Fable's Spell List Has a Lot of Room to Grow

Fable is perhaps the most interesting first-party Xbox game currently in development. It's being positioned as an ambitious and triumphant return for the long-dormant fantasy RPG franchise, which hasn't had a proper release since Fable 3 in 2010, and its lack of a number or subtitle suggests that it will be something of a soft reboot. This is, of course, a good thing, as it will allow the Fable IP to grow and evolve alongside contemporary technology and trends.

This is why it's somewhat nerve-wracking that there has been hardly any actual information revealed about the game. Xbox has shown brief snippets of gameplay and cinematics here and there, but little of Fable's mechanics, tone, or structure has been illuminated thus far. This paints a rather uncertain picture of the game's future, especially since it's seemingly rebuilding the Fable brand and formula from the ground-up. The good thing, however, is that the sky is virtually the limit for Playground Games' vision of Fable, and the studio shouldn't be afraid to get radical with some of its changes. Spell-casting and the broader magic system would be a wise place to start.

Fable May Be Tempted to Reprise an Old Feature, But It Would Be Wise Not To

Although one feature may be nostalgic for long-time Fable fans, Playground Game's reboot would be wise to leave some systems in the past.

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By Carla Carmona

Fable Has a Chance to Reinvent the Magic Wheel

Fable's Previous Magic Systems Won't Cut it in 2025

It should go without saying that several aspects of the original Fable trilogy are rather dated, and not suitable for reuse in the new Fable; spell-casting is one such aspect. Fable 2 has the most spells of any game in the mainline series, though even this selection only comes out to eight different abilities, most of which are rather plain, such as hurling a fireball or temporarily slowing down time. Fable 3 cuts down this list to just six spells, though it takes major steps forward by allowing players to mix-and-match different spell effects. For instance, the Blades spell can be combined with Fireball to create flaming swords that attack the enemy. Still, this feature works a bit better in theory than in practice, and the overall spell-casting sandbox still feels rather limited.

The limits of the Fable magic system are especially apparent when one measures it against modern RPGs. The likes of Elden Ring, Baldur's Gate 3, and even the much-maligned Forspoken feature a wide spate of distinct and inventive spells, allowing for any number of unique builds and playstyles. This sort of flexibility is what makes modern action-RPGs work as well as they do, and it's a strength that the upcoming Fable will need to match, lest it fail to be competitive.

Fable's Magic Needs to Pack a Punch, but There's No Need to Throw the Baby Out With the Bathwater

One of the best parts of Fable's magic, which is especially sharpened in Fable 3, is its focus on player-centric growth and flexibility. There's the aforementioned spell-combining of Fable 3, of course, but there's also the series' broader leveling system, which rewards players for leaning into a specific playstyle: using more spells will net a player more spell XP, so to speak. The player-character's appearance will even change in accordance with their spell usage, lending the spell-casting system a decidedly organic quality.

If Fable were to retain the unique relationship between the player and their magic abilities, while expanding the selection of abilities available for use, it could effectively offer the best of both worlds. Indeed, the next Fable shouldn't just try to copy what studios like FromSoftware and Larian have done, but rather learn key lessons from such games, while integrating the Fable IP's unique quirks. It will likely be those exact quirks that determine whether its magic system is great, or just servicable.

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