Indie Favorites – Sable

Platform: PC/Windows – Epic Games
Date completed: 3/23/2023
Time to beat: 8 Hours 17 Minutes
Rating: 8/10
Similar to: Breath of the Wild, A Short Hike

”Really, that’s the only part I miss about my Gliding. You get to help so many people and learn so many things! The rest of it’s just sand in your bits.”

Sable is a game about embarking on a journey known as the Gliding; a rite of passage in which you take your hoverbike across vast deserts and mesmerizing landscapes, through monumental ruins and over massive dunes. Help other clans and nomads, complete puzzles, customize your glider, or even go fishing in the sand; the choice is entirely up to you. There are no rules here, no direct paths to follow. Just you and the open desert.

On its surface, you may think that Sable is a game about completing quests and collecting masks. In reality, Sable is a game about coming of age. You play as a young girl who is on a journey to discover who she is. You can tell by her dialogue that she is worried she will make the wrong choice, but through your exploration and interactions with others, you help her become more confident in her answer.

Sable does an excellent job of creating a soothing Zen atmosphere, and with a soundtrack by Japanese Breakfast it was easy to just relax and take things slow. The character writing was enjoyable and made me chuckle at times, and I loved reading Sable's thoughts between her dialogue with others. Whenever I felt a bit overwhelmed with all the paths I could take, it was nice to just sit down and fish in the sand or collect some bugs to take a breather.

Created by the two-person studio Shedworks, Sable was nominated for the "Best Debut Indie Game" award at The Game Awards 2021, while also garnering nominations for the Golden Joystick Awards 2021 categories of "Best Audio" and "Best Indie Game", and also "Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game" at the 25th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards. Sable was also elected as PC Gamer's Best Narrative of 2021 and currently stands at 86% positive of 3,062 user reviews on Steam. If you want to take a nice break from everything, Sable is the game for you.