Fabled Lands

81%
Game Brain Score Based on 738 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Fabled Lands Game Cover
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"Fabled Lands" is an interactive fiction game based on the classic gamebooks, set in a war-torn kingdom with a vast open world. Choose your path as an explorer, merchant, priest, or thief and undertake missions, join temples, or engage in court intrigues. With its non-linear gameplay, the choices you make will shape your journey in this epic adventure.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

81%
Audience ScoreBased on 738 reviews
story70 positive mentions
grinding28 negative mentions
  • Faithful adaptation of the classic gamebook series with improved combat mechanics.
  • Beautiful artwork and engaging storytelling create an immersive experience.
  • Offers a nostalgic experience for fans of the original Fabled Lands books.
  • Heavy reliance on RNG can lead to frustrating gameplay, with bad rolls resulting in instant death or loss of inventory.
  • Lack of clear direction can make it difficult for players to progress without prior knowledge or guides.
  • Combat can feel simplistic and unexciting, detracting from the overall experience.
  • story356 mentions

    The game's story is rich and immersive, drawing heavily from the choose-your-own-adventure format, allowing players to explore a vast world filled with quests and character interactions. However, many players noted the absence of a central narrative, leading to a sense of aimlessness, and the reliance on luck-based mechanics can result in frustrating setbacks, such as losing essential quest items. Overall, while the storytelling is praised for its detail and creativity, the lack of a cohesive main plot and the challenges posed by the game's mechanics can detract from the experience.

    • “The story is immersive and I enjoy the personalities of the characters, whether they're giving quests or just the local patrons of the taverns.”
    • “Your actions have consequences and depending on what you choose to do, the story changes.”
    • “It's a brutal, choose-your-own-adventure style game with simple yet effective mechanics and wonderful storytelling.”
    • “The lack of a main plot is the main drawback for me.”
    • “There is no overarching story, so don't expect Skyrim in text form.”
    • “This game relies too much on luck with dice rolls to decide things; you only rank up by doing special quests that I hear there are only two of in each region, making leveling up different from other games.”
  • gameplay146 mentions

    The gameplay of "Fabled Lands" is a blend of classic gamebook mechanics and RPG elements, offering a mix of strategic decision-making and random chance that can lead to both rewarding and frustrating experiences. Players appreciate the smooth performance and engaging storytelling, but many criticize the punishing death mechanics and grindy gameplay, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. While it remains faithful to its roots, the game may not satisfy those seeking a modern RPG experience with balanced mechanics and extensive content.

    • “Fabled Lands runs incredibly smooth, and even has many built-in options to optimize gameplay for humbler rigs such as my own.”
    • “From the get-go, the game presents itself beautifully, with smooth gameplay and a rich, colorful world to explore.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, it is very faithful to the books.”
    • “The fact I can succeed in all my rolls and still die, or fail said rolls, and still die is a garbage mechanic.”
    • “Unfortunately, the gameplay part of the game is disastrous.”
    • “The problem is that the core gameplay loop revolves around taking away your whole inventory, ships, and crew.”
  • graphics114 mentions

    The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their beautiful and stylish art style, which enhances the immersive experience of the text-heavy gameplay. While some reviews note that the graphics are not particularly advanced and rely on the player's imagination, the overall aesthetic, including charming visuals and engaging UI, contributes significantly to the game's appeal. Many players appreciate the whimsical and fairy-tale-like quality of the artwork, making it a standout feature of the adaptation.

    • “The game is a feast for the senses, with stunning visuals and engaging sounds.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful and really add to what is an immersive adventuring experience, appealing to fans of pen and paper RPGs and game books.”
    • “With vivid descriptions of the game world and a beautiful art style, it contains all sorts of quests, monsters, and plot hooks that any DM can take inspiration from for their own games.”
    • “It is text based with nothing to write home about in terms of graphics.”
    • “Visuals are lacking.”
    • “Only real detracting point is that the art style doesn't stick nearly as close to the original as the plot.”
  • music70 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and ability to enhance the fantasy atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its charm and suitability for the genre. However, some players find the soundtrack repetitive over time, suggesting alternative music sources to alleviate potential monotony. Overall, the combination of engaging music and beautiful visuals contributes to an immersive gaming experience.

