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Cabernet

Whether you find a deeper meaning to the narrative RPG Cabernet, the game still has much to offer and does a wonderful job of keeping you playing. It’s educational, fun, relaxing, charming, and emotional, and definitely worth the playthrough.
89%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
stability, grinding
92% User Score Based on 1,072 reviews
Critic Score 83%Based on 5 reviews

Platforms

PCPCXboxXboxXboxXbox Series X|SXbox Series X|SPlaystation 5Playstation 4WindowsWindowsPlayStationPlayStationNintendo SwitchXbox OneXbox One
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About

Cabernet is a 2D narrative RPG set in a 19th century Eastern European inspired world, with a modern twist. Guide Liza, a young vampire in her new unlife among the unsuspecting townsfolk. Will you retain your humanity or descend further into the horror you have become?

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Cabernet screenshot
Cabernet screenshot

92%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,072 reviews
story346 positive mentions
stability82 negative mentions
  • Engaging and well-written story that captivates players from start to finish.
  • Beautiful art style and atmospheric music that enhance the overall experience.
  • Meaningful choices that impact character relationships and story outcomes.
  • Numerous bugs and glitches that can lead to game-breaking issues and soft locks.
  • Limited save system that only allows saving in specific locations, causing frustration.
  • Some quests and character interactions can feel rushed or incomplete, leading to a lack of closure.
  • story
    948 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Cabernet" is widely praised for its captivating narrative, rich character development, and immersive atmosphere, drawing players into a unique vampire mythos intertwined with moral dilemmas and social commentary. While many players appreciate the depth and complexity of the plot, some express frustration with abrupt quest endings, pacing issues, and technical bugs that disrupt the storytelling experience. Overall, the game is recommended for those who enjoy story-driven experiences where choices significantly impact the narrative.

    • “The story is complex and enthralling.”
    • “I got so invested in the story and never expected how it would progress.”
    • “The atmosphere, the storytelling, the soundtracks and the dark, immersive world kept me hooked from start to finish.”
    • “Some side quests just end abruptly with no warning or proper resolution.”
    • “The whole middle part of the story is you running around town doing side quests waiting for the main plot to advance, and you're given way too much time to do stuff; there's not enough urgency to your tasks.”
    • “It's not a very big game in terms of characters and scope, and yet there's many bugs and story discontinuities that take me out of it.”
  • gameplay
    182 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is a mix of engaging mechanics and narrative-driven elements, featuring unique vampire abilities and puzzle-solving tasks that enhance the experience. While many players appreciate the charm and depth of the mechanics, some find them clunky and unpolished, with bugs that can disrupt gameplay. Overall, the game is praised for its captivating story and character interactions, though some mechanics could benefit from further refinement and clarity.

    • “The gameplay is very puzzle-based and incorporates your various vampiric powers, such as being able to turn into a bat or make yourself invisible.”
    • “The gameplay is all around robust.”
    • “The mechanics are simple but engaging, letting you plan your nights, build relationships, and decide how to 'feed.' It's a morally rich story that lingers in your mind long after you play.”
    • “Actual gameplay, as in walking around, doing stuff and using your vampire abilities, can feel quite clunky and unpolished.”
    • “Mechanically, I was less impressed; there are neat ideas that are not fleshed out enough and really feel like afterthoughts.”
    • “This game is still quite buggy... as you play, there's definitely going to be random visual, audio, or the one that just straight up makes you load back to the last save/relaunch the game. Some bugs might even affect the gameplay itself, which is frustrating to be honest.”
  • graphics
    172 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and unique art style, which many players find fitting for the game's setting and narrative. While some minor bugs and graphical issues were noted, they did not significantly detract from the overall experience, as the visuals, voice acting, and immersive atmosphere were highlighted as standout features. Overall, the art style is described as beautiful and nostalgic, reminiscent of classic flash games, contributing to a captivating storytelling experience.

    • “The art style is stunning, the writing is sharp, and the voice acting is top-notch.”
    • “Gorgeous, hand-drawn graphics, lovely characters with whom you can pursue all sorts of relationships, and quests that span whole chapters.”
    • “The art style is perfect for its purpose - detailed enough that all the characters you can interact with look individual, yet stylized enough for it to never seem gory or venture into horror territory.”
    • “Not the best graphics, a few bugs here and there, but the characters and the story do bring you on a great adventure; I am actually sad it is over.”
    • “There were a few minor graphical errors, and a few conversions that I had to have twice, but my only real complaint is that I wish there was more.”
    • “Then when it did finish up I got thrown for a loop ending up in 1999, not the aesthetic I was going for with this game; I wanted an old Europe feel, not the 90s.”
  • music
    134 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its beautiful and immersive quality, with many players noting that it enhances the overall atmosphere and storytelling. While some found the tracks to be occasionally repetitive, the soundtrack is praised for its fitting era-appropriate songs and emotional depth, making it a standout feature that players often find themselves humming long after playing. Overall, the combination of music, voice acting, and art creates a captivating experience that resonates with players.

    • “The music, the atmosphere—everything about it is just so well done.”
    • “The soundtrack is amazing, so far my only issue has been with this leveling bug.”
    • “This game hits all the right notes, both literally in the form of its romantic era orchestral soundtrack, and figuratively in its story that provides just the right blend of freedom and order to craft a story that feels all too personal.”
    • “The music is a bit boring and repetitive.”
    • “And then later they introduce themselves as if you have never met and you never see them practicing music or any reference to music in regards to them again.”
    • “The music is really solid, and the voice acting too; sound design could have used some more depth but it is not a major issue.”
  • stability
    86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game has been widely reported as very buggy at launch, with numerous glitches ranging from minor annoyances to significant progression blockers that may require reloading saved games. While some players have found the bugs manageable and have noted that updates have addressed many issues, others recommend waiting for further patches before diving in, as the experience can be frustratingly unstable. Overall, the game's stability is a significant concern, with many players experiencing soft locks and quest-related bugs that detract from the overall enjoyment.

