The Fable franchise was, for a time, a huge success for Microsoft. Not only that, but the humor in the games were reminiscent of other British video games like MediEvil which gave it a unique feel. The franchise experienced many bumps in the road, yet the games still have a sterling reputation. Microsoft should reboot the series because of the increasing nostalgia, the franchises' promise, and the popularity of RPGs.

The first two Fable games were critically acclaimed for good reason. It had a cast full of stars, with the likes of James Corden, Zoe Wanamaker, and Stephen Fry. In fact, the third game built on this cast with Michael Fassbender and Naomie Harris. The concept of morality affecting the player's character and their appearance was new and fresh. Furthermore, combining magic, archery, and swords with intricate details was a good combination. With a pet as a friend in Fable 2 & 3, players could interact with towns that were full to the brim with wit and detailed world-building.

RELATED: Rumor: Fable 4 is Being Developed by UK Studio

With all of these mechanics in play, it is unsurprising that Fable was listed in the 12 big games missing in E3 2019. There have been countless rumors about a new game since Lionshead Studios' demise. Microsoft has a chance to right the wrongs of the Lionshead era and create an exclusive for the next generation of consoles that will be hard for players to resist.

Fable had issues as a franchise. The biggest recurring issue was not delivering on promises made to fans. Prior to the first game, claims had been made that the player would see a whole heroes lifetime, planting an acorn would grow a tree, and players could have children in the game. Founder of Lionshead, Peter Molyneux admitted making game features up. Some of the promises were eventually fulfilled, though. For example, having children was delivered in the following game and it also covered the childhood of the player's hero. Yet, a game not delivering what was promised is never a good thing.

fable 3 cover

Peter Molyneux has said he wants Fable 4 to have rideable dragons. However, lofty wants aren't what defined the most critically successful installment in the franchise, Fable 2. It was an engaging and funny world that delivered on side quests with repercussions, and a game that operates with charm should be the goal of future Fable games. Fable was had a huge part in the morality craze of the late nineties, and since then, RPGs like The Witcher 3 have delivered the concept more fully. With that said, few games have revisited physical repercussions to losing fights and doing evil deeds as well as the Fable games.

The demise of Fable came from a lack of direction from the third game onward. The third game concentrated on one narrative and didn't allow for players to explore the game in the same way as previous titles. From this point on, Microsoft asked for some odd games from Lionshead. There was a Kinect game, a beat em up, and Fable Legends, a co-operative action role-playing game that was cancelled in development. Eventually, the series lost its charm as it adapted to different genres, with there also being talk of Lionshead wanting to focus on Fable 4 and not Legends.

RELATED: Fable 4: All the Rumors So Far

There have been leaks about Fable 4, and although there's been no concrete confirmation of the rumors, it looks like there would be an abundance of side quests and a completely open-world. This largely seems to continue from where the core Fable series was left, and will undoubtedly excite fans if the franchise were to receive another sequel.

There is also a rumor that the Scriptwriters of Batman Arkham will join Fable 4. This would be a winning combination if an impressive cast could once again be hired. However, Fable shouldn't only be rebooted because it was a good game with a significant fan-base.

Fable-Legends landscape

Role-playing games were the third best-selling genre of video games in 2018. That doesn't sound like too much, but in an industry valued over 150 billion dollars, it's significant potential profit. Furthermore, a new generation of consoles will undoubtedly see a new set of exclusives battling to sway consumers. Gears 5 did finally knock Fortnite off the top of the digital charts on the Xbox, if only for a short time, and this success can be replicated. The Fable franchise like Gears of War is often considered amongst the best Xbox originals, and franchises are incredibly important in convincing consumers to purchase a console. The possibility of having a beloved RPG like Fable as an exclusive is surely too good for Microsoft to miss.

The significant rumors surrounding a new Fable indicate that fans are desperate for a new title. There have been talks of EA, BioWare, and Guerrilla devs being hired for Fable 4, but whether the talks, rumors, and speculation become concrete facts remains to be seen. Yet, in an age when exclusives are paramount, RPGs are selling well, and the factors that Fable implemented have been improved upon by the industry as a whole, a reboot seems like a logical step. Meanwhile, for the fans of Albion and the chicken kickers, whether a Fable should return has never been in doubt.

MORE: Microsoft Discusses Whether a New Fable Game Could Be Made