Fable Anniversary

Fable Anniversary is a classic from my youth, a game I will never forget. It has such a special place in my heart, and I still enjoy playing it today. The charm, the choices, and the world it offers are timeless. From exploring the beautiful Albion to making impactful decisions that shape your character, the game was ahead of its time in so many ways. It's one of the best games from my childhood, and I’m sure it will remain a favorite for many years to come. If you haven't played it yet, do yourself a favor and dive into this legendary RPG!

When games used to be funny and yes also very buggy but at least it was finished upon released and not current games now a days. Play this to experince what started a good game trilogy.

I love to play this game, really tickle the nostagia for ones childhood

Game Holds up i always have fun with it, maybe that is just nostalgia talking wish i could play the others before the new one is released.

Its rude and crude and kinda just a chill hack and slash with a funny story. Haven't played this in a very long time and caught it on sale. Could not pass it up and I am glad I did not. Its fun to chill and play. Always good for a good laugh while your playing also.

An honest review in 2025 from a first-timer...

Fable is, and always will be, one of those timeless gems in gaming. There's something about its approach to RPG mechanics and the way it looks. There's no denying it has a charm that hasn’t faded over the years. For anyone wondering, Fable Anniversary is essentially a remastered version of the 2004 classic, bundled with its DLC, The Lost Chapters.

I missed out on playing Fable as a kid, but even now, so many years later, it blew me away. It surprised me in ways I wasn’t expecting, and I’d recommend it to any RPG fan out there, young or old.

This game has a unique feel that’s hard to put into words. The world it creates, the way it lets you interact with everything...it’s like nothing else. Even games like Skyrim haven't managed to match this level of detail.

Let me explain...
In Skyrim, you can go from being a nobody to basically a God, but the world barely reacts to that. Sure, you might get a few comments from guards, but it’s pretty basic, simple and overall doesn't even add to your immersion. You could walk into a village wearing Daedric armor, and no one would care.
Fable is the complete opposite. Every choice you make. right down to the armor you wear, changes how people see you. Some villagers cheer for you while others run away in terror. And while Fable doesn’t take itself too seriously, it doesn’t lean too hard into comedy either. It hits a balance that feels just right.

+ You start off as a kid, and everything you do leaves a mark. Eat too much, and your character gains weight. Take too much damage, and you get scars. Master magic, and glowing runes appear on your body. Your character changes as you progress, and it makes the whole experience feel alive.
The game gives you so much to do from buying gear, food, weapons, and even houses, renting properties, fishing, digging for treasure, and completing side quests where you work as a mercenary for both the good guys and the villains. And throughout it all, you’re chasing your main goal: avenging your family. It’s a personal journey, and it makes the game feel like your story.

+ It's hard to describe just how good this game feels. The music, the graphics, the voice acting...everything works together to create something truly unique. Fable has an identity that's all its own, and even years after its release, it still holds up.

- However, that's not to say we don't have some issues here.
The combat system is pretty simple and feels clunky. Sure, you get swords, bows, and magic, and they're all useful, but the depth isn't really there. Some abilities, like summoning, feel kind of pointless. Summoned allies don't do much damage, don't distract enemies, and aren't even useful at higher levels. Combat usually boils down to using the same two or three tactics over and over.
The morality system is another mix of bad and good. There's no real incentive to be good or evil.
It's more about how you want to play. And then there are the characters.
Whisper, one of your early sidekicks, is annoying, and her brother is even worse.
Still, maybe that’s part of Fable's charm. It’s not trying to make you love every character. It’s giving you an experience to remember.

All in all Fable gives you around 30 hours of gameplay with a single character, and for the most part, it's fantastic. The story and villain could've been better, but the world it creates is more than enough to keep you invested. If you love RPGs, this game is a must.

8.8/10

Why can't I get Fable Anniversary for Mac? I've been using Macs since the early 1990s, so moving to a PC would be hard. I can get there, but I don't want to go through stories about PCs getting hacked, promises of anti-virus software, and dealing with a different software setting. I mean, the game is on Xbox 360, and I can get it on retro gaming, so why not Mac?

Bought on a whim to feel some nostalgia. Didn't disappoint. Didn't have any issue that I don't remember having with the original on the OG Xbox. Fun little janky game.

