Mable and the Wood
Rating Summary
Based on 20 critic reviews
OpenCritic Rating
Top Critic Average
Critics Recommend
An inventive take on the Metroidvania formula, but is let down by some awkward platforming and combat.
Mable and the Wood is a side-scrolling metroidvania game with a unique combat/traversal mechanic. The form you start with and ones you unlock are fun to use for the most part. Reading the map can be annoying, but it's possible to interpret. Multiple endings offers more replay value if you're inclined to do so.
Mable & The Wood comes with an interesting take on combat, but shoddy controls, bugs, and odd storytelling prevent it from being an enjoyable journey through the game's cursed kingdom.
I am glad to see that Mable & the Wood was able to maintain the level of quality that I saw in my earlier preview. The platforming has a nice flow to it with a good balance of enemy hazard and platforming challenge. If you are a fan of metroidvania and or retro styled platformers I recommend you give Mable a chance.
Mable and the Wood is a seductively whimsical fantasy adventure with excellent graphics, music and a lot of good ideas, but for the moment it is held back by balance and technical problems.
People looking for something different will find it here, just know that it comes with some issues, but altogether, it is a decent experience.
Mable & the Wood had a lot going for it: the promise of a Metroidvania, a slew of interesting mechanics, and a decent storyline. But the final product isn't worth your time or the asking price (even with a launch discount).
It's such a shame Mable & The Wood can't back up its interesting premise and impressive visuals with engaging gameplay. It's a unique take on the shapeshifting concept, to be sure, but navigating the environment is more frustrating than it is fun. There's a nice variety of boss encounters that keep the experience feeling relatively fresh, but overall, this is one Metroidvania that fails to live up to the hype.
Mable & The Wood on PC is really enjoyable at times and very frustrating at others. Furthermore, Mable & The Wood caused a full cycle of emotions while playing through the main story.
Mable and The Wood has a great idea at its core, and in some cases, it provides a compelling enough Metroidvania experience. Unfortunately, weak implementation of choice-based progression, along with some irksome bugs, hamper what could otherwise have been a great game.



















