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Sable

Sable's lonely, heartfelt journey of self-discovery will sit with me for a lifetime.
Sable Game Cover
81%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
optimization, stability
86% User Score Based on 4,420 reviews
Critic Score 75%Based on 33 reviews

Platforms

Playstation 5Playstation 4Xbox Cloud GamingXboxSteam DeckWindowsPlayStationXbox Series X|SPCXbox Game PassAmazon LunaCloudXbox OneNVIDIA GeForce NOW
Sable Game Cover

About

Sable is a single player open world role playing game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Shedworks and was released on September 23, 2021. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

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86%
Audience ScoreBased on 4,420 reviews
story550 positive mentions
optimization323 negative mentions

  • Beautiful art style and visuals that evoke a unique atmosphere.
  • Relaxing gameplay focused on exploration and self-discovery without combat.
  • Engaging soundtrack by Japanese Breakfast that enhances the overall experience.
  • Numerous technical issues, including performance drops, audio glitches, and camera problems.
  • Gameplay can feel repetitive with many fetch quests and minimal challenge.
  • Lack of depth in character interactions and world-building, leading to a sense of emptiness.
  • story
    1,851 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of *Sable* is a heartfelt coming-of-age narrative that emphasizes exploration and self-discovery in a beautifully crafted open world. Players embark on a journey to find their identity through various quests, primarily consisting of fetch tasks that encourage interaction with the environment and its inhabitants. While the game is praised for its stunning visuals and atmospheric soundtrack, some critiques highlight its simplistic plot and repetitive quest design, suggesting that the experience is more about the journey than a deeply engaging storyline.

    • “A meditative, exploration-focused game telling a coming-of-age story in an alien world.”
    • “Sable is a wholesome coming-of-age story that executes the task it set out to do incredibly well.”
    • “The story is a gentle and thoughtful commentary on coming of age and finding one's place, which I genuinely felt.”
    • “The story is very minimal; there frankly isn't much to actually do, the quests are extremely simple but I suggest this game to anyone who's eye it catches more than any other game out there.”
    • “The main story is a simple personal coming-of-age vision quest, and the side quests were almost exclusively fetch-and-collect chores.”
    • “The game has no real main story line or plot to follow, more like lots of little 15-20 minute side quests.”
  • graphics
    1,425 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of Sable are widely praised for their stunning, moebius-inspired art style, which creates a unique and immersive visual experience reminiscent of a living comic book. However, many players report significant technical issues, including frame rate drops, graphical glitches, and unoptimized performance, which detract from the overall enjoyment of the game. Despite these drawbacks, the captivating visuals and atmospheric soundtrack contribute to a relaxing exploration experience that resonates with fans of artistic indie games.

    • “With stunning visuals, chill music, an intriguing world of characters and a mysterious backstory, I wanted to explore every nook and cranny I could, while at other times I would just chill and soak in everything about its presentation.”
    • “The art style is incredible and seems to draw inspiration from Moebius, and is great for fans of scavengers or scavengers reign.”
    • “Sable is a beautiful game that is similar to an art style of Jean Giraud, with breathtaking visuals and a soothing soundtrack.”
    • “The graphics are quite unique, but do slow down your fps at some places (mostly just forest areas) there are also some quests that makes the area worth exploring more.”
    • “The game could do with better optimization as framerates will occasionally drop and there's a few graphical issues where objects in the world will suddenly disappear depending on your camera angle.”
    • “The graphics are simple, but quite different from other games, making it pretty unique.”
  • music
    1,096 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in *Sable*, composed by Japanese Breakfast, is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, enhancing the game's exploration and emotional depth. Players appreciate the chill, ambient soundtrack that complements the stunning visuals and unique art style, creating a serene experience. However, some users report issues with audio glitches and a lack of variety in the music, which can detract from the overall experience.

    • “The soundtrack by Japanese Breakfast is beautiful - it has a real meditative quality to it.”
    • “The music blends ethereal melodies with ambient textures, complementing the game’s tranquil pace and reinforcing the sense of wonder as players traverse the desert.”
    • “The art style beautifully hearkens to the European comic artists that inspired it (especially Moebius), and the music provides a poignant soundtrack to the environment and the more emotional moments.”
    • “A lot of the time there outright is no music in the background, and most of the time when music does play, it is completely unmemorable; it might as well be randomly generated notes.”
    • “The music is so comforting, relaxing, and wholesome that it is one of the highlights of this game, but there are moments when the music 'bugged out': when you enter a town, each part of the background music doesn’t match, like bass, drum, and main melody counter melody are off beat.”
    • “The game was constantly undermining itself, right up to the very last second where the credits ended before the credits song did and cut it off.”
  • gameplay
    892 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Sable is primarily focused on exploration, climbing, and light puzzle-solving, drawing heavy inspiration from Breath of the Wild but lacking its depth and polish. While the game offers a visually stunning world and a relaxing atmosphere, many players find the mechanics to be clunky and riddled with bugs, leading to a repetitive experience that can feel shallow. Overall, Sable is best suited for those who appreciate artistic exploration over traditional gameplay challenges, though its technical issues may detract from the experience for some.