Played the original Fable, moved to TLC after, and have been playing Anniversary since it came out. Without a doubt this game has a lot of replay-ability, especially the Steam version of the game!

most fun i've had playing a game in a long while. use to play this back on the Xbox but to play it now it still holds up

I appreciate what Fable is doing. I really like this kind of roleplaying game. But I simply waited too long to play this one and I don't feel it aged well. The controls feel clunky as does the combat. The combat is also very samey with little variation I found in the enemies you fight. Its also clear your actions shape the NPC's perceptions of you, but I didn't feel like my choices really mattered in the game. There are simply a lot of other newer games with more satisfying mechanics and more interesting NPC interactions that let you make meaningful choices in the game beyond "Am I good?" or "Am I bad?" If you have a lot of nostalgia for Fable I understand why you might want to revisit this whimsical world, but if like me you waited too long to experience this game you may end up feeling like its lacking too many modern convieniences and twists to really enjoy.

I used to play this game when I was 13, bought it a little bit over 10 years later, and had 20 hours of pure nostalgia and fun. Dude, I wish games these days had the soul this game has. Wait for it to be on sale (it may not cater for all audiences, plus its a game that has its years), and don´t hesitate, go for it, you're in for a treat.

a really great example of how games used to be

while nostalgic, it still allows for depth of systems without being cumbersome thanks to the experience mechanics

a really good game, timeless because of its art style and dialogue

I definitely recommend playing with a controller though- the game was designed with controller use in mind

In my humble opinion, the greatest game ever made. This brings me back to sitting in my bedroom as a kid, playing this on the original Xbox after school.

Humour is 10/10, story is 10/10, gameplay is still fun, graphic style has aged beautifully like a fine wine.

Tell me another game that has Geordie, Scouse and Brummie accents in it and I will eat my hat.

The start of a beautiful trilogy (we don't need to talk about Fable 3)

I don't understand what they've done to the camera, but it's unplayable for me. The camera constantly tries to recenter itself which causes horrible juddering. It also doesn't seem to run well on a 9700k and 3070? It felt so awful. It might just be UE3.

A good but dated game. Very easy on the standard difficulty. Extremely stable with no noticeable issues or bugs. Fully recommend at discount price.

The game crashes on a regular do not buy until fixed. Its basically unplayable

Ah, Fable Anniversary—the game that proves you don’t need ultra-serious storytelling or soul-crushing difficulty to have a great time. This game is goofy, ridiculous, and absolutely worth playing. Whether you're the noble hero Albion deserves or a cackling menace who terrorizes villagers for fun (and extra XP), Fable lets you carve your own path—one morally questionable choice at a time.

The game gives you two options: be the shining beacon of hope, helping the innocent and earning a halo, or fully embrace the dark side and become the stuff of Albion’s nightmares. And let’s be honest—being evil in Fable is just too much fun. Why save villagers when you can rob them blind, mock their suffering, and kick chickens for sport? The best part? Playing as a villain actually rewards you with more XP, because apparently, Albion wants you to be a menace.

Beyond the hilarious morality system, the game’s humor is pure gold. NPCs react to your actions in the most absurd ways, the world is filled with ridiculous side quests, and even the most dramatic moments come with a side of British wit. Add in the classic RPG elements—leveling up, customizing your hero, and mastering combat—and you’ve got a game that’s just as fun today as it was back in the early 2000s.

So if you’re looking for an RPG that doesn’t take itself too seriously, Fable Anniversary is your perfect escape. Just don’t be surprised when you start choosing the evil path a little too often.

No issues at all whatsoever on this version of the game. I assume the people having controller issues must not have their drivers or firmware up to date. Camera works perfectly fine. Takes me back to the simpler time. The price tag is a bit steep but its a supply and demand world. And Lionhead doesnt exist anymore so I highly doubt it will ever go on sale. But if youre a die hard fan like I am its a definite buy.

Not as good as I remember from when I was a kid, but for a game this old, it holds up surprisingly well. It's very charming.

Oh, Fable... How I love you.
One of the best games ever made.
If you've never played it, now is the time.
Absolutely revolutionary for its time, and still fantastic today.

