Avowed Review

Obsidian Entertainment has long been known for its deep, choice-driven RPGs. From Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II to Fallout: New Vegas and The Outer Worlds, the studio has consistently delivered experiences that emphasize storytelling, player choice, and immersive world-building. Now, with Avowed, they return to the world of Eora, first introduced in Pillars of Eternity, to craft an ambitious first-person fantasy RPG.

Described as Obsidian’s take on Skyrim, Avowed is a bold adventure filled with magic, intense combat, and morally complex choices. With its semi-open world structure, deep roleplaying elements, and compelling narrative, does it live up to the high expectations set by both Obsidian’s past work and the RPG greats before it? Let’s dive in and find out.

Welcome to the Living Lands – A World of Mystery and Magic

Set on the island of The Living Lands, Avowed introduces players to a world teeming with ancient magic, shifting landscapes, and diverse biomes. Unlike the typical high-fantasy setting, The Living Lands feels wild and unpredictable—lush forests give way to rocky cliffs while sprawling settlements stand alongside eerie ruins.

This is a world that breathes. Plants seem to move with a mind of their own, the air is thick with an almost sentient energy, and the ground beneath you feels alive. Every new area introduces something unexpected, making exploration feel like a genuine adventure rather than just a means to an end.

However, The Living Lands are in peril. A mysterious plague is spreading across the island, warping nature and throwing its people into turmoil. You arrive as an envoy of Aedyr, tasked with investigating the crisis, but soon find yourself caught in a conflict far greater than you ever expected. There’s something about this land that seems to know you as if it’s calling you toward a greater destiny.

This premise alone is enough to hook players, but what makes Avowed truly special is how deeply your choices affect the world and those within it. The weight of your decisions is felt at every turn, reinforcing the sense that you’re not just playing a character—you are this character, shaping the world through your actions.

RPG Mechanics – Deep Customization and Roleplaying Freedom

Character Creation and Backgrounds

From the outset, Avowed lets you craft your character. You select from a variety of backgrounds, which not only determine your starting weapon but also provide unique dialogue options. Your background shapes how NPCs react to you, granting deeper immersion as you engage with the world.

One of the most intriguing options is playing as a Godlike—a rare individual touched by divine power. This manifests physically, with traits such as tree-like facial features or even mushrooms growing from your body. NPCs will react to this in fascinating ways, ranging from reverence to suspicion, making this choice feel truly impactful.

Even beyond aesthetics, the RPG mechanics run deep. Attribute points allow you to tailor your build to suit different playstyles—boosting health, stamina, magic, or even influencing conversations. This level of customization ensures that every playthrough can feel fresh and unique.

Choice-Driven Storytelling

Obsidian is a master of player choice, and Avowed is no exception. Dialogue trees offer a huge range of responses, from diplomatic negotiation to outright hostility. Want to talk your way out of a fight? You can. Prefer to be a sarcastic troublemaker? That’s an option too.

The game doesn’t force a single morality system on you, either. You’re not locked into being a hero or a villain—you exist in a morally gray world where decisions have far-reaching consequences. Help a faction, and another may grow hostile. Spare an enemy, and they might return later—either to aid you or to betray you. The sheer amount of branching choices makes replaying the game almost essential.

Combat – A Perfect Blend of Magic and Melee

Fluid, Responsive, and Deeply Satisfying

Combat in Avowed is fast, weighty, and incredibly versatile. Whether you prefer swords, shields, bows, guns, or magic, the game allows you to experiment freely. Switching between playstyles is seamless—you can start a fight with a bow, switch to a sword mid-battle, then unleash a devastating spell in the blink of an eye.

One of the most unique aspects is the Grimoire system, which allows you to cast spells from a book. However, as you progress, you unlock powerful magic that doesn’t require the book, allowing for even more fluid combat strategies.

For example, you can:

• Freeze an enemy in place, then shatter them with a heavy attack.
• Set traps using elemental magic to manipulate the battlefield.
• Combine melee and magic, using a sword to stagger foes before finishing them with a fireball.

Every weapon feels distinct—swords have weight, bows require careful aim, and spells demand strategic timing. The dodging mechanics feel responsive, and enemies react believably to your attacks, making every battle feel engaging and rewarding.

Companions and Tactical Combat

Your companions aren’t just there for story reasons—they actively participate in combat, and you can issue commands to direct their attacks.

