Platform reviewed: Steam (PC)
Also on: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One
Price: $19.99
I first experienced Cabernet during a Steam Next Fest demo, and even in that brief glimpse, I could see the game’s vision—a visual novel infused with RPG elements unlike anything I’d encountered in the genre before. I was so captivated by its premise that Cabernet quickly became my most anticipated game of 2025. It’s an ambitious title, and at its core, it delivers everything I look for: a compelling story, stunning art, and a unique leveling system built around knowledge acquisition. However, a few aspects didn’t quite land for me—some audio choices, certain voice performances, and the occasional lapse in logic, likely a byproduct of the game’s ambitious design. That said, Cabernet still managed to sink its fangs into me. Deep.
The game opens with a shocking scene: I’m standing before a grave—my grave. My character, Liza, is being eulogized, and this moment introduces Cabernet’s unique leveling system. I determine what’s said at her funeral, and those choices shape her starting stats. For instance, I described Liza as having a childhood passion for art, but as she matured, she became skilled in medicine. As a result, she gained stat points in both arts and science. I love how this mechanic enhances my immersion, making it feel like I’m crafting Liza’s identity in a way that aligns with how I want to role-play her.
And Cabernet offers plenty of opportunities to shape Liza into the character I envision. After the opening scene, I find myself locked in a dungeon. Like me, Liza has no idea what’s happening—all she knows is that her clothes are dirty, and she woke up in an unfamiliar place. Experiencing the game through a character who is just as confused as I am is a refreshing premise. Too often, I play games where the protagonist is a seasoned expert—“the best at what they do”—yet as a new player, my skills rarely match their supposed expertise. But in Cabernet, I’m learning alongside Liza. And what I learn—very quickly—is that I’ve been turned into a vampire.
I escape my prison by striking a deal with an unknown, voiceless shadow—a bargain I know I’ll be paying for later. Stepping into a grand ballroom, I find myself surrounded by a cast of vibrant, enigmatic figures. The artwork in Cabernet is beautiful—one of my favorite aspects of the game. Each character is hand-drawn with such intricate detail that the world feels like a storybook come to life.
As I explore, I quickly realize how much my stats shape my interactions. Certain dialogue choices are locked unless I have enough points in the right category. For example, a diplomatic response might only be available if my History and Politics stat is high enough. Unfortunately for my Liza, many options were already unavailable due to the choices I made in her eulogy.
I discover my vampiric abilities alongside Liza, guided by a fellow vampire named Hussar. He teaches me the essentials—how to transform into a bat and how to feed on my victims. Later, I also learn to use a vampire’s trance, a power that allows me to plant suggestive thoughts into my target’s mind. However, there’s a catch—my relationship with the target has to be strong enough for the trance to take hold.
Cabernet features a morality system that lies at the heart of Liza’s journey—does becoming a vampire push her toward nihilism, or does she cling to her humanity despite no longer being human? The choice is mine, and I love how this adds another layer of depth to the role-playing experience.
While I tried to preserve Liza’s humanity, some of my decisions were labeled as nihilistic. But in certain situations, those choices felt like the right ones—especially given my newfound ability to influence people and shape their fates. One instance that stood out was when I placed a drunken husband under a trance, convincing him that his marriage was over. I felt his devoted wife deserved better, and he was making her life miserable. The ability to meddle in the lives of others and alter their stories within the game’s narrative is fascinating, and I love Cabernet for giving me the freedom to make those choices.
I mentioned earlier that Cabernet’s leveling system is one of the most intriguing aspects of the game. Liza gains knowledge in different categories through experience or by reading books—each night, I have a limited number of actions I can take before daybreak, and I can spend some of them reading to boost specific stats. Performing certain tasks or choosing particular dialogue options also contributes to my growth.
What sets Cabernet apart is that progression isn’t tied to traditional XP-based leveling but instead revolves around acquiring knowledge and making meaningful choices. That’s why I was caught off guard when I realized I could also influence my stats simply by changing outfits. For example, wearing my medical dress increased my Science and Logic stats. I understand the game’s need to incentivize outfit changes, but this mechanic felt slightly at odds with the game’s otherwise unique approach to character progression.
Cabernet gives the illusion of an open world where I can shape the narrative, but that freedom comes at a cost. There were moments where I could tell the developers expected me to follow a specific sequence of conversations, which occasionally led to awkward interactions.
For example, I discovered that a shady character had stolen a valuable diary from a poet. I confronted the thief, bought back the diary, and returned it to its rightful owner. However, when I approached the poet to return the item, he still launched into a lengthy explanation about how his diary had been stolen—meanwhile, Liza’s responses were filled with shock and surprise, even though I had already resolved the situation. While these moments didn’t ruin my experience, they did lead to some strange dialogue exchanges that broke the immersion slightly.
What did break the immersion for me was the audio. I appreciate that the entire game is voice-acted, but the performances are inconsistent. Cabernet is set in Eastern Europe in the late 1800s, yet not a single character has an Eastern European accent. That alone would be forgivable if the accents were at least uniform—but they’re not. Some characters speak with English accents, while others sound distinctly American.
The quality of the voice acting also varies—some performances are fantastic, while others leave a lot to be desired. One character’s audio even sounded tinny. These inconsistencies might not bother everyone, but for me, they pulled me out of the experience.
Final Grade: B+
Cabernet is unlike anything I’ve played before, especially within the visual novel genre. The addition of RPG elements is intriguing, but what truly sets it apart is its unique leveling system—gaining experience through decisions and reading books is something I haven’t seen done this way before. I love that I’m learning alongside Liza, which deepens the role-playing experience and makes every choice feel meaningful.
The story is compelling and pulls me into its dark, immersive world—I just wish the voice acting matched that same level of quality. At times, the dialogue felt disjointed, especially when I had already learned certain information by speaking to characters out of order. However, these minor flaws don’t overshadow what Cabernet accomplishes.
For those looking for a visual novel where choices truly matter, Cabernet is a must-play.
Review code provided by Akupara Games