I can sum up Sable in four words - very cosy, very pretty.

To be a little less brief, Sable is a neat little exploration game with quite a few things going for it. A quality easy listening soundtrack and a stunning colour palette drawn you into a sci-fi setting that's equal parts pacifistic and mysterious. The game plays around with perspective and depth and scale in a really cool way, and there's even some heartfelt and affective narrative here and there.

Playtime is highly variable. If you just wanna do a quick tour, you can finish the game in an evening. If you're more of the turn-over-every-stone type, it looks like you can pad things out for quite a bit. It's up to you if you think such a short experience is worth the price tag, but be aware that you probably won't be playing this for very long. Still, it's nice to have the option to go deep or keep it light.

Some common issues with exploration games are present - there's a lot of long travelling sections that quickly become tiresome, and gameplay is limited to fetch quests and puzzles. Most of the time, you'll be following the loop of see a structure, climb a structure, repeat. But such structures! And such interesting climbs!

This was a really impressive debut offering from a small team, and I regret leaving it in my backlog to languish as long as it did. Highly recommended for your next chill evening.

Sable was a creative game in an interesting and well-built world, which is why I would recommend it, but with a kind of side note attached that says "this game lacks mechanical polish." For a game fundamentally about exploration, the gameplay mechanics you're meant to use to explore (climbing, the hoverbike) are clunkier than they should be with issues that surprised me in a finished game. (For example, not being able to ride the hoverbike uninterrupted over long distances in some areas because of invisible geometry that I'd crash into just out in the dunes.)

I pressed through these little issues because, honestly, they weren't big enough to deter me and I was enjoying the game - but I will say they added up over time and I was more irritated by them by the end of the game. A high point for me was meeting the characters that represented each job. It was really cool to see the diversity of the jobs in the world, and to get outfits and the masks for each as Sable experienced more over her journey.

I was able to 100% Sable in around 25 hours, at a leisurely pace. The only cleanup I had to do by the time I was ready to finish the game was collecting the remaining chum eggs, which wasn't bad. I did it all in one run with low stress. This is likely a niche case, but heads up to anyone who may be like me - I had to turn on the high contrast mode because otherwise the flat style of the game actually gave me headaches, but I don't see very well in general. YMMV on that one.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣤⣤⣤⣤⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⣾⣿⣿⣿⠿⣿⣿⣷⣦⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣰⣿⣿⡟⠋⠀⠀⠀⠛⢻⣿⣷⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⡏⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠻⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⣿⣿⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢹⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣷⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣸⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⡀⠀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⡀⠀⠀⢀⣤⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⣄⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠸⣿⣿⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠸⣿⣿⠛⠀⢀⣸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⣶⣿⣿⡿⠟⠋⠉⢻⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢹⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⣿⣿⠀⠀⠈⣿⣿⠻⠀⠀⠉⠻⠿⠏⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠉⠉⠙⠿⠿⠇⠀⠀⠀⠈⢹⣿⡇⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⣤⣶⣶⣤⣾⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣸⣿⡇⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⣠⣾⣿⣿⠟⠛⠛⠉⠛⠋⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠻⣿⣿⣶⣄⠀⠻⣿⣿⡦⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣾⣿⣿⡃⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣤⣴⣿⣿⣿⠿⠋⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⢻⣿⣿⣧⣠⣿⣿⠇⠀⣠⣤⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⣾⣿⣧⠀⠀⠻⢿⣿⣿⣷⡀
⠀⢀⣤⣶⣿⣿⡿⠛⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣠⣴⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣦⣄⠀⠀⠀⠹⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠀⠈⠻⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⣴⣶⡄⠀⠀⠀⠘⠻⠿⠟⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⢿⣿⣿
⠀⣿⣿⡿⠿⠋⠀⠀⠀⢀⣤⣶⣶⣶⣾⣿⣿⡋⠉⠉⠉⠉⠙⠿⣿⣿⣧⠀⠀⠀⣽⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣀⣀⣠⣿⣿⣷⣶⣶⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣼⣿⣿
⢰⣿⣿⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠿⡿⠟⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠸⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠛⠛⠛⠛⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⣴⣿⣿⡿⠛
⢸⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣷⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣤⣤⣶⣿⣿⣿⠟⠉⠀⠀
⢸⣿⣇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⣾⣿⣿⠇⠀⠀⠀⠙⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢾⣿⣿⣿⢿⣿⣿⣅⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠸⣿⣿⣦⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣠⣴⣄⠀⠿⡿⣫⣤⡄⠀⠀⠀⠸⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠁⠀⠀⠛⢿⣿⣷⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣴⣾⣿⣿⠿⠋⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⣄⠈⣿⣿⣷⠀⠀⠀
⠀⢠⣿⣿⣍⡛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠻⠟⠉⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠀⠀⠀
⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⡟⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⣾⣿⡿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⡏⠉⠉⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⢻⣿⣿⣧⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣠⣾⣿⣿⢟⣤⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⢻⣿⣿⣿⣶⣦⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠟⠛⠁⣸⣿⡇⠀⣸⣶⣾⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣧⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣯⡛⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠟⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⣤⣾⣿⣿⠃⣴⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⣤⣄⣠⣄⠀⠀⠈⣿⣿⡃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⢿⣿⣿⣦⣄⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣀⣴⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠋⢁⣴⣿⣿⠻⣿⣿⠀⠀⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⣿⣿⣆⠀⣠⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠟⠋⠀⠈⣀⣴⣿⣿⣿⡿⠃⢰⣿⣿⣤⣾⣿⣿⠇⠈⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠉⠁⠀⠸⣿⣿⣷⣿⣿⡟⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠙⣿⣿⣯⣍⡉⣉⣉⣀⣤⣤⣴⣾⣿⣿⠿⠛⠁⠀⠀⠈⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠛⠛⠛⠋⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠙⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠿⠟⠛⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