Sable's Grimoire

About

In "Sable's Grimoire," players step into the shoes of Sable, a skilled alchemist, as she uncovers the truth about her past and a mysterious book of magic. With puzzles to solve, spells to learn, and ancient secrets to unravel, this action-adventure game immerses players in a beautifully designed, hand-drawn world. Sable's journey will take her through various environments, meeting unique characters, and battling enemies to unlock the true power of her grimoire.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 114 reviews

story42 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Sable's Grimoire features well-developed characters and a compelling story that draws players in, making it one of the best visual novels available.
The game offers a variety of routes and endings, allowing for meaningful choices that impact character relationships and story outcomes.
The world-building is extensive, with a unique setting that explores themes of friendship, trauma, and the complexities of human-demi-human relationships.

Some players found the pacing slow, with certain routes feeling incomplete or ending abruptly just as the story becomes more engaging.
The user interface, particularly the text box, can be intrusive, making it difficult to fully appreciate character expressions and artwork.
A few routes contain darker themes that may not appeal to all players, and some characters may come off as annoying or underdeveloped.

story
112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
60%
3%
The story of this visual novel is highly praised for its depth, engaging characters, and intricate plotlines, featuring multiple routes and endings that allow for significant player choice. Reviewers appreciate the well-developed side characters and the balance of narrative elements, including romance and humor, which contribute to a rich storytelling experience. While some critiques mention a few plot points feeling unfinished, the overall consensus is that the game offers a compelling narrative that keeps players invested and eager for future installments.
- “The side characters don't fall into being simple tropes, but rather each feel like a fleshed-out person, and despite which route you follow, everyone remains relevant throughout the story.”
- “It's a very good and involving story that you can't help but get sucked into.”
- “The story allows you to know the characters well enough so that you end up caring and understanding them.”
- “My only gripe, if I were to think of one, would be that the story is a bit plain; 'A Dragon's Treasure' and 'Man and Elf' definitively improve in this aspect.”
- “Some of the story does feel only half-told, but there is hopefully more to come in the future.”
- “I unfortunately have to give this story a thumbs down as the story is too drawn out, many of the characters are just plain annoying, and it is not that good of a story.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
29%
21%
The music in the game is generally described as decent and pleasant, effectively complementing the scenes, though some players find it repetitive and average compared to other visual novels. While it enhances the overall experience, many users noted that they often prefer to play their own music in the background. Despite some criticisms regarding abrupt silence and lack of standout tracks, the soundtrack is considered adequate for the average player and supports the game's strong writing and character development.
- “Great artwork, story dialogue, and music.”
- “The music fits in each scene wonderfully.”
- “I really like this game; the writing works well for the mood at hand, and the music complements the scenes pretty well most of the time.”
- “The music is kinda repetitive and the character sprites aren't as expressive as they are in something like the Fate visual novels (though that might be a bit of an unfair comparison, considering Fate series production value).”
- “The only other things I can really knock the game for is that the music's just average and can get a little tiring when you're a few routes in.”
- “The music's nothing noteworthy and the odd periods of silence when the music just abruptly cuts off kind of ruins the immersion, but it's a common 'feature' for indie visual novels and not much of a dealbreaker, so I'll overlook it.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of lighthearted moments and deeper, darker themes, particularly showcased through the comedic duo of eth and rei. Players appreciate the witty character interactions and the emotional depth that accompanies the humor, resulting in a mix of laughter and heartfelt moments. Overall, the writing and character development contribute significantly to the game's comedic appeal, making it a standout in the visual novel genre.
- “This inseparable duo (who are, incidentally, the worst two students at the school) have some funny moments, but their route adds a lot of depth to two comical characters.”
- “It has some good lighthearted, humorous moments but at times it can get pretty dark with some of its themes which can vary depending on the route you choose.”
- “An underappreciated visual novel with great humor and multiple different routes and endings.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The graphics are generally praised for their appealing art style and quality, though some users note inconsistencies in character designs. While the artwork and music enhance the overall experience, opinions vary on their standout quality compared to other visual novels.
- “The art style caught my eye and decided to buy it.”
- “Great artwork, story dialogue, and music.”
- “The artwork is pretty good, although it feels a tad inconsistent for different characters.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The visual novel excels in character development, featuring a well-crafted protagonist and unique monster girls that contribute meaningfully to the story. Each character is distinct, with charming designs and personalities, supported by strong writing that enhances their growth throughout the game. Players express a willingness to invest more for additional content, provided the quality of character development remains high.
- “This visual novel's strong point is definitely its characters, including the protagonist (a pretty solid main character), the monster girls (who are not just simple cat girls; they actually have a place in the world), and the character design, which has charm and avoids the cookie-cutter student anime girl trope with all the same exaggerated features.”
- “Character design and art are good, with each character having their own distinctive personalities.”
- “The writing is really good, and the character development is very impressive.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters on a meaningful level.”
- “While the character designs are appealing, the actual development of their personalities and backstories is disappointingly minimal.”
- “I expected more growth and complexity from the characters, but they often fall into predictable tropes and clichés.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the emotional impact of the game is mixed; while some routes, particularly Jorou's, offer significant emotional depth, others lack substantial "hard-hitting" moments and feature tame endings. The treatment of the character Rei is notably heartbreaking, contributing to a varied emotional experience across different storylines.
- “But on the other hand, the way the story treats Rei is, to put it simply, heartbreaking, and not in a good way.”
- “I like Eth and Rei's for a short, sweet story, Tix's for about the same as Eth and Rei, Drakan's for the amazing heartwarming and wholesomeness, Lisha's for the adventure, action, and sweet love between the two, and Jorou's is my favorite route.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find that certain character routes, particularly those of Rei and Eth, can feel tedious and less engaging, leading to a grinding experience that detracts from overall enjoyment.
- “A few of those characters do fall a little flatter than others, [spoiler]Rei and Eth[/spoiler] being the worst offenders, making those routes notably more tedious to get through.”
- “The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the story.”
- “I found myself spending hours on grinding just to level up, which took away from the enjoyment of the game.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players appreciate the route map feature, which enhances replayability by allowing them to track completed scenes and revisit their favorite moments in the game.
- “The route map greatly enhances replayability by allowing you to see which scenes and routes you've completed, enabling you to revisit your favorite moments.”
- “The variety of choices and outcomes keeps the game fresh, making each playthrough feel unique and encouraging multiple runs.”
- “With different character paths and endings, the game offers endless possibilities, ensuring that no two playthroughs are ever the same.”
gameplay
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The gameplay features familiar mechanics that contribute to a positive overall experience, making it an enjoyable game.
- “It has many of the mechanics from it, and is an overall good game!”