The Fable series hasn't had the smoothest ride over the years. When the first game was released in 2004, it had a pretty positive reception from fans and was seen as a refreshing change of pace for fantasy action RPGs with its brash humor and unique aesthetic. The series really found its footing with Fable 2, which was met with critical acclaim from both players and critics alike and was seen as a step in the right direction in almost every aspect. Fable 3 did well, but it was also beset by bugs and other technical issues that distracted from its success, and some felt it was moving too far away from what the Fable franchise had encapsulated up to that point.
Lionhead Studios appeared to double-down on this, and the developer took the series in some new directions, releasing a beat-em-up, an on-rails entry that used the Kinect, and started to develop a cooperative title called Fable Legends before it was later canceled. All of these entries seemed to signal the decline of the IP, and Lionhead Studios' closure in 2016 appeared to cement its fate. However, it seems like Xbox Game Studios isn't quite done with Fable just yet, and fans were pleased when it was confirmed that a reboot was in the works. The Fable series may have a checkered past, but the new developer Playground Games shouldn't discount older entries like the original game when making the newest iteration.
A Focus On Fairytales, Monsters, And Folklore
The Fable games may have maintained a narrative through line of good versus evil, magical characters fighting creatures and other villains, and hapless protagonists being thrust into the role of hero, but each title also added its own elements. The settings changed from a medieval-inspired Albion full of villages and untamed wilderness to a more sophisticated region with growing urban areas, to the bustling industrial era in Fable 3 that introduced more modern aspects. Each one had its advantages, but many players would prefer to see a return to the simpler setting of the first Fable.
The original game introduced players to a world full to the brim of magic, monsters, and myth, with the intriguing Heroes' Guild and plenty of elements that seemed like they were ripped straight out of the pages of a fairytale. Re-establishing something like the Guild and shifting the focus back to the classic conflict of heroes versus villains or man versus a variety of monsters would be a good direction to take the next game in.
With the teaser trailer released for the newest Fable showing a glimpse of a distant castle surrounded by forests, a mischievous fairy, and a mysterious sword, it seems like the upcoming game will be embracing these elements and taking the series back to its roots. But it shouldn't forget that alongside the magic and mystical creatures, the first Fable still had its dose of darkness as well as humor and light.
Returning Elements
While the next Fable is being pitched very much as a reboot for the series, and as such players are expecting lots of changes and fresh features, there are some things that could reappear. Change is good, especially as the franchise's fortunes seemed to dwindle after the release of Fable 3, but it's still a popular series with plenty of love left in the gaming community for it. Tying the newest entry to the older games in some way could be very beneficial, and one of the methods it could utilize is to bring back some returning characters.
Not much is known about when or where the next Fable will be set – if it's an alternate realm, set far in the future or past, or completely unconnected to the Albion of the previous Fable games. There have been lots of rumors about destructive asteroids and different planets, which have raised more questions than they've answered, but so far fans are fairly in the dark about what the upcoming entry will entail. Starting fresh and building a new world could be a good idea, but the door is still open for characters like the prophetic Theresa.
She's already appeared in multiple Fable games and is centuries old by the time the third installment rolls around. With her abilities, importance throughout the franchise, and incredibly long life, it could make sense for her to appear in the newest Fable. It would help connect the next game and the original ones and could also be a way to pay homage to the previous Fable games, especially now that the developer has changed and the series is heading in a brand-new direction.
Fable is in development for PC and Xbox Series X/S.