TheFablereboot’sdelay was disappointing news for many, but there’s a silver lining in getting more development time. Now with a 2026 release date, Playground Games recently released a pre-alpha gameplay trailer that included glimpses of spellcasting. While the extent ofFable’s magic system is still unclear, it could benefit greatly from adopting one ofOblivion Remastered’smost memorable and strongest features.
Custom spellmaking is one of the highlights inOblivion Remastered. It enables players to create personalized spells by combining a wide range of effects, and its popularity is evident through the Mages Guild, which is the most popular guild to join inOblivionaccording to player data. Players were given near-total control over their magical abilities, with the ability to craft spells that suited a range of strategies, helped along by a dedicated cast key binding, rather thanSkyrim’s more limited mechanic. The versatility ofOblivion’s magic system makes an argument for it to appear in other, similar RPGs, andFablewould be the perfect candidate.
Fable’s Magic System Has Room for Improvement
Magic isn’t anything new toFable. Known as Will, the Hero can utilize it to perform a variety of spells with different uses. Will has appeared in different ways across theFableseries, with some iterations using a mana bar in various ways to limit the amount of Will the player can use, or removing the bar entirely and giving players free rein. The spells used acrossFableare all very similar toOblivion’s, making it feasible forFableto introduce an inspired spellcrafting system.
Fable’s gameplay trailer featured pre-alpha gameplaythat was primarily centered around weapon combat, with magic being featured in just a few moments. This may be because magic simply isn’t ready to showcase, or it could mean that magic is going to take a step back inFable’s reboot. If it’s going to be based on the originalFable, magic is a part of the world’s lore, and should be present in theFablereboot in some capacity.
Fablehas historically leaned on a more traditional magic system that offers pre-defined spells that upgrade with experience. Its 2026 reboot now has an opportunity to take magic further. InOblivion, the Mages Guild and its altar of spellmaking have become iconic because they offered flexibility and experimentation. ForFable, a similar mechanic would go a long way in customizing the story of their Hero.
Custom Spellmaking Could Be a Boon for Fable
Allowing players to construct their own spells would go a long way to makeFable’s magic feel more integratedwith gameplay and story.Oblivion’s spell customization gives players reasons to join the Mage’s Guild, as their mage gameplay would genuinely be improved through Guild membership. Layering customization into a faction or guild questline would provide a compelling in-universe method of unlocking new magical options and would reward exploration and character investment.
Beyond variety, custom spellmaking opens the door for more robust RPG progression andcharacter building inFable. Players could build utility spells for out-of-combat problem-solving or create builds tailored to specific challenges, or even something as mundane as a personality type. This kind of flexibility encourages replayability and experimentation, with more options and variety available.
While designing such a versatile system poses challenges, particularly around balance, it is far from impossible to implement.Oblivion’s spellcasting can break the game because of the lack of limits. Tethering more powerful effects to skill thresholds, crafting materials, or quest progression could keep the mechanic from becoming overpowered while still rewarding investment. With some tweaking,Fablehas all the tools to make custom spellcrafting workwithout compromising the game’s difficulty or tone.
