The Fabled Woods

About

The Fabled Woods is a single player casual simulation game with horror, mystery and thriller themes. It was developed by CyberPunch Studios and was released on March 25, 2021. It received neutral reviews from critics and mostly positive reviews from players.

Welcome to The Fabled Woods, a narrative adventure. Despite the picturesque beauty, ugly and terrible secrets lurk among the shifting boughs, darkness that no amount of dappled sunlight can erase. Take the first step, and experience an unforgettable journey.

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70%

Audience ScoreBased on 146 reviews

story44 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

The game features beautiful graphics and a stunning environment that immerses players in a captivating atmosphere.
The voice acting is generally well-received, adding depth to the narrative experience.
While short, the game offers an interesting story and unique mechanics that can be enjoyable for fans of narrative-driven walking simulators.

The game is criticized for its short playtime, often completed in under an hour, which many feel does not justify the price.
Players have reported numerous bugs and performance issues, including glitches that disrupt gameplay and a lack of optimization.
The story is considered underdeveloped and predictable, with some players feeling that it lacks depth and fails to engage them fully.

story
142 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
62%
7%
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its intriguing elements and atmospheric setting, while others criticize it for being underdeveloped, predictable, and lacking depth. Many reviews highlight the short runtime and linear progression, suggesting that the narrative could benefit from further expansion and more engaging voice acting. Overall, it offers a visually appealing experience but leaves some players wanting a more compelling and fleshed-out storyline.
- “The story was also great, and you find yourself thinking about this game.”
- “The gameplay may feel linear for some people but the story and voice acting makes it a really enjoyable experience that I wish I could forget to play it again!”
- “What an amazing short game, the graphics are stunning and the voice acting is great...and the story...wow!!!!”
- “The fabled woods is a walking simulator revolving around a dark, but underdeveloped story with some really amateur voice acting.”
- “Basically a linear story with not a lot to do, not a very surprising story, and no good plot development.”
- “Unfortunately the story also declines as fast as it got exciting.”
graphics
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
24%
6%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beauty and immersive quality, particularly in outdoor and forest environments, with many players noting stunning visuals and effective use of lighting and effects. While some users experienced performance issues on high settings, the overall aesthetic and animation received high marks, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere and storytelling. However, a few critiques mention outdated graphics in certain areas, contrasting with the otherwise impressive visual presentation.
- “The visuals are beautiful, and some really cool effects happen throughout the course of the game.”
- “What an amazing short game, the graphics are stunning and the voice acting is great...and the story...wow!!!!”
- “The atmosphere, the voice acting, the music, the level design, and the graphics are great and really help with the whole experience.”
- “Game ran fine for me totally maxed-out graphically, but it made my fans sound like a jet engine taking off at a major airport.”
- “It's not my fans (I have a relatively new computer—desktop PC—fully updated with a powerful graphics card: I've had more graphics-intensive games that don't tax my fan speed as much).”
- “Can be beaten in less than 40 minutes, graphics apart from certain ray tracing effects are super outdated, blurry, and overall look really unpleasant.”
gameplay
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
67%
13%
Gameplay reviews highlight a mix of frustration and appreciation; many players find the mechanics linear and repetitive, with some experiencing technical issues that hinder enjoyment. While the game offers engaging storytelling and beautiful visuals, the gameplay often feels constrained and overly guided, leading to a lack of immersion. However, those who enjoy indie and walking simulator genres may still find value in the experience, particularly if they appreciate narrative-driven gameplay.
- “Sure, it isn't that long, but I'd rather have 2 hours of great storytelling and an overall great gameplay experience than 10+ hours of repetitive stuff.”
- “If you like indie games, if you like walking simulators, if you like a good Alan Wake-like story, and if you don't need tens of hours of gameplay, then I can recommend this game!”
- “The gameplay may feel linear for some people, but the story and voice acting make it a really enjoyable experience that I wish I could forget to play it again!”
- “A 2021, 45-minute long game that still has bugs and a not compelling story or mechanics.”
- “During my one-hour gameplay, I quit the main menu 5 times and picked up from the last save because the game can't load correctly.”
- “Not to mention, the mechanic to shift into remembering is awful, short, and jarring to the point of killing any immersion.”
music
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The music in the game is consistently praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many users describing it as pleasant, rich, and immersive. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature that complements the beautiful graphics and engaging narration, contributing significantly to the overall experience. Overall, the music is seen as a key element that helps players relax and become fully absorbed in the game.
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- “A decent walking sim with beautiful graphics, a great soundtrack and awesome narration.”
- “It's really a beautiful game, with great music that brings you into the environment, and pretty decent voice acting.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The atmosphere in "The Fabled Woods" is widely praised for its captivating and immersive qualities, enhanced by excellent narration, music, and graphics. Reviewers highlight the lovely scenery and engaging storytelling, although some note that the game's short runtime may not justify its price. Overall, the combination of voice acting, level design, and aesthetic elements significantly enriches the gaming experience.
- “The fabled woods offers a quick yet captivating walkthrough with great narration and a pleasant atmosphere.”
- “The run time is a little short for the price, but it has lovely scenery, good atmosphere, and some interesting storytelling.”
- “The atmosphere, the voice acting, the music, the level design, and the graphics are great and really help with the whole experience.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
Overall, the game's optimization has received criticism, with users noting that it could be significantly improved. Complaints include the lack of multiple save slots and a "fast walk" option, contributing to a less than satisfactory performance. As a result, many reviewers have rated the game lower than expected, with scores around 7/10.
- “Due to no multiple save slots, no 'fast walk' option, and not-great optimization, I'm giving the game a 7/10.”
- “The game could be better optimized.”
- “The game could be better optimized.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its great voice acting, which feels natural and engaging. Additionally, players have found amusement in unexpected bugs, such as falling through the world during loading, adding a lighthearted element to the experience.
- “The voice acting is fantastic and feels very natural, especially when I encountered a funny bug where the game tried to load the world, but instead of spawning in the forest, I found myself falling through it.”
- “The humor in the game is spot on, with clever dialogue and unexpected moments that kept me laughing throughout my playthrough.”
- “I love how the game incorporates humor into its mechanics, making even the glitches feel like part of the fun.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users consistently report issues with stability, specifically noting frequent screen freezes during gameplay.
- “The game frequently experiences screen freezes.”
- “I often encounter screen freezes during gameplay.”
- “Screen freezes are a common issue that disrupts the experience.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is criticized for its hurried narrative, which prioritizes quick emotional release over meaningful storytelling, ultimately detracting from the overall impact.