TheFablefranchise’s upcoming return is a relief for fans, and not just because there hasn’t been a new game for a while.Fablehas established itself as a whimsical, lighthearted franchise, which is different from a lot of other fantasy RPGs on the market. While games likeThe Elder Scrolls 5:Skyrimhave moments of levity, they tend to be pretty serious on the whole and often dabble in themes much darker thanFable. Based on its announcement trailer, Playground Games’Fable 4looks like it will reintroduce that more chipper tone to the current RPG market.
If that’s the wayFableintends to present itself, it would benefit from using the kinds of stories that gaveFableits name. Although the franchise has a history of making references to fairy tales and folklore from Great Britain and the rest of Europe,Fable 4should emphasize its return to medieval times with a greater emphasis on fairy tales.Fable 4might already be distinct thanks to its cheery attitude, but it can go farther tostand out fromAvowedandThe Elder Scrollsby retelling all kinds of British fairy tales.
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Building Classic Stories Into Fable
There’s references toHarry Potter, The Chronicles of Narnia,andThe Canterbury Talesscattered through theFablegames as literary Easter eggs, while old fairy tales and classic British folklore make appearances too.Fable’s side quest “The Sword in the Stone” is a clear nod to the origins of King Arthur. This long tradition of referencing real European stories, as well asFable 4’s reportedly British disposition, seem like they create a perfect opportunity to build well-known British stories and fairy tales into the heart of the game.
There’s lots of ways these kinds of tales could contribute toFable 4.Famous stories such as Goldilocks and the Three Bears or Jack and the Beanstalk could provide memorable NPCs for theFable 4protagonist to interact with, and their stories could be retold in ways that make them feel new. Jack’s beanstalk could allow players to explorethe clouds aboveFable 4’s setting, while other fairy tale characters like Tom Thumb could contribute their unique skills to the protagonist’s mission.Fablecould even incorporate an Arthurian narrative where a sword in a stone presents a recurring challenge to the player or a major NPC.
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Fairy tales and traditional British stories offer a lot of interesting possibilities forFable 4because of the wayFableis designed.The Elder Scrollstakes its setting very seriously; the world that Bethesda has crafted is very self-contained and does everything it can to be unique. By contrast,Fablehas always reveled in its close relationship with fantasy tropes and classic stories, referencing them and often poking fun at its genre while establishing an original world. That’s part of what makesFablespecial, so Playground Games would be wise to lean on that reputation for weaving well-known stories into the setting.
A New Day for Fable
A lot of people wonder howFable 4will fare compared tothe other Xbox-exclusive fantasy RPGsin development. It’s certainly fair to ask ifFable 4is up to the challenge considering how long it has been sinceFablehad a major presence in the industry. Ultimately, the tone ofFable 4could be what makes it a success. Playground already promises fans a cheerful game, which is a good start, so weaving fairy tales intoFable 4to support the upbeat tone could be what gives it a strong return to form.
Fable 4is in development for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