(Conclusion at the end)

🎨 Graphics

☐ You forget what reality is
☐ Beautiful
☑ Good
for
☑ Decent
☐ Bad
☐ Don’t look too long at it
☐ MS-DOS

🎮 Gameplay

☐ Very good
☑ Good
☐ It's just gameplay
☐ Mehh
☐ Watch paint dry instead
☐ Just don't

🎵 Audio

☐ Eargasm
☐ Very good
☑ Good
☐ Not too bad
☐ Bad
☐ I'm now deaf

👥 Audience

☑ Kids
☑ Teens
☑ Adults
☐ Grandma

🖥️ PC Requirements

☐ Check if you can run paint
☑ Potato
☐ Decent
☐ Fast
☐ Rich boi
☐ Ask NASA if they have a spare computer

💾 Game Size

☐ Floppy Disk
☑ Old Fashioned
☐ Workable
☐ Big
☐ Will eat 10% of your 1TB hard drive
☐ You will want an entire hard drive to hold it
☐ You will need to invest in a black hole to hold all the data

💀 Difficulty

(the further, the more difficult + it is possible to change the difficulty)

☐ Just press 'W'
☑ Easy
☑ Easy to learn / Hard to master
☑ Significant brain usage
☐ Difficult
☐ Dark Souls

⚒️ Grind

☐ Nothing to grind
☐ Only if u care about leaderboards/ranks
☐ Isn't necessary to progress
☑ Average grind level
☐ Too much grind
☐ You'll need a second life for grinding

📖 Story

☐ No Story
☐ Some lore
☐ Average
☑ Good
☐ Lovely
☐ It'll replace your life

⏳ Game Time

☐ Long enough for a cup of coffee
☐ Short
☑ Average
☐ Long
☐ To infinity and beyond

💰 Price

☐ It's free!
☑ Worth the price
☑ If it's on sale
☐ If u have some spare money left
☐ Not recommended
☐ You could also just burn your money

🐞 Bugs

☐ Never heard of
☑ Minor bugs
☐ Can get annoying
☐ ARK: Survival Evolved
☐ The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs

⭐ ? / 10

☐ 1
☐ 2
☐ 3
☐ 4
☐ 5
☐ 6
☐ 7
☐ 8
☑ 9
☐ 10

Conclusion:

The game is pretty cool in my opinion. The remaster was made specifically for the old games when it was still on the old XBox. It has the ability to build the fate of your hero with your actions and choices, but the graphics are honestly a bit outdated. I give it 9 out of 10 because it is exactly what it should be and what it was during development :)
I hope it helped!)

just the normal fable available on pc. good grab. remake fable 2 and 3 please. or just add them on steam for the love of gamers.

Love this game was the first game i got on pc back in the day brings back so many memories

fable the lost chapters is top 10 games of all time

lionhead studios made some absolute HOGSHIT sequels
ppl who dont know shit about fuck will tell you the sequels were good but theyre not as discerning as u n me

for some reason fable anniversary is pretty much just lost chapters, but it feels closer to one of the hogshit sequels

This game was so ahead of its time. It has more depth and consequence than many modern games *cough* Avowed *cough*
If you want a fun, interactive, deep game play this!

Less than ninety minutes of play time and I already got a game-breaking glitch. I loaded up my save, which was not where I played to. I ended up back to about a half hour of play time before I saved, so I was already annoyed. Apparently saving the game doesn't save the game. Wonderful. It gets better, though. I had to redo the training area and beat up a dummy with a stick. And...the dummy has disappeared. I am soft-locked. THIS is a remaster? $35 is way too high to demand for a broken mess like this. Surely your money is better spent elsewhere.

Fable is one of few games I come back to from time to time, because experience it offers hasn't been replicated outside of this franchise
With that said, get "Fable The Lost Chapters" version of this game instead.

Positives of this game over Fable The Lost Chapters.

• Some better textures and maybe improved models. I didn't notice the difference until I look for A to B comparison.
  
• Hard mode (rebalanced and no revival potions).
  