    • “Sable is an open-world exploration game that emphasizes curiosity, discovery, and artistic immersion over combat or traditional gameplay challenges.”
    • “The gameplay in Sable is focused on exploration, environmental puzzles, and interaction with the world’s inhabitants.”
    • “The gameplay ensures that the focus is always on the vistas that lay before you, and it’s all stylized beautifully.”
    • “The exploration of a vast expanse, filled with remnants of ancient, futuristic technology is marred by the slow speed and poor, bouncy, unintuitive physics of the bike, and the janky mechanics of the climbing.”
    • “The core mechanics and traversal felt unpolished and lacked the necessary depth to sustain interest.”
    • “The gameplay consists of platforming, exploring, and puzzling, but it is so simplistic that it quickly becomes repetitive and unengaging.”
  • optimization
    721 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has been widely criticized, with players reporting severe performance issues such as constant stuttering, frame drops, and audio glitches, even on high-end systems. Many users noted that performance tends to degrade over time, particularly in more complex areas, making the experience frustrating and detracting from the game's otherwise engaging atmosphere. Despite some improvements from patches, the overall consensus is that the game remains poorly optimized and in need of significant bug fixes to enhance playability.

    • “I've had no frame rate or optimization issues at 12 hours in, exploring 3-4 zones of the map.”
    • “Despite some bugs and performance issues, this was a fantastic game.”
    • “If you can get past the glitchiness of this game then it is awesome, however I can't recommend this game to anyone based off of the performance of it.”
    • “Sadly, there was no work for the optimization of the game, even 4 years after its release.”
    • “The performance became unbearable toward the end, getting worse as the game progressed.”
    • “The game is poorly optimized and filled with bugs, some minor, some game-breaking.”
  • stability
    622 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is widely criticized for its numerous stability issues, including frequent bugs, frame drops, and camera glitches that detract from the overall experience. While some players find the charm in these imperfections, many report that the game's performance is inconsistent, with various technical glitches affecting gameplay, particularly during movement and interactions. Despite these challenges, some players still recommend the game for its artistic qualities and engaging exploration, provided they can overlook the persistent bugs.

    • “Usually the game runs great (I have a decent 2-year-old gaming PC), but while riding the hoverbike, there will be frame drops as parts of the map load.”
    • “Also, it runs great on the Steam Deck and is made for 48Hz / 24 FPS gameplay, which fits the animation style perfectly.”
    • “It's not too buggy, but there are still bugs nonetheless, and some aspects of the game feel like there isn't enough polish put into them.”
    • “The game is a buggy mess, with constant audio glitches, visual stutters, and a very poor performance that makes it hard to enjoy.”
    • “There are moments where it all clicks, but those moments are unfortunately few and far between, and plagued by bugs, frame drops, and camera glitches.”
    • “The game was released in 2021, but three years later it is still filled with bugs, glitches, and performance issues.”
  • atmosphere
    314 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning art style, immersive sound design, and serene exploration, creating a unique and contemplative experience. Players appreciate the calming music, often composed by Japanese Breakfast, which enhances the game's ethereal and introspective vibe. Despite some technical issues, the overall ambiance and world-building resonate strongly with those seeking a peaceful, atmospheric adventure.

    • “The atmosphere of climbing through an abandoned building while birds and wind chimes caw and clink in your ears is incredible.”
    • “Sable possesses a truly unique and beautiful visual design inspired by the works of Moebius, creating a striking sense of atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere created by the beautiful style of simple cell-shading and melancholic music is as relaxing as it gets, but the satisfying movement and secret-filled world to explore are constantly compelling.”
    • “The atmosphere is enhanced by its ethereal soundtrack, which perfectly complements the serene exploration.”
    • “The pacing is not perfect but thought out, and it envelops you in its world and atmosphere like few games do.”
    • “The atmosphere feels like 'Shadow of the Colossus' and the art style is wonderful.”
  • emotional
    218 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of "Sable" is widely praised for its heartfelt storytelling and the profound impact it has on players, often evoking tears and deep introspection. Reviewers highlight the game's beautiful art style, evocative music, and relatable themes of self-discovery and personal growth, creating a meditative and immersive experience. While some players noted technical issues that detracted from the emotional engagement, the overall sentiment is that "Sable" offers a uniquely touching journey that resonates long after the game is completed.

