Cabernet

Cabernet. To be honest, it’s actually a pretty interesting choice for a title, even setting aside the fact that in the game’s lore, this word has its own special meaning. Why? Well, this grape variety is called a “colonizer” because, due to its general accessibility and hardiness, it’s displacing older and more traditional varieties. Isn’t this a kind of wink to players, given that the game is set at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries - a period of great political and social upheaval? Game itself is a narrative RPG which, rather than combat, places the emphasis on getting to know NPCs, exploring the world and role-playing your character. After the prologue, you are given the freedom to choose, and it is entirely up to player what they wish to do with that freedom. Another important point is that game does not try to pretend that everything can be easily categorized on a ‘good versus evil’ scale; it isn’t, because that’s not how the real world works either. Everyone has their own reasons for their decisions, and it is rarely so difficult in an RPG to determine who is really the villain and who is the monster. Not that everything is perfect, mind you. Game also has its issues stemming from budget constraints, which it manages to cover up more or less successfully. For example: it’s too easy to make money by playing cards and save scumming (which essentially undermines the entire game economy); there are sometimes issues with interactions with certain POIs (95% of the time it works, but that remaining 5% can be really annoying); and, of course, system that only allows manual saving in specific locations. [b]Would I recommend it? Yes [/b] It’s a brilliant RPG that not only offers a great deal of freedom in decision-making but also ensures that the consequences of those decisions are realistic and affect gameplay. Its only major drawback is that interacting with POIs can sometimes be problematic. ✅[list] [*] Graphics can be described as attractive by its simplicity. Locations and backgrounds are cel-shaded while characters uses a paper doll design. [*] Gothic and mournful soundtrack fitting the game’s theme and timeline. It was composed by Jim Fowler & Elena Alekseeva. [*] Fantastic voice acting. Actors are well-suited to the characters they play; you can tell they’ve put a lot of effort and heart into their work. [*] UI is well designed and organized. Tutorial is seamlessly integrated into the game's narrative. [*] Main plot is decent but doesn't blow you away. I’d say that, in the context of vampire intrigues, it might be a bit predictable for some; however, its skillful weaving into human affairs and politics gives it a certain originality. Vampires are, by definition, associated with monsters, but in this game, humans can give them some pretty stiff competition in the battle for that “title.” [*] Game really shines when you move on to the side quests. That's because each one of them is actually centered around a specific person, their flaws, problems, and shortcomings. Game truly captures the complexity of real-life interpersonal relationships and gives the player various options for resolving problems. [*] Worldbuilding. It was done exceptionally well, because the vampires are woven into the story in such a way that at no point did I catch myself thinking: “But that’s illogical.” In addition, story is set in a nameless town somewhere in Eastern Europe. This town serves not only as the setting for the story and the unofficial secondary protagonist but also as an anchor for all these customs and beliefs. It all fits together, and you get the impression that whole thing really makes sense. [*] RPG mechanics are genre’s classics but I like how your choices, skills and friendships/alliances shape the story. Every single one of them counts and matters. [*] While game guides you, it doesn’t handhold nor artificial limit your actions. [*] Morality system that is not based on bland and overused “good – evil” scale. Your choices are in shades of grey; moral decisions might have terrible consequences. [*] Several completely different endings. Aside from the so-called “true ending”, each one is really just a choice between a lesser and a greater evil. [*] You can kill both major and minor NPCs and story will keep going on. [*] A few simple puzzles and mini-games. They offer a pleasant break from the main gameplay, yet aren't difficult enough to discourage player. [*] In-game glossary provides lore about culture, supernatural world and folklore traditions. [*] Price/length ratio is well balanced. [/list] 😐 [list][*]You can use vampiric abilities in free-roam but you’re unable to use them in the quests, unless it was written into the narrative. [*]You can make a manual save only at the designed locations. [*] Every potential card player should have a certain amount of money at their disposal. Currently, it’s too easy to get money by betting everything on all-in and save scumming. [/list] ❌[list] [*] The way interactions with POIs were implemented wasn’t very well thought out. Unfortunately, I often had to figure out exactly which angle to stand at for a given object to display the icon for a specific interaction. This definitely needs to be improved, as it can make the game significantly more difficult during those rare moments when a timer is activated. [*] Walking speed is too slow, sprint isn’t much better. [*] It’s a pity that game doesn’t tell the player at what time or on which days they can find a particular NPC. That would save them from having to wander back and forth unnecessarily. [*] In my opinion. in the middle of the game, main storyline was pushed aside to make room for side quests. [*] Occasional narrative inconsistencies resulting from different choices. [/list]

Short story but very fun, good characters, sweet narrative, a really well crafted passion project. -Mechanics are simple but effective -Learning curve makes the game go smoothly -The choices felt really important 100% in favor of hope-core

Es una pasada de juego, las decisiones que te hacen tomar te llegan al alma de una manera que no esperaba la verdad. Recomendadísimo.

I haven't felt the same ever since the Facebook game Bite Me has been taken down decades ago, but this comes pretty dang close

It's a nice game with some dark conclusions... Only thing I'm very upset about is that vampires are creatures of night and still need lanterns that was often inconvienient to toggle...

a beautiful game with great writing and a wonderfully gothic atmosphere. as an Eastern European, seeing Romanian books and so many familiar cultural touches made this game feel incredibly special

Eats. This is THE vampire Victorian gothic story-based game, as far as I'm concerned. The writing is very well done, and the atmosphere and tone are excellent. Specifically, this game balances "cozy" and "gothic" on a knife's edge, and it works so well. In this game, unless you're following a guide very closely, there is no possible way to get everything "correct" on your first playthrough. There is NO character who has plot armor to emerge unscathed. That is exciting - it raises the stakes knowing that your actions will have consequences you can't avoid or undo - and also, it can be challenging and frustrating. If, like me, you indulge in save scumming, know that it is really hard to do in this game. The autosave at the end of each in-game day rewrites the old autosave, and there is only one physical location in game where you can manually save. Crucial story events are on a timer, and you might not realize that until it's too late. But, this is part of the point. We make mistakes, and we have to live with them, and life goes on. Not everything goes as we wish it would go, and the more we see, the harder it is not to become jaded. We must hold on to our humanity anyway. In that questioning search for meaning and humanity in the face of inevitable decay and corruption, this game is so highly Eastern European. One small gripe I had was that characters all from the same village and country had wildly varying accents. If it was not possible to find a voice actor cast that could do Eastern European accents, I think they should have stuck to either UK or US accents. One of the most important things a voice tells us about a character is their cultural background, and it was a shame to miss that in this special setting. I prefer media where vampires are not inherently horrible monsters, without also being softboy-ified. Cabernet nails it. Vampires have a range of responses to their conditions. And true evil comes from humans in this game as well. Cabernet is very thoughtful about the meaning of vampires, from the alcoholism metaphor to the capitalism metaphor. And it's also just so fun! The drama propels you forward and has depth, but you also get to fly around, decorate your house, pick out dresses, forage for mushrooms, date, go to the bookstore and curate your library, and yes, drink people's blood. For being both deep and enjoyable, and maintaining such a lovely, tricky cozy-gothic tone, I happily place it among the best vampire media out there.

Cabernet is a gothic masterpiece that bites deep into your heart and refuses to let go. Far from a mindless horror game, it is a beautifully written, poetic, and intimate journey through the heavy moral dilemmas of a 19th-century vampire. With an atmospheric aesthetic that feels like a classic painting in motion, it is a striking, deeply moving narrative experience where choices truly weigh on your soul—a mesmerizing hidden gem to be savored like a fine wine.