Sable is the most unique-looking game I have played in a very long time. It is also one of the most entrancing games I’ve had the pleasure of playing recently, even if only in demo form. Yes, there’s a demo out right now, and it’s the best way to figure out what this game is all about.
Developed by the two-person team at Shedworks, it’s hard to compare Sable to another game. I think is a testament to just how special it is, and to how talented the developers are. I have a feeling Sable will also be the kind of game that everyone will want to say they knew about before it was cool.
From first jump, there is a sort of veil over exactly who Sable is as a character and what sort of world they occupy. Very early on, you will meet some of the members of your nomadic clan as you are tasked with a sort of end-of-childhood rite of passage into adulthood. This involves learning how to encase yourself in a glowing, pulsating bubble that allows you to float, slowing your inevitable decent back to the ground. You are also the expectant recipient of your very own hoverbike, although taking ownership doesn’t exactly go a planned.
What I like most about Sable — aside from the interesting art style or weird yet calming score — is how all of the various, unique design choices coalesce into one unified, realized experience.
I have more questions than answers at this point, but not specifically about what the heck is going on. And, to be fair I don’t really know what the heck is going on, at least not beyond the moment-to-moment interactions with the world and the game’s quest-givers. My main questions are simply about how various devices work within this world, or what roles that some of the denizens have to play. I am finding myself drawn in, curious about the people I meet and how they live. This is a good sign that Sable already has its hooks in me.
I could go on and on, but I think the best way for everyone to learn more about Sable is to simply experience it for themselves. The demo I played was released as a part of Steam Next Fest 2021, and it is currently available to download. You could also check out the mesmerizing reveal trailer from E3 2018, which I’ve posted at the bottom of this article.
Sable is set to launch on September 23, 2021, for PC and Xbox consoles.
