Gamescom 2026 Fable Preview: The Old Magic Still Runs Deep

Published Aug 31, 2026, 9:54 AM EDT James is a gaming writer from London who has spent thousands of hours exploring titles from every genre. Though he has a particular affinity for multiplayer titles like World of Warcraft, Destiny 2 and League of Legends, he has also put thousands of hours into single-player experiences, from deep RPGs to epic PC strategies. When he's not playing or writing, he can usually be found supporting his beloved Brentford FC. Cards on the table, the Fable series, and Fable 2 specifically, are among my favorite games of all-time, striking a perfect balance and coming along at a time when everything felt right with the world. As such, there is no game I have been more nervous to try than Playground Games' reboot, which brings the IP back from beyond the grave for a whole new generation of players in February 2027. That time came at Gamescom 2026, where the game was shown off in earnest for the first time in a hands-on experience that takes us through one of its typical, if short, dungeons. Though it was a relatively brief window into everything the upcoming Fable has to offer (around 45 minutes), it was more than enough to make me confident that the final release will have been worth the long wait. Violence Is Sometimes The Answer Playground Games First thing's first. I have seen the video floating around on social media of Fable's protagonist fighting a large enemy, and it does look stilted. So in the first instance, it's important to impress upon you just how much more there is to the combat in the game on a minute-to-minute basis than that brief clip makes out. It sticks with a similar formula to the one longtime fans of the series will know and love, with players able to use melee, ranged and magic (will) attacks in combination to bring down enemies. Here, transitioning between those fighting styles is extraordinarily smooth, as well as easy to pick-up but rewarding if you put the time into learning its intricacies. As an example, you can use a spell to lift enemies into the air, unload bolts into them from your crossbow, and then run over to execute when they slam into the ground once your spell is up. You no longer need to charge spells to get them to maximum potency, and you can prioritize any or all of these areas as much as you wish as you progress through the game. From a defensive standpoint, Fable is just as strong, with a heady combination of dodges and parries that reward the player for controlling the fight and understanding the timing of enemies. Dodges see the player character weaving in and out of enemies like a ballet dancer, and it's as fluid as it is beautiful to watch when you pull off the perfect avoidance of an incoming arrow or melee attack. Enemies also behave very differently, and you'll need to be aware of how they function to kill them off efficiently. Shoot an enemy in the chest while it's wearing plate armor, and chances are your missile will harmlessly ping off into the distance. Equally, hit a weak spot, and you'll find them taking massive damage, or even briefly stunned. The mini-boss level enemies add nice variety, and playing on a higher difficulty does up the intensity, with enemies more aggressively pursuing the protagonist. Though we were only given a relatively limited window into Fable from this perspective, it really feels so unlikely that those who grew up playing the originals will be anything other than blown away. You'll also have access to a bunch of weapons which dictate how your character fights, whether you prefer the sluggish heft of a Warhammer or the cutting speed of a sword. Spells can also be upgraded in a similar manner to increase their potency, and it seems like a system where you'll get as much fun out of it as you put in. Jokes Are Back, And More Welcome Than Ever Playground Games In a world where we have a lot of RPG and Adventure games that take themselves very seriously, the return of the humor that the series became known for feels more crucial than ever. Happily, it seems like it will be, and its nice to know that the denizens of Albion haven't changed too much in our absence. Our window into the game sees us meeting with a relatively affable chap named Humphry, the reclusive guildmaster of the Heroes' Guild. Voiced by Matt King, of Peep Show fame, he takes us into a flooded mine where many of his fellow citizens died in a tragic flood. The mine is filled with wraiths and skeletons that we fight as a duo, and along the way he'll pass comment. This ranges from startlingly touching moments where he resents not being able to save people, to genuinely funny jokes about the player getting (bone) marrow on him in the more zealous moments of combat. The charm oozes out of every moment of storytelling that we played through in our brief, behind-closed-doors window into the game, and so it's difficult to see how that won't be magnified when it is expanded out to all of the citizens of the world we get to explore. Playground Games There are still a lot of plates for Fable to juggle beyond the combat sections of the game, from the life simulation elements that are so intrinsic to its identity, to the main narrative and open world exploration. That said, every ounce of what has been revealed so far makes it seem as though Playground Games hasn't only brought the series back in a cogent and logical way, but also paid immense respect to everything that came before. If that doesn't result in Fable being a worthy continuation, it will be a huge surprise, and it feels far more likely that it will be on many Game of the Year lists when 2027 is all said and done. Systems Released February 23, 2027 ESRB Mature 17+ / Blood, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence Developer(s) Playground Games Publisher(s) Xbox Game Studios Engine unreal engine 4, forza tech Franchise Fable Number of Players Single-player