The negative is it overall feels far worse to play due to:

• Screwed up, unmodifiable mouse sensitivity. Slow in menus, super fast in world, even faster in minigames (where accuracy is crucial).*
  
• Jerky, nausea inducing camera(among other camera issues) . There's only a handful of games that managed to do that so far.*
  
• Nonsensical mapping (and this game has complicated controls). This is true in game and in menus.
  
• UI has been reworked and menus are less responsive, more convoluted, more delays, and generally slows many interactions down.
  It takes more actions (and each action has more delay) than in The Lost Chapters.
  

*Camera/mouse sensitivity can be tune in INI files, but because the speed is different in different activityies in the game, it feels off no matter what I did.

In case you're curious:

• Original bugs/jank did not get fixed.
  
[*] Anniversary exclusive paid DLCs (stuff you can't get in TLC) are equipment that might look nice but are weaker than stuff you'll have by that point.

Fable is story rich! You can customize alot. This game a worth a try.

7.5/10
Fable I was one of my childhood RPGS that I used to love playing. In fact, I have played through all 3 of the fable games, and I have the fondest memories with the first fable game, as I cherished it the most of the 3, with 2 being second and 3rd one being... well, disappointing. Playing this game again at an older age does show me that yes, this game does still hold up to this day, but of course it lacks aspects that I expect from my modern RPGs. It still doesn't undermine the special aspects of this game however.

Story
The story of this game is pretty simple, good vs evil. Your childhood village gets raided by bandits, killing your father and kidnapping your sister, while the guild also basically kidnaps you and trains you to become a hero. I will say it is a pretty interesting start to a game, but the way characters react and move makes most story telling moments in this game either awkward or comedic at times. As you go from childhood to teenager all the way to adulthood, you begin to become worthy enough to leave the guild and go on an adventure. Past this point it is a pretty simple but charming RPG where you take on quests and learn the world of albion. Half way thru the game you do meet the main antagonist, Jack of Blades, and this does get pretty interesting cause while jack of blades is a very simple evil villain, he is a pretty effective villain for how the game handles its story. Getting sent to prison and tortured for a year, all the way to beating jack once and for all. The TLC content was brand new to me as I never played the expansion when I was a kid, and only played and beat the base fable game. Honestly I can't believe I never did cause the ending to the original fable pre TLC was just kinda abrupt. The TLC part of the story isn't crazy either, but it does give a fitting conclusion of taking down jack of blades once and for all, and either throwing his mask away, or wearing the mask... which honestly even as a evil character makes 0 sense why would I want to be mind controlled by jack for all eternity. The side content is ranges from either worthwhile to being kinda forgettable. There are the more memorable questlines like escorting three traders across a dark forest (one being a werewolf himself), marrying a crazy evil women who def killed her sister just cause she is the hottest girl in the game, and of course, sacrificing innocent bodyguards as a morally good person just to get the best bow in the game. It is all over the place, but most of the interesting side quests just had a ton of charm to them that made them very interesting to play through.

Characters
The characters in this game are a mixed bag. Honestly I loved most of the important character designs, however calling them fleshed out characters would be a huge stretch. Even the characters who stick close to you or are very important to the hero can be explained in less than a paragraph at best, and at worst... 2 sentences, which is pretty funny for a RPG. Your sister, Theresa is the main driving point for the hero, and honestly while it is interesting cause of her design and what they did to her, she doesn't stick long enough for me to care much for her. Whispers is also a childhood companion, who doesn't stick long enough to care much. Maze same thing, guildmaster same thing, honestly I wlil prob remember most of the characters by design instead of by name... except for thunder who had the funniest rivalry against the hero not cause of his character arc, but instead being able to cuck him by stealing his wife and banging her why he complains that you are not man enough for her. Jack of Blades like mentioned before is a very interesting evil villain, but I still prefer his original voice, as they made his new voice in TLC more "evil", but generic. TLC does flesh out the characters more, but it was pretty funny how the oracles what happened to the characters, and while your sister's story was interesting, they just mentioned that yeah, Whispers died in a ship raid by pirates like ok ig.

