Are you able to imagine it has been over a decade and a half for the reason that final correct Fable? That is an extended look ahead to something, however on this planet of video video games, it is a lifetime – from technological developments to viewers expectations, issues have modified lots since 2010! Which, following this week’s huge Fable 2026 reveal, has led to some enthused dialogue right here at Eurogamer about whether or not the traditional collection ought to actually look fairly so acquainted some 16 years on. Yup, it is the return of The Massive Query, by which we dive right into a topical factor producing some chatter right here within the figurative EG workplace after which throw it over to you…
Fable’s long-awaited reboot marks Forza Horizon studio Playground Video games‘ first foray into the action-RPG style. And whereas it is formally a „new starting“ for unique developer Lionhead’s beloved collection, it nonetheless centred on Albion – a whimsical fantasy world of courageous adventurers, unique British accents, and the sorts of magical creatures who’d somewhat kill you than spend any time attending to know you in any respect. However not like earlier video games within the collection, Albion is that this time a correct, seamless open-world.
Past that, it is all very acquainted, promising a mixture of humour, motion, drama, ethical dilemmas, and – in fact – chickens. And the collection‘ famed reactivity is again too, with participant selections (as they dance merrily throughout the good-evil morality spectrum) impacting the whole lot from the panorama to the way in which the inhabitants responds. However as beautiful as the entire thing unquestionably seems, and as reassuring as it’s to see the majority of Fable’s ‚be the hero you need to be‘ essence survive the passing of time (minus, it appears, the outdated mechanic of your actions altering your look), our Bertie – troublemaker that he’s – has discovered himself wishing for a bit bit extra.
„I am excited to see Fable once more – and a Fable with probably the very best thatched roofs I’ve ever seen! – however I am not as excited as I assumed I might be, „he explains. „Fable, to me, was all the time a collection accompanied by eccentric ambition. Every instalment wasn’t solely about presenting a fairytale world stuffed with ‚oi!’s, ‚wanker!’s, and different Britishisms, however about re-evaluating role-playing video games – questioning them and asking them what extra they might do. That is what Fable represented to me. Among the methods it did this are laughable now – that acorn promise is notorious – nevertheless it was nonetheless indicative of how Lionhead approached the collection.“
„However Fable, the reboot, appears extra like an homage to the collection somewhat than a progressive instalment in it,“ Bertie reckons. „It is a sport that screams trepidation to me. It is assurance after assurance that the collection is in good arms, that Playground understands Fable. And credit score the place credit score’s due: all of the bullet-point options of Fable had been there within the showcase, all of the eccentric trimmings, and really good-looking it regarded too. However watching that presentation additionally felt like wanting again in time and seeing a sport from the previous. Sure, that was Fable I noticed, nevertheless it was Fable from 15 or 20 years in the past. During which methods was it boldly pushing RPGs on?“
Victoria, although, thinks new-Fable’s adherence to the previous is totally the suitable name. „I flirted with the originals at a mates‘ home,“ she explains, „and although I’ve by no means accomplished any of them myself, I am nonetheless wanting ahead to Playground Video games‘ reboot. Leaning into the nostalgia and matching what everybody cherished in regards to the collection the primary time round, somewhat than making an attempt to return out with one thing completely leftfield, is a brilliant transfer as a result of – and please do not hate me for saying this – I simply do not assume the Fable model is a powerful sufficient pull with out it.“
As for me (as a lot as I am permitted to have an opinion right here in my obscure function as disembodied ringmaster), it is not the stuff that is the identical I have been eager about, however the whole lot else – I am simply hopeful we’ll lastly get an overarching Fable journey that feels prefer it’s had as a lot consideration lavished on it as its simmy, reactive core.
Fable 1 felt awash with conspicuous dead-ends, awkwardly truncated quest strains, undercooked mechanics, and even specific teases towards a complete dragon-slaying further act that by no means confirmed up. Till, that’s, Fable: The Misplaced Chapters arrived a number of years later with all of the lacking bits restored. And Fable 3, I appear to recall, with its grand promise of royal assent and supreme energy, fizzled out in deeply unsatisfactory trend, speeding via its third act in a collection of playable bullet factors earlier than lunging to a credit score roll. Give me all of the enjoyable, acquainted bits of Fable we noticed on this week’s showcase – the choice-and-consequence, the simmy stuff, the foolish humour – however pair it with a completely fleshed out journey with room to breathe and I will be thrilled. And, given the reboot’s now near-decade of improvement, my hopes are excessive. However what do I do know? As these charming Albionions cherished to remind, I am only a chicken-chaser.
Which simply leaves Tom, Eurogamer’s self-styled ‚greatest Xbox fan‘ – and he is very happy with what he noticed. „I do not know what this lot are on about – worriers, the lot of them!“ he exclaims (earlier than quietly acknowledging this specific Massive Query was his concept). „I watched the Fable showcase and instantly simply needed to play it. I am having a little bit of a gaming lull in the intervening time, unable to essentially discover the passion for something in my huge backlog, and I felt one thing carry as I took in what Playground Video games has created. I admire this new Fable is not going to be all issues to everybody, nevertheless it’s jumped to the highest of my most anticipated record – which is saying lots given I like Forza Horizon, and quantity 6 is wanting splendid.“
In order that’s us all Fabled out in the interim, and now it is over to you. Primarily based on this week’s first correct have a look at Playground Video games‘ long-awaited Fable reboot, are you delighted to see a lot of the outdated collection again, or, like Bertie, had been you hoping for one thing extra radical a decade and a half on? Or maybe that is your very first Fable and, unbound by nostalgia, you are simply excited to expertise all of it. Let’s have a chin-wag under!