    • “Perfectly suited for cosying up on the sofa, runs great on my handheld gaming PC!”
    • “I will be updating this review once the devs are able to patch and I can play the game (hopefully) bug-free.”
    • “There are numerous reports about the game being very buggy (including progression blockers) at launch.”
    • “As the game is right now, if you are expecting flawless gameplay and no frustrating glitches, then you are better off waiting for some updates and bug fixes.”
    • “The game is very buggy; I had quite a few bugs, some went from funny to annoying, while others broke the game.”
  • atmosphere
    68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its rich, gothic, and immersive Victorian setting, which effectively enhances the storytelling and character development. Players appreciate the combination of beautiful art, evocative music, and strong voice acting that together create a captivating and eerie experience. Despite some technical issues, the overall ambiance and depth of the world keep players engaged and eager for multiple playthroughs.

    • “The atmospheric Victorian setting creates the perfect backdrop for exploring immortality's ethical challenges, while the skill system allows for distinctly different playthroughs.”
    • “The atmosphere, the storytelling, the soundtracks, and the dark, immersive world kept me hooked from start to finish.”
    • “Voice acting, music, art, writing, and even sound effects are all beautiful and elevate the atmosphere; everything meshes perfectly into a classic literature and dark fairy tale combo.”
    • “This mechanic adds no value to the game, its atmosphere, nor its story.”
    • “Gothic/vampire/horror atmosphere.”
    • “And the historical atmosphere looks very promising.”
  • emotional
    34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its emotional depth, with many players reporting that it made them cry and left a lasting impact. While the storytelling and character connections are compelling, some feel that certain emotional threads are unresolved, which can detract from the overall narrative weight. Overall, it offers a rich emotional journey through themes of immortality, relationships, and moral dilemmas, enhanced by strong voice acting and meaningful choices.

    • “This is one that will stick with me emotionally for a long time.”
    • “An emotional journey of immortality and relationships, beautifully voice acted with very compelling dialogues and literary references.”
    • “The story is wonderful and emotional, and it's obvious there was a lot of love and effort put into this game.”
  • replayability
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game boasts high replayability, featuring meaningful choices, multiple endings, and a rich morality system that encourages players to explore different paths and outcomes. Many reviewers noted their eagerness to replay the game to experience all the available options and achieve various endings, highlighting its depth and engaging storytelling. Overall, players feel that the game offers substantial replay value, making it worthwhile for multiple playthroughs.

    • “The game also offers a good amount of replayability, with meaningful choices and different outcomes depending on what you do and who you end up with.”
    • “It has lots of replayability and roleplay options; the morality system is more than just A or B, and there's a good amount of choice and consequence with the various individual little stories and actions you can take.”
    • “Incredible storytelling that made me cry once or twice, great replayability (I'm on my third playthrough so that I can explore all the options), and an overall amazing game.”
    • “There is definitely a lot of replay value, as I only completed 50% of the achievements, and there are a lot of alternative choices I could make in another playthrough.”
    • “It's not like you'll miss out greatly (which was very much to my relief), but the game has still a lot of replay value.”
    • “So there is a fair bit of replayability here if that is your thing.”
  • grinding
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while the first half can feel tedious and repetitive, particularly in terms of positioning and backtracking, the side quests are generally well-received for enriching the story without being burdensome. The resource system adds depth without detracting from gameplay time, and the overall narrative and voice acting help balance the grind with engaging content.

    • “It's a beautiful and interesting story with incredible voice acting and just the right amount of skill building to make it fun and not tedious.”
    • “I never felt forced to do the side quests; they weren't tedious and made the story richer and deeper.”
    • “The first half of the game is very tedious and repetitive.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Anyways, this makes backtracking tedious; aside from this, there's also weird issues, I don't know if it's bugs, but when you don't do a side quest correctly, the immersion kind of just breaks.”
  • character development
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviewers consistently praise the character development in the game, highlighting excellent voice acting and captivating writing that enhances the overall experience. The combination of stunning visuals and a dark, moody atmosphere further enriches the characters, making them memorable and engaging.

    • “Not only was the art style captivating, but the writing and character development blew me away.”
    • “The story itself is interesting and amazing, the atmosphere is dark and moody, and the character design is fantastic.”
    • “Overall great game with stunning visuals, effects, character designs and much more!”
  • optimization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with players noting occasional stuttering during disk loading and issues with voice acting quality. While some performance hiccups, like animation loop stutters, are minor, more significant problems, such as a consistently broken quest log, can lead to frustrating loss of progress.

    • “If I have any criticism, it would be that sometimes the game's performance in certain areas, especially loading from disk, stutters momentarily and the voice acting of some characters leaves a bit to be desired.”
    • “Some of these issues are ignorable, like the walk cycle animation loop stuttering; some are quite noticeable, like the entire quest log being constantly broken. However, the worst ones force you to lose all progress since you last saved, which wouldn't be a problem except...”
  • humor
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game begins on a positive note with some amusing interactions, but it quickly deteriorates into repetitiveness and frustration, particularly due to numerous bugs that shift from being humorous to annoying. Overall, while there are moments of levity, they are overshadowed by the game's technical issues and declining quality.

83%Critics’ scoreBased on 5 critic reviews

Buy Cabernet

8h Median play time
8h Average play time
2-14h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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