Gameplay
The gameplay can be split into 4 sections, standard melee, very bland but strong archery, the more fun and diverse magic... or messing around with the pretty hilarious NPCs. The balance between the main three I do think was balanced the best in this game compared to 2 or 3, where melee just becomes worthless esp in 3, where you handicap yourself by playing melee. I really enjoyed the combat style in this game cause while yeah it has the usual block, it does have rolling to avoid damage, which was the only way to dodge some moves in this game. Magic however was so much fun in this game cause of the amount of spells you get that are pretty unique to each other. Playing as a magic user, I enjoyed the divine fury spell which just felt so nice to charge up a rune around you, to stun lock enemies while they get blasted by beams. If there is one downfall to magic, it is the need for a ton of magic potions due to how LONG recharging takes for your magic bar. It isn't a problem in normal mode, but in heroic they really limit the amount of potions you can buy, making me rely on melee while I had no mana left for entire questlines. Archery is very bland imo, just stand back and shoot without much variety, but enemies can't block your shots. The enemies in this game were pretty varied, but had really annoying types like summoner or ice trolls. Apart from combat however, the NPCs in this game are just so much fun to mess around with, alongside the economy of this game. The NPCs tend to react to your alignment, from running away if you are evil, to cheering you on when you are good while the females want to marry you just by the sight of you. Messing around with them was just so much fun, and especially with them roaming around when enemies are nearby, there are just funny encounters where they cheer you on, get a rock thrown at by a troll, get up to cheer you on, another rock thrown and die right there. Even the economy was just really fun, but abusable at times. On heroic it isn't as easily broken, but in normal mode you can get rich very quick due to the supply/demand system, where they pay more if they lack that item, meaning you can buy all their diamonds, then sell them back to them for a profit. In heroic, I found more enjoyment by taking entire towns to the woods, killing them all with one spell, then buying their property so I can rent them and get the daily upkeep payments, just so much charm to this game.

Music
Very memorable, but of course works best in the game instead of outside the game (outside of temple of light, will always cherish that song). The town themes were nice, mainly because the dumbest shit will happen with the NPCs, giving me the same feelings I felt with Oblivion town NPCs at times with how jank they are. Other than that, none of the bosses really had unique music, not even jack of blades which is a shame, but will still cherish the OST for this game.

Last Positives/Nitpicks
- While I do think the graphics are objectively better, I still prefer the old look the original graphics had, ESPECIALLY with the faces. The new models just scream 360 era of slapping non matching models onto janky ps2 era animations.
- Heroic mode is pretty needed, cause base game is way too easy, only annoyance being the limitations of mana potions with traders.

Conclusion
I will always hold a special place for the first Fable game, even if replaying it reminds me of the jank and lack of polish this title has. While yes Fable 2 did feel more polished and removed the jank, it cost the more interesting and unique style of the first game that I enjoyed a ton. I do think it is a unique experience, even knowing how much was cut from this game (good ol Peter Molyneux lies). I do think this game is worth a playthrough, but going in with wanting to experience the unique charm of this game, and not expecting a GOTY RPG.

7.5/10

The Fable series is one of my all time favorites from my childhood. Fable anniversary edition is the best version of the original Fable game hands down.

First, I've gotten this to work perfectly fine with a PS4 controller, you just have to fiddle with it a bit.

I never got to play this game in the past, never had an Xbox, but I always was intrigued. I really like it. It's charming in its own way, combat and spells are cool, the story is pretty good and the moral choices keep things interesting. The levels are linear - this isn't an open world game - but that's OK, it's still fun. I also have to say that it looks really good in this remastered form.

I didn't start on Fable until Fable II on the Xbox 360, but I always wanted to try the original Fable. I highly recommend this remaster, if you like Fable then you won't be disappointed! Obviously it isn't perfect and even remastered it still has some cheese and clunky game mechanics, being an old game and all.

Enflame crashes game on Level Up Screen when you toggle into the Mage Spells reliably due to animation load lag.

Played this game when it was on original XBOX and it is worth it! Highly recommend if you like RPG single player but have a say in how your choices affect the game!

Its an old game with an updated UI, but I have found these 3hrs worthwhile, it was fun, not difficult, more of a tutorial, I am ready for my first hero quests now.

If you never played fable. The game is old and dated. It was a masterpiece and you should try it on sale if you're interested. Just pretend it's a crude indie game.

