Mable & The Wood

46%
Game Brain Score Based on 51 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • stability
Mable & The Wood Game Cover
Mable & The Wood on PC is really enjoyable at times and very frustrating at others. Furthermore, Mable & The Wood caused a full cycle of emotions while playing through the main story.
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"Mable & The Wood" is a Metroidvania-style game where you play as Mable, a girl brought back to life by a cult, tasked to hunt down great beasts and use their powers to save the world. The game allows you to shape-shift into the bosses you defeat, changing how you explore the interconnected world. You can choose to kill or spare the bosses, affecting the story's outcome. Combat is unique, with movement being a key aspect of fighting enemies. However, maintaining your non-human form is limited, so strategic shape-shifting is necessary.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Linux
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

46%
Audience ScoreBased on 51 reviews
gameplay4 positive mentions
stability10 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique and interesting concept of shapeshifting, allowing for various gameplay mechanics and strategies.
  • The art style and music are praised for creating a nice atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience.
  • Some players enjoyed the boss fights and found the initial gameplay engaging, with potential for improvement in future updates.
  • The controls are often described as clunky and unresponsive, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
  • The game is riddled with bugs and design flaws, causing issues with progression and navigation.
  • Backtracking can feel tedious and is often hampered by glitches, making it difficult to enjoy the exploration aspect of the game.
  • gameplay22 mentions

    The gameplay has been criticized for being messy and inconsistent, with level design described as boring and mechanics that are innovative yet tedious. Players have noted issues with clunky controls and a confusing progression system that can lead to disorientation, making the game feel both too easy and frustratingly difficult at times. Despite these flaws, the levels introduce interesting mechanics and enemy types, suggesting potential for improvement if the gameplay is refined.

    • “The mechanic is interesting, but the control for swapping did feel a little bit clunky.”
    • “But, still, the levels themselves are really interesting and introduce various mechanics and enemy types as you go along, which you need to make use of your new transformations to overcome.”
    • “The gameplay is messy, the level design is just awfully boring.”
    • “Instead of satisfyingly dashing over the levels, the gameplay stops constantly so you can change between forms.”
    • “Sometimes the commands are not so responsive and the gameplay doesn't feel tight.”
  • music12 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed feedback; while some players find it fitting and atmospheric, enhancing their experience, others criticize the quality of the music assets. Overall, many appreciate the music's ability to complement the game's art style and story, despite some frustrations with level design.

    • “I like the art style and the story so far; people have surprisingly much to say, and the music is fitting and adds to a nice atmosphere.”
    • “There were issues and frustrating parts, of course, but the music is pretty and helps to get through some level designs that feel like padding to slow the pace down.”
    • “Other than that, I really loved the concept, music, and art.”
    • “The music assets are subpar.”
    • “There were issues and frustrating parts, but the music is pretty and helps to get through some level designs that feel like padding to slow the pace down.”
  • stability10 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, with numerous bugs and glitches that frustrate players and disrupt gameplay. Many users report that these technical problems detract from the overall experience, making navigation feel cumbersome and unreliable.

    • “To put it simply, this game is frustrating and a little bit buggy.”
    • “While pulling on the string, it's more like a long series of glitches that takes you from point A to point B.”
    • “Most of this review has been me complaining about glitches.”
  • story9 mentions

    The story has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its initial depth and emotional impact, enhanced by fitting music and art style. However, many express disappointment in the lack of payoff and coherence as the game progresses, leading to a perception of the narrative as ultimately unsatisfying. Overall, while the story starts strong, it fails to maintain its momentum throughout the gameplay.

    • “I like the art style and the story so far; people have surprisingly much to say, and the music is fitting and adds to a nice atmosphere.”
    • “Great game and story for the first few hours of playing so far.”
    • “Furthermore, Mable & The Wood caused a full cycle of emotions while playing through the main story.”
    • “You would think the story would lead to that, but... although it sort of hints at something like that throughout the game, there's no payoff.”
    • “In fact, although there's a story, it's kinda garbage.”
    • “You would think the story would lead to that, but... although it sort of hints at something like that throughout the game, there's no payoff.”
  • graphics4 mentions

    The graphics are generally well-received, with players appreciating the art style and the overall visual presentation. The combination of graphics and music contributes to an enjoyable atmosphere, enhancing the gaming experience.

    • “I like the art style and the story so far; people have surprisingly much to say, and the music is fitting and adds to a nice atmosphere.”
    • “The graphics are nice, and the music is good as well.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, often feeling nostalgia when revisiting it after a break. The experience of getting stuck in challenging areas, like the caves, can evoke frustration but also a sense of attachment to the game's journey.

  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding mechanics to be innovative yet tedious, set against a backdrop of a nice world and intriguing premise.

    • “Innovative but tedious mechanics, nice world and premise I suppose.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its art style, engaging story, and fitting music, which collectively enhance the overall experience and immersion.

    • “I like the art style and the story so far; people have surprisingly much to say, and the music is fitting and adds to a nice atmosphere.”
  • humor2 mentions

    Reviewers highlight the humor in the game as a notable aspect, often intertwined with its mechanics and puzzles. The comedic elements enhance the gameplay experience, making the challenges of shape-shifting and enemy encounters more enjoyable. Overall, the humor contributes significantly to the game's charm and appeal.

    • “The mechanics of changing your shape and having multiple possibilities to defeat enemies, the puzzles, and the humor.”
    • “The mechanics of changing your shape and having multiple possibilities to defeat enemies, the puzzles, and the humor.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

67% average critic score

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