Each companion has a personality, combat style, and strengths. While you can’t fully customize their builds or equipment, you can influence how they behave in battle. Some will specialize in ranged attacks, others in magic, and their presence adds an extra layer of strategy to encounters.

They’ll also warn you when your weapons are underpowered, subtly guiding you toward upgrades or alternative approaches. This dynamic makes Avowed feel less like a game where you’re just managing stats and more like an immersive world where you’re constantly adapting. and in true Obsidian fashion, you can attempt to complete the game without levelling up at all—though that challenge is best left to the most hardcore players. But for those who want to challenge themselves and we all know there are creators out there who will be trying this. This coming from the interview done by Spawnonme with the game director Carrie Patel.

Exploration – A Semi-Open World Filled with Secrets

Avowed isn’t a fully open-world game like Skyrim, but it adopts a semi-open structure, where each region is its vast sandbox. This design strikes a perfect balance—offering freedom while keeping the story tight and focused.

A World Worth Exploring

There’s always something to discover:

• Hidden dungeons filled with treasure and lore.
• Grave robbers scheming in the dark.
• Mysterious journals that reveal lost histories.
• Secret areas that require clever use of spells or environmental interactions.

You can freeze water to create bridges, zap enemies standing in puddles, or blast obstacles out of the way—making exploration feel dynamic rather than just wandering from point A to B.

Oh, and be prepared to loot everything. From weapons to potions to random trinkets, Avowed will have you picking up so much gear that you’ll eventually become over-encumbered—a classic RPG experience.

Exploring the world of Avowed isn’t just about soaking in the stunning landscapes; it directly contributes to character progression. Completing quests, uncovering secrets, and interacting with the environment all reward experience points.

There are countless side quests that are just as engaging as the main story—so much so that you might find yourself distracted from the primary narrative. The game also includes an Encyclopedia, ensuring players can easily reference lore terms they may not be familiar with, a thoughtful addition that enhances immersion.

One feature that feels reminiscent of The Elder Scrolls series is inventory management. Expect to collect a lot of loot, and yes, over-encumbrance is a factor. However, every item you find contributes to building and upgrading your weapons, making exploration both rewarding and necessary.

Visuals, Sound, and Performance

Stunning Visuals and Atmospheric Sound Design

The world of Avowed is breathtaking. The environments feel alive, whether it’s the wind whistling through a canyon or the eerie quiet of an abandoned temple. The lighting is stunning, giving every scene a rich, immersive feel.

The sound design is just as impressive. The wind blowing through trees, the distant hum of magic, the clank of armour—it all contributes to a world that feels tangible and alive. And the music? It’s phenomenal, shifting dynamically based on the tension of a scene.

Avowed is visually stunning, with breathtaking landscapes and impressive environmental details. The game’s sound design is equally exceptional, with ambient effects like the wind howling through cliffs adding to the immersion. The music dynamically shifts based on your location and actions, further pulling you into the world.

Companions interact with the environment in a way that feels natural—whether commenting on discoveries or reacting to the surroundings. These small details make the world feel alive and reactive to your presence.

Technical Performance

I played Avowed on PC with an Intel Core Ultra 9 and an RTX 4080. The game ran smoothly at max settings, consistently hitting 120+ FPS. While minor rendering issues occurred when sprinting past enemies, there were no game-breaking bugs. A day-one patch is expected to address these small bugs.

On consoles, Avowed offers multiple performance modes:

Xbox Series S:

• Quality Mode: 1080p / 30fps / Ray Tracing
• Balanced Mode: 1080p / 40fps (on 120Hz TVs) / Ray Tracing

Xbox Series X:

• Quality Mode: 2160p / 30fps / Ray Tracing
• Balanced Mode: 2160p / 40fps (on 120Hz TVs) / Ray Tracing
• Performance Mode: 1800p / 60fps (No Ray Tracing)

Obsidian has confirmed ongoing optimization post-launch, ensuring a smooth experience across platforms.

Avowed took me 42 hours to complete, but with side content, I can see it easily reaching 50-60 hours. Obsidian has once again delivered an RPG that excels in storytelling, world-building, and player choice.

From its compelling narrative and fluid combat to its stunning world and deep roleplaying elements, Avowed is a game that RPG fans simply cannot afford to miss. Whether you’re drawn in by its Skyrim-like exploration or Pillars of Eternity lore, this is a journey worth taking. Obsidian continues to prove that they make some of the best RPGs in the industry, and Avowed is no exception. In short: Don’t skip this game. It’s a must-play. Avowed truly aWOWed us!