No.
Fable The Lost Chapter's appeal was it's charm, the graphics blended with the animation and fit perfectly into the atmosphere.
This is an attempt at a rework which failed. The animation (especially head movements) are jittery, the mouse camera movements are shaky (even on consoles) until you go into the config files and lower the default camera movement speed.
If you fell in love with the original Fable The Lost Chapters - this is not it, save your money and instead spend it on the game you love and remember, the original release which is currently still available on Steam, which is exactly what I'm doing as we speak.

This game strikes a core memory for me as i remember playing it non stop in my younger years, but never truly beating it until i was an adult.

Grab a few mods (Redux/reshaders/etc) and it will feel like a first play through all over again.

Over all a wonderful RPG experience that set the bar for a multitude of games that came after.

Such a classic game, next to Zelda this game definitely had an impact on my childhood and my imagination.
Such an honor to be able to play this again.

- D

Man... nostalgia done got me all goofed up.

I recall playing this game waaaaaaaay back in the day on the Xbox. At the time, I recall it being quite a unique experience. A game where you can choose to be good guy or a bad guy and pretty much bend the citizens to your will or make them love you with low rent prices.

Well, 20 years goes by and my God... this game hasn't aged well. Somehow, I find myself liking Fable 2 way more than this game and Fable 2 has its own troubles and problems.

But Good God man.... I was forcing myself to play through this game. By the time I got to the end, I was done. I was just like "How much more of this garbage is there?" Between the clunky ass combat, the boring as hell story, the diminishing returns of constantly using magic or dealing with the chunky sword swings, ugh... it got so old.

People like to complain about the second game getting rid of a lot of spells that this game had, and well, I see why they were gotten rid of - there's so much bloat! Like this is Peter Molyneux throwing every single idea he had and just seeing what stook. It feels unfocused.

Graphically, it's okay. This remaster is largely a graphical improvement, but even so, I think they didn't do enough. It still has some remnants of being a game made in 2004. Which is interesting because a game like Metal Gear Solid 3 and Resident Evil 4 (which came out just a year later) still hold up in their remastered versions here on Steam and I would argue the graphical face-lift they received was much less drastic as this one. The OG Fable looks so fugly - and maybe that's the point - like its supposed to look ugly as a joke, but man, kinda hard to get into your character being the super awesome king of the land when he looks like a dork.

I think a lot of the praise for this game comes from people who just enjoyed leveling their character up and experiencing the feeling of becoming an overpowered medieval badass in the OG game and wanted to experience that all over again here. I'm not gonna say its nostalgia goggles because that is grossly overlooking the genuine passion that some people have for this game - but I do think that if you realistically compare this game with other RPGs that have come and gone, this one sits fairly in the pile of mediocre ones.

Personally, I'd prefer playing Fable 2 over this and I'm surprised that game or 3 have not come to Steam yet. I wouldn't say 2 or 3 are great games either (especially not the third one), but at least 2 felt more, well, finished ("finished" used loosely there as these games have so many damn bugs, it would make Bethesda weep). I don't know. I feel the Fable series in general just kinda needed some extra help that Lionhead was incapable of. Always kinda felt like the British Bethesda.

Here's hoping that the new game in the works actually becomes something good (the trailers have me worried, but I am cautiously optimistic for at least a competent RPG if nothing else).

This game is updated from the original Fable with new graphics and new items, full 60FPS, no more lag between loading screens lol. Due to being 20+ years old now, I don't recommend buying it at $30 Canadian anymore, but $10 Canadian is a fair price for it now. Still the best Fable out of them all.

HINT: Watch The Spiffing Brit on YouTube.

One of the first games I owned on my original Xbox, I still have it to this day.

I remember the times before I had access to game journalism or even G4 on Comcast cable. Back when you bought games solely based on the covers and the backside description at your local game store , i.e. Hollywood Video/Game crazy or GameStop. I had to convince my mother as she did not believe I should had access to rated M games. It was dirt cheap at the time so she gave in. This game easily became the gateway for the RPGs I play now, Elder Scrolls, Mass Effect, Fallout, etc,; I haven't even touched Final Fantasy 7 until after this.

A classical experience, get it on sale.

