Fabledom
- April 13, 2023
- Grenaa Games
- 9h median play time
"Fabledom is a strategy game where players build and grow their own fairytale kingdom, facing challenges such as resource management, colony expansion, and interactions with magical creatures. Its intuitive mechanics, interesting plot, stunning visuals, and sensational soundtrack are hindered only by occasional grinding and missing optimization. Overall, Fabledom offers a very funny and marvelous atmosphere for players to explore and enjoy."
Reviews
- Fabledom offers a delightful blend of city-building, diplomacy, and fairytale charm, making it a captivating experience.
- The game's whimsical atmosphere and vibrant graphics create an engaging and relaxing environment for players.
- The mechanics are easy to understand, making it accessible for newcomers to the genre while still providing enough depth for seasoned players.
- The game lacks depth and replayability, with many players feeling that they have exhausted its content after just a few hours.
- There are issues with resource management and balancing, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences, especially in the late game.
- Some players have reported bugs and performance issues, particularly with larger populations, which can detract from the overall experience.
- graphics834 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their vibrant, whimsical, and cute aesthetic, which effectively captures a fairy tale atmosphere. Players appreciate the attention to detail in character designs and environments, although some have noted performance issues and graphical glitches that can detract from the experience. Overall, the art style is considered charming and well-executed, making it a significant draw for fans of the genre.
“The visuals are stunning, with vibrant colors, adorable character designs, and richly detailed environments that make exploration a treat.”
“The graphics are super cute (like seriously super cute!!!)”
“The graphics capture the fantasy feel very well.”
“There are also many glitches still left in this game; some graphical issues include holes in some fields where the grass just isn't rendering and some game mechanic registering issues.”
“Another kicker is the quality of the game mid-play; I have to have the graphics on the lowest setting and even then when you reach small city status the game freezes ridiculously often, sometimes even crashing.”
“I can run Skyrim on high graphics and with multiple mods, yet I can't run this on the lowest setting? Definitely needs fixing.”
- gameplay608 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Fabledom is characterized by its charming aesthetics and simple mechanics, making it accessible for casual players. However, many reviewers noted a lack of depth and variety, with gameplay feeling repetitive after a few hours, and some mechanics poorly explained or underdeveloped. While the game offers a relaxing experience with engaging quests, it currently suffers from limited content and a need for further updates to enhance its overall gameplay experience.
“The game strikes a perfect balance between intuitive gameplay and satisfying challenges.”
“Building your kingdom is a joy, with simple yet engaging mechanics and a variety of buildings and decorations to choose from.”
“The gameplay is satisfying, with no noticeable bugs or glitches, and the romance is inclusive of LGBTQ+ people!”
“You will have about 10 hours of gameplay and then you're done and you have seen absolutely everything the game has to offer.”
“And the quests are very repetitive with little variation or impact on gameplay.”
“Furthermore, the gameplay is a bit... stale, to say the least.”
- story524 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as charming yet underdeveloped, with a fairytale theme that feels integrated into the gameplay but lacks depth and variety. Players appreciate the cute graphics and the light narrative, but many express a desire for more engaging quests, character development, and meaningful interactions, particularly in the romance and diplomacy aspects. Overall, while the storybook aesthetic is enjoyable, it is seen as needing significant expansion to fulfill its potential as a narrative-driven experience.
“The fairytale component is seamlessly integrated, making the game feel like a living storybook.”
“The harmony of city-building, diplomacy, and the pursuit of true love created an experience that felt like living within the pages of a storybook.”
“I love that there are story components; I think this is what really does it for me, like sometimes I struggle with city builders because there's just so little story, and this has just enough to keep me going and enjoying it.”
“The story, well, it's a mess.”
“The game advertises story but there is nothing special than a few comedic lines when rng 'visitors' arrive.”
“No plot and nothing for you to control to chase after besides your 1 pick for a lover.”
- music204 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as relaxing, charming, and fitting well with the fairy tale aesthetic, enhancing the overall atmosphere. However, many players noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive, with some feeling it lacks variety and depth. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the game's vibe, a desire for a more diverse soundtrack was frequently expressed.
