game, giving you the freedom early on to decide where you go and what you do.

The world is populated by more than 1,000 NPCs, the non-playable characters in the game, each with their own look, personality and beliefs. Your reputation is built on what you say and do, and this has visible consequences in the world. The story can suddenly take a very different turn, and you can even cause lasting effects. In addition to exploration and decision-making, Fable also includes various life-sim elements. You can practise professions, start businesses and even hire NPCs. If you happen to meet that one special NPC, you can even start a family.

Alongside the role-playing side of things, we can, as usual, also expect strong action gameplay from Fable. You’ll face familiar enemies from Albion such as Hobbes, Balverines, Hollowfolk and Trolls, joined by new monsters like the mythological Cockatrice. Just like in the original games, combat combines melee, ranged combat such as bow and arrow, and magic. Developer Playground Games is putting extra emphasis on fluidity, however: you have light and heavy attacks, combos and finishers at your disposal and can seamlessly combine different playstyles.

You can choose from various weapons, such as swords and daggers for close-quarters combat, magic to bring down flying enemies, and more. But according to the developers, combat is about more than just weapon choice. The idea is that fights should feel intuitive and give you room for your own approach, especially when you’re up against mixed groups of enemies that each require a different strategy.