Now all I need is Fable 2 on PC.

when i first started to play fable i was nervous that i was probably gonna be overwhelm by the rpg elements from modern rpg but once i realized how simple it was and how fluent the combat i just had a blast while playing this the first time that i forgot what time it was. so good game 9?10

Buyer beware!!! Don't buy this! It was a great game, but it wont natively display properly without downloading a third party software and then tinkering with the resolution to get it to work. Even then it crashes your computer.

my childhood with better graphics and new weapons. I cant complain :D

I'm very split. I know the game is good, I've played it before, i know I loved it.

However, on PC it's straight unplayable for me. The settings menu is unintuitive, I can't for the life of me find where the keybinds stored to learn what they even are, trail and error shows me that the keybinds are absolutely back assward, and the game refuses to detect my controller despite Steam detecting my controller with no problem. So I'm left with a game that should be played on controller but can't be, and keybinds that I can't play with.

Fable Anniversary – A Timeless Classic That I Still Love

I miss this game so much, and replaying Fable Anniversary feels like coming home. It’s a magical RPG that captures everything I love—charming storytelling, fun combat, and a world filled with heart and humour.

From the moment I stepped into Albion as a young hero, I was hooked. The freedom of choice—being good, evil, or something in between—makes every playthrough feel personal. The combat is simple yet satisfying, and the world is full of quirky characters, hidden secrets, and memorable quests.

The remastered visuals bring Albion to life with improved lighting and textures, though the charm of the original remains. The soundtrack? Still perfect—nostalgic and emotional in all the right ways.

Despite some aging mechanics, Fable Anniversary still holds up as one of my favourite RPGs ever. If you love classic adventures, meaningful choices, and a world full of charm, you’ll love it too.

⭐ 10/10 – Forever one of my favourite RPGs.

I finally played Fable for the very first time and my journey through Fable Anniversary was instantly memorable, showing me how special this franchise is.

I sat down to play Fable Anniversary on my Steam Deck, confident that I was playing the very best version of this classic RPG. After overcoming the initial pains of playing an older, inaccessible title, I quickly found myself falling in love with the world of Fable and its charming, unique blend of serious plotlines and humorous writing. In some ways, Fable feels more like an RPG than many modern RPGs in that I always felt like I was in control of the Hero's destiny.

Fable Anniversary is an expanded and remastered version of the 2005's Xbox 360 Fable: The Lost Chapters, which in turn is an expanded re-release of the first Fable from 2004 on the original Xbox. Released in 2014, Fable Anniversary brought vastly improved visual fidelity, superior performance and load speeds, overhauled controls and UI, and plenty of Achievements to entice new and returning players. It's a great remaster of a game that was 10 years old at the time, but even Fable Anniversary is now over nine years old.

As I said, I played the game on my Steam Deck, which means my experience was even better than those who may have played Fable Anniversary around its initial release. Upscaled to 4K HDR, with FPS Boost bringing me 60 smooth frames per second, the first Fable has never looked or played better than it does on the latest current-gen Xbox consoles or handheld device. Still, no number of facelifts short of a complete remake can fix fundamental game design, meaning it took me a few hours of easing into Fable Anniversary before it really clicked.

Fable is still a product of its time, and that means everything from exploring its world to battling its enemy lacks the fluidity and seamlessness of more modern games. Everything feels just a little clunky and awkward, and it's clear that the scope of the first Fable game was inherently limited by the capabilities of the hardware on which it launched. Fable Anniversary also lacks in-depth accessibility options, with even subtitles being compromised.

As I'm hard of hearing and have auditory processing issues, subtitles are necessary whenever I play any game or watch any media. Fable's subtitles, however, lack customization and strangely only apply to in-game cinematics, meaning I frankly lost a lot of casual NPC conversations and non-cinematic story moments. Beyond these issues, though, I found a game that I wholeheartedly loved, to the point where I genuinely could scarcely stop playing until I finished the entire game over the course of two-three days.

The story of Fable is a simple one: you're the Hero, orphaned at a young age by a brutal bandit raid and raised to be a powerful, productive member of the Guild. As a part of the Guild, you explore the world, taking on quests for various people, establishing a name for yourself as either an evil plight on the land or a pure-hearted savior. To this end, every major decision in Fable is very black and white — you either choose the good path or the bad path, and the consequences of each choice are fairly obvious.

