Oh man, where to start with this one? So, there’s this game, Sable, popping up free on the Epic Games Store right now. And let me tell ya, it’s kind of a big deal, but maybe not in the way you’d think. It’s one of those open-world exploration kinda things. Anyway, it’s free till, like, July 3. So you can get lost in its desert world from your couch, avoiding the whole ‘real desert’ sweat thing. Funny how that’s always a plus, right?
What really grabbed me wasn’t the game itself initially. Nope, it was actually the music! Yeah, the soundtrack by Japanese Breakfast was just too cool and, I swear, it’s like the best background music for just hanging out or maybe writing, which, oddly enough, I do a lot. Played it over and over. Even got it on vinyl because, why not? Eventually, I thought, “Heck, maybe I should check out what the game’s about.” Diving in, I realized, it’s all about exploring – take your time, rush it, do your thing. Whatever.
So, here’s what you do – you play as Sable, this young woman leaving her village. It’s kind of this whole self-discovery journey. The goal? Hunting for masks that represent different life choices. I mean, who knew masks could be deeper than Halloween props, right? You’ve got a cartographer’s mask, machinist’s mask, guard’s mask… seriously, all sorts. They’re more than just funky headwear; they kind of represent life paths. Weird how headgear can be so philosophical.
Exploration is the heart of it. The masks, oh man, some of the fun ones, you earn through crazy explorations. Like this sandwyrm mask – picture trudging through what seems like the remains of some giant worm straight out of a sci-fi flick (not like you’re going to get digested or anything). Or there’s this whale ship mask, which you get by scavenging parts of old spaceship hulls. Spaceships just chillin’ there and begging you to poke around. It makes exploring wrecked ships one of those, I dunno, favorite game moments? Yep, definitely. Honestly, the game doesn’t spoon-feed you every story detail, which is kinda cool, leaving little nuggets through audio logs. Keeps it mysterious, I guess.
And let me just throw this out there – you have this freedom to just wander at your own speed. You get to cruise on this glider thing. It’s customizable, by the way. And the art style? Pastel skies, shadowy outlines, seriously, feels like you’re in a comic book by Moebius or someone. Combined with the music, Sable’s got a vibe that’s all its own.
Here’s what’s kinda rad about it – the whole ‘end when you want’ feature. Sable’s got a town, and after you collect a mask or two, you can wrap it up, head back home whenever you’re ready. Maybe you decide being a merchant is your jam, easy mask to snag early on, and you dip out. Or, who knows, collect all of ‘em if you’re up for it.
Sure, there are puzzles and classic game-y quests scattered about, but mostly, it’s about soaking in the experience at your own pace. The game’s not gonna hog your time unless you let it. Perfect for grabbing it free and not just letting it rot in that digital pile of shame we call our backlog.