    • “Sable is a touching and universal story about growing up.”
    • “The story is touching: a real coming-of-age quest.”
    • “The emotional investment you can put into role-playing Sable as she grows up and proves herself in an arid and mysterious wasteland is fantastic.”
  • humor
    68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending lighthearted moments with clever dialogue and quirky character interactions that often evoke laughter. Players appreciate the amusing glitches and bugs, which, while sometimes frustrating, add a layer of charm to the experience. Overall, the writing is heartfelt and funny, creating a whimsical atmosphere that enhances the game's exploration and storytelling.

    • “The dialogue was well written, funny but not silly, and often with a dose of melancholy that I really enjoyed.”
    • “There's so many funny, heartwarming, and wondrous moments that fill the game from beginning to end.”
    • “The writing in this game blew me away; all of the characters are funny, intelligent, written with grace, and treated with respect in a way I struggle to accurately describe.”
    • “They are not angry, not funny, not scheming, not sincere, not anything.”
    • “The jokes fall flat and feel forced, lacking any real wit or charm.”
    • “The humor attempts to be quirky but ends up being cringeworthy instead.”
  • grinding
    55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews highlight a mixed experience with grinding in the game, where players often find certain tasks, such as collecting chums and completing fetch quests, to be tedious and time-consuming. While some appreciate the exploration and puzzle elements, many express frustration with the slow pace and repetitive nature of certain activities, leading to a sense of boredom. Overall, the game is seen as enjoyable for casual play, but it can become tedious, especially for completionists.

    • “Slow pace, no grinding, really good game to enjoy during a Sunday afternoon.”
    • “The fishing and bug catching were a bit tedious to me.”
    • “However, playing the game was very boring and tedious.”
    • “I had high hopes for what has turned out to be an incredibly tedious game.”
  • replayability
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is generally viewed as limited, with many players expressing that they do not intend to revisit it after their initial playthrough. While some appreciate the exploration and aesthetics, they feel that the lack of additional content or mechanics diminishes its long-term appeal. A few users suggest that recent updates have improved playability, but the consensus remains that the game does not offer substantial replay value.

    • “Doesn't seem to have a ton of replay value, but it is an excellent game - fun to explore this colorful world and try to understand its mystique.”
    • “Somewhere in here is a game I think; the bike is the redeeming part I feel in terms of replayability.”
    • “Still, recent patches have made the game more playable.”
    • “Fun little exploration game, not a lot of replay value though.”
    • “The game feels unfinished and poorly executed; there is no replayability, and a lot of the aspects are incredibly lacking.”
    • “This game burns out quick; if you're looking for more adventure or something to invest some real time in, Sable doesn't offer much in the way of replayability.”
  • character development
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is characterized by a simplistic system focused primarily on stamina, which some reviewers feel detracts from the overall depth of writing and storytelling. However, the character designs are praised for their beautiful, gender-neutral aesthetics and thoughtful integration with the game's world, creating a visually stunning experience. While the game emphasizes exploration and atmosphere over action, it is ultimately seen as a passion project that showcases strong artistic elements but may lack in narrative complexity.

    • “Nonviolent, open world, exploration with great world development and character development.”
    • “The character designs are refreshingly gender-neutral, and everyone is practically dressed for their climates and lifestyles.”
    • “If you're looking for action and fighting, look elsewhere - this is a passion project about character development wrapped around an open world begging to be explored.”
    • “The character development system includes only stamina.”
    • “Very much an indicator that the size of the project was much bigger than they could really handle; writing, character development, and story suffer because of this too.”
    • “With the character design, you never see an NPC's face; it's all mask and words.”
  • monetization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate that the monetization aspect of the game is criticized for its perceived lack of value, particularly regarding in-game items like masks, which seem unnecessary. Additionally, players express frustration with the presence of ads, particularly in relation to music streaming services, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “The monetization model feels exploitative, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
    • “I find the in-game purchases to be overpriced and unnecessary, which detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “The constant push for microtransactions ruins the immersion and makes it feel like a cash grab.”
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75%Critics’ scoreBased on 33 critic reviews
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13h Median play time
15h Average play time
5-25h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 37 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Sable is a open world role playing game with science fiction theme.

Sable is available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Steam Deck, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 15 hours playing Sable.

Sable was released on September 23, 2021.

Sable was developed by Shedworks.

Sable has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its optimization.

Sable is a single player game.

Similar games include Eastshade, Caravan SandWitch, Hob, AER Memories of Old, Aporia: Beyond The Valley and others.