In this way, Fable may confuse players used to more recent RPGs. There's no character creator here, not even as much as a gender slider or a way to choose your name; the Hero is who he is, and that's all there is to it. Yes, you can alter his hair, get tattoos, and change his body build through rigorous exercise or excessive eating, but you're never expected to put yourself into the world of Fable. You're also never confronted with an endless array of vague, questionably meaningful decisions. Instead, Fable asks not that you role-play as a character of your creation but instead control the destiny of a nameless Hero inexplicably involved in the fate of the entire world.

It's the ways in which you can control that destiny where Fable's magic lies. For one, you can romance almost anyone in Fable's world; you can flirt with all the men, women, and people of Fable wherever you go, have people fall in love with you, and marry them. Fable has plenty of stats to inform how many spouses you have, what your sexuality is, how many times you've been divorced, and even how many times you've, ah, gone to bed with other people. If you want to be truly evil, you can attempt to romance everyone in a town and ruin all their collective lives.

You can invest in real estate, including buying and furnishing homes for yourself or renting out to tenants for some passive income. If homeowners or shopkeepers "mysteriously" pass away or disappear, their properties go on the market and can also be purchased. Yes, you can own pretty much everything in Fable, as long as you're willing to reduce the population a tad. It's ridiculous.

Fable also features a healthy number of Expressions that can be used to interact with the people of Albion. From positive affirmations and pleasant manners to spiteful insults and silly dances, there are plenty of ways to elicit reactions out of NPCs. Your Expressions are influenced by your Hero's alignment (how good and evil they are) and how well-known they are. They can be necessary for finding secrets, completing quests, and generally being a part of Fable's world.

There are so many small ways you can influence Fable, despite its modest scale, that makes you feel like you have control. Many of these ways actually make little to no difference to the game's story and are simply ways to have fun amidst all the chaos and seriousness. Fable isn't afraid to be delightfully silly, and it gives the game a wonderful charm that's just absent in many "AAA" modern RPGs — which often insist on being serious and dramatic to the point of exhaustion.

Modern games look and play better than any previous generation of gaming, and developers are becoming more creative and ambitious than ever before. Why is it, then, that Fable Anniversary is lingering in my thoughts so much longer than other modern RPGs? What is it about this 20-year-old classic that remains so fun after all this time?

Many modern RPGs are filled with vast open-worlds and countless quests, discoveries, choices, and ways to personalize your experience, but they also focus unerringly on the completion. It's all about getting things done, all the time. Complete the next quest, unlock the next level, beat the next boss — RPGs are always giving you another thing to keep you occupied, and it's always so aggressively serious. Fable has plenty of serious moments, but it's also filled with minute details that don't matter at all. They're just there because someone, somewhere, will love them.

Video games are constantly striving to become bigger and bolder than what came before, but this incessant push for more often results in games forgetting that there's value in a simple moment of humanity, or in the option to be ridiculous. Making vulgar gestures at a door that won't open, farting to ward off a common bully, posing heroically in front of a gaggle of love-addled fans, and combating the forces of darkness with a frying pan and a chicken hat are all things you can do in Fable Anniversary.

This charm is absent in so many games nowadays despite the mind-boggling technological advancements, and it's likely a large part of why Hi-Fi RUSH is such an incredible journey from beginning to end. Elden Ring is also a great example of this, with its community messages offering a potent, often hilarious contrast to the dark and morbid atmosphere of its world.

Fable Anniversary Edition is an amazing work of fantasy, with a unique atmosphere, a great sense of humor and fun, and an unforgettable world. There are some elements that really show the game is twenty years old now, but on the whole it holds up as well today as it did in 2004. This is a game to fall in love with, and if you haven’t played it yet, I hope you’ll give it a try.

Verdict: 9/10

Its a great game that truly feels different but in a good way from other RPGs. Now I really just wish we would see a Fable 2 official port come to PC. While Fable 3 and onward went down the toilet, Fable 1 and 2 are amazing classic Xbox titles. Fable 2 took everything besides the armor system and improved it in every way over Fable 1. Its a shame Fable 2 is not on PC officially.