    • “The soundtrack absolutely sets the perfect mood for this old-school fantasy romp.”
    • “The music is perfect for a classic fantasy adventure and the background sounds add a lot of depth to really make it feel like a true-blooded classic RPG.”
    • “Wonderful music and graphics, and I was enthralled once again and couldn't stop playing.”
    • “The music gets too much in a loop; I recommend switching to some scores or role-playing OSTs you can find on YouTube or Spotify, as it might give you a headache hearing the same music all the time.”
    • “Gameplay and OST might get a bit repetitive.”
    • “Put on some OST from YouTube or another platform; it will make it better.”
  • grinding28 mentions

    Many players find the grinding mechanics in the game to be tedious and excessive, often feeling that the gameplay is designed to waste time rather than provide meaningful engagement. The repetitive nature of encounters and shallow trading options contribute to a sense of monotony, leading some to resort to exploits to progress. Overall, the grinding aspect is viewed as a significant drawback, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “What I don't like is a single-player game designed to waste my time with grindy mechanics.”
    • “The game seems to be set up in such a way that makes it almost tedious to play.”
    • “Meeting the same pilgrims for the 12th time because you’re running in circles can get a bit tedious.”
  • atmosphere22 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive worldbuilding, beautiful art, and fitting music, creating a captivating fantasy vibe. Players appreciate the unique atmospheres of various areas within the expansive map, although some feel that the game mechanics detract from the overall experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as a highlight, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “Its expansive map features so many areas to explore, all with their own unique atmosphere and quests.”
    • “The game has outstanding worldbuilding and an immersive atmosphere; the art and the music are perfect.”
    • “It's quite a masterful adaptation with attention to detail, good music, marvelous art, and excellent fantasy atmosphere overall.”
    • “The atmosphere is there.”
    • “Love the atmosphere, like the UI, but the game design is bad.”
    • “- and some which were a proper tactical battlefield of smart moves, slick victory effects (so far at least, I'm pretty sure I will soon see those for defeat and death too :d) and an electrified atmosphere full of tension and ice cream in the middle of the night (seriously, some of those battles can be”
  • replayability22 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it highly replayable due to various outcomes and nostalgia, others criticize it for a lack of randomization and monotonous quests, leading to a lower replay value. Early access status suggests potential for improvement, with hopes for more content and random events to enhance replayability further. Overall, the experience is enjoyable but could benefit from additional variety.

    • “Highly replayable.”
    • “Fabled Lands, despite being in early access, is an incredibly fun experience with high replayability.”
    • “The fights are very boring and not exciting; there is no replayability at all, there are no great missions, only monotonous quests.”
    • “Low replay value, since there is no randomization you will encounter the same quests, enemies, and secrets.”
    • “The ingrained routes and best choices remain burned into my head all these years later, and admittedly the replay value is in the nostalgia.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The humor in the game is praised for its clever blend of gruesome and funny elements, creating a unique and entertaining experience. Players appreciate the unexpected and whimsical nature of the storylines, as well as the hilarious item descriptions that add to the overall enjoyment. The combination of tension and comedy keeps players engaged and amused throughout their gameplay.

    • “Then I loved the writing; it’s just the right mix between gruesome and funny that makes me happy.”
    • “Call me easy to amuse, but the item descriptions are hilarious, and I thoroughly enjoy being devoured by bloodsucking killer plants in an execution pit.”
    • “What a hilarious game with good humor! I'm enjoying it in every aspect.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game is perceived as a cash grab, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences. While some aspects of the game are praised for their diversity, the overall impression is marred by aggressive monetization tactics.

    • “The game comes off as a cash grab with teeth-grinding gameplay.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development in the game is largely criticized, with reviewers noting a lack of depth and growth for the characters, despite praising the beautiful maps and appealing character designs.

  • emotional4 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted as a masterful adaptation that resonates deeply with players, successfully preserving the essence of the original while appealing to a contemporary audience. The initial experience on the first island evokes strong feelings of admiration and connection, showcasing the game's ability to evoke nostalgia and wonder.

    • “It's a masterwork that's been restored and reframed for a modern audience without touching what made fabled lands great in the first place.”
    • “So far just the first island made me feel so impressed, making the adaptation of the book in an incredible way.”
  • stability4 mentions

    Overall, players report that the game exhibits strong stability, with many noting it feels well-finished and largely free of bugs, glitches, or crashes, even after extensive playtime in early access.

    • “Very polished and bug-free so far, 66 hours in at the moment.”
    • “Very polished and bug-free so far, 66 hours in at the moment.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    Fabled Lands is praised for its excellent optimization, running smoothly even on lower-end hardware, and offers various built-in options to enhance gameplay performance.

    • “Fabled Lands runs incredibly smooth and even has many built-in options to optimize gameplay for humbler rigs such as my own.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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Play time

5hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
3-9hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs

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