“The music is wonderfully chill, although somewhat repetitive.”
“The music is whimsical and relaxing; it really helps immerse you in a fairy tale kingdom.”
“The music is so relaxing as you plan and create your thriving and forever expanding kingdom.”
“I felt like the music was too unnoticeable and monotonous.”
“There is only one generic 'cozy' music track that plays over and over again.”
“After a couple of hours of playing, the relaxing and charming music gets repetitive.”
- humor126 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- -1 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, characterized by a charming and whimsical style that enhances the laid-back gameplay experience. Players appreciate the funny and quirky narrator, whose voice acting adds a unique flavor to the game, although some find the humor can be repetitive or hit-or-miss. Overall, the light-hearted jokes and cute aesthetics contribute to a relaxing atmosphere, making it a delightful choice for those seeking a casual gaming experience.
“The narrator is wonderfully voice-acted and I love his sense of humor.”
“I've had many fun hours playing this builder game with the hilarious narrator and fable-like storyline.”
“Fabledom brings the perfect mix of building/management, but balances it with fun, humor, style, and is absolutely dripping with charm.”
“The narrator in the menu is annoying and mostly unfunny, saying something every few seconds, making it really hard to focus before you start the game (choosing map, designing your banner, etc.).”
“The humor in the game falls flat, with jokes that feel forced and unoriginal, leaving me more frustrated than entertained.”
“I expected a lot more laughs, but the comedic elements are stale and fail to deliver any real enjoyment.”
- replayability112 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a contentious topic among players, with many expressing that it is quite low due to repetitive gameplay, limited content, and similar encounters across playthroughs. While some players appreciate the randomly generated maps and the potential for different ruler romances, the consensus is that significant updates and additional features are needed to enhance long-term replay value. A few players find enjoyment in the game’s mechanics and aesthetics, suggesting that it may still hold some appeal for casual play, but many agree that it currently lacks the depth required for sustained engagement.
“The game offers endless replayability – I even tried romancing every ruler just for kicks.”
“A fantastic relaxing city builder, really enjoying playing it and has plenty of replayability due to the randomly generated maps.”
“The gameplay loop: satisfying, and the randomly generated maps add to its replayability.”
“Also basically zero replayability.”
“It's very difficult to rebuild or adjust a built town/city and if you start over instead you run into the exact same string of events in the nearly same order as your previous run, meaning replayability is very, very low.”
“The game has a lot of potential but beware: at this point in time you can experience all the content in a very short time and there's little to no replayability.”
- optimization86 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, especially as population sizes increase. While some users note improvements and a solid experience at lower settings, others express frustration over high GPU usage and stuttering, particularly on mid-range systems. Developers are reportedly working on patches to address these concerns, but many players still find the game poorly optimized for both low and high-end hardware.
“A huge part of optimization in this game is making sure that fablings don't have to walk too far to get to their workstations from their houses.”
“The game is solid and well optimized for the most part.”
“Every update they add a new layer of gameplay, the most recent one is the ability to build an army that will eventually be expanded upon and I can notice improvements in the game’s overall performance too.”
“Game is extremely poorly optimized, so expect your GPU to attempt to take off.”
“What was particularly upsetting to me was that with coming closer to using my entire map, filling it with villages and industrial hubs, I encountered more and more performance issues and bugs.”
“Very simplistic and chill city builder - not bad but it needs more content and the optimization seems to be an issue because around 300+ fablings and the performance drops significantly.”
- grinding72 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while some players find it tedious and lacking in reward, others appreciate the cozy city-building experience despite occasional grindiness. Many players note that managing resources and citizens can become repetitive, especially in the mid to late game, with some tasks requiring excessive micromanagement. However, the charming art style and addictive gameplay keep some players engaged, suggesting that the grind may be tolerable for those who enjoy the genre.
“It's not grindy at all.”
“It's not grindy at all.”
“There is no plan for updates and the gameplay can feel very tedious without reward.”
“The game is extremely slow, kinda tedious to manage fablings, missions are boring and not interactive at all, the combat/army feels like an afterthought and the variation of building is severely limited.”
“But very little has happened in the game, still grinding the tech trees and figuring out how to balance resources and happiness.”
- atmosphere68 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its whimsical charm, vibrant graphics, and relaxing ambiance, creating a welcoming environment that draws players in. Many reviewers highlight the delightful music and engaging narration, which enhance the overall experience, although some note that the lack of visual variety can lead to monotony over time. Overall, the atmosphere is described as cozy and enchanting, making it a standout feature of the game.
“The character voices are great, the graphics are beautiful, and the atmosphere is so welcoming.”
“This game just oozes charm and atmosphere; it's relaxed yet engages you enough so you start thinking about the layout, how to get more money, optimizing the economy of motion in your little hamlet, all wrapped in a neat and thoroughly charming theme of fables and tales of wonder.”
“A pleasant and calm atmosphere that has a stronger effect on you than any sedative.”
“While the charming atmosphere is a highlight, players can quickly exhaust all the game has to offer.”
“While the music and graphics give a charming and peaceful atmosphere, the lack of visual variety gets boring fairly quickly.”
“[*] a pint of beer on the inn wall kind of disrupts the fairytale atmosphere, so something like a music instrument might fit there better.”
- stability50 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 4 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with some players reporting a smooth experience free of bugs and crashes, while others encounter frequent glitches, graphical issues, and frustrating freezes, particularly during auto-saves. Although many issues seem to have been addressed through updates, some players still experience significant stability problems, especially when playing on higher settings. Overall, while some users enjoy a bug-free experience, others find the game to be quite buggy and incomplete.
“It works, no bugs, no freezes.”
“No glitches, good tutorial, funny and cute, smooth and balanced, easy but not too easy.”
“It's bug free and cute.”
“There are also many glitches still left in this game; some are graphical, with holes in some fields where the grass just isn't rendering, and there are some game mechanic registering issues.”
“Another kicker is the quality of the game mid-play; I have to have the graphics on the lowest setting, and even then, when you reach small city status, the game freezes ridiculously often, sometimes even crashing.”
“Game looks fun, but randomly freezes my entire PC and I have no idea why.”
- emotional34 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its cute and wholesome fairytale setting, which fosters a heartwarming and relaxing experience. Players appreciate the depth added through building connections with neighboring kingdoms and engaging in story-driven quests, enhancing emotional investment and interpersonal dynamics. Overall, the game stands out for its unique approach to the city-building genre, prioritizing warmth and charm over traditional crisis management.
“Building connections with neighboring kingdoms and finding true love adds a layer of depth and emotional investment that I haven't seen in other city builders.”
“The heartwarming essence of the fairytale setting infused every aspect of gameplay.”
“The interpersonal dynamics and the ripple effect on the village's prosperity added a layer of emotional investment that made the journey all the more engaging.”
- character development14 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, players appreciate the charming and creative character designs, which enhance the game's fairy tale aesthetic. However, there is a notable desire for deeper character development and more side quests, particularly in relation to random encounters, to enrich the gameplay experience.
“More side quests and character development would have been great, especially when it comes to random encounters.”
“I love the character design, magical moments, and quests.”
“The character designs are super cute and I love being able to find cute encounters like Little Red Riding Hood or a magic wishing well.”
- monetization6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game is criticized as a blatant cash grab, with players feeling that the game lacks substantial content and is only partially finished. Users express frustration over the aggressive push for in-game purchases, suggesting that the developers should focus on enhancing the game's content before monetizing further.
“There's barely anything in the game, and the fanbase that fully cares is dwindling. Pushing on monetization feels like a quick cash grab to the players. Fill the game with content; it feels like it's only 20% finished. Maybe after the full release and some good reviews, you can start doing whatever you think this is.”
“This is a simple cash grab.”
“It is a simpler city builder game, and while the ads want to make you believe it’s themed around European fairy tales